InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Emi ❯ A New Guardian ( Chapter 2 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Emi woke with the dawn. It had always been like that. Something warm was under her her head. She sat up to find she had fallen asleep on Kikyou's lap. The priestess was still asleep, and Emi stood quietly, to exit the small hut on her tip-toes. No one was awake this early in the morning. If Emi cared to listen she would hear the heavy and steady breathing of the villagers inside their huts, still asleep. But she didn't care to listen, so she strolled through the village, not really planning out what she should do next. Her arm was feeling tremendously better, but she was terrible at saying thank you, so she didn't turn back to do so. Emi felt lighter, almost. Something that had been weighing her down since she could remember was somehow uplifted. She made a mental note to talk about things that trouble her, even if it was to herself.

Busy with her thoughts, Emi entered the forest, and didn't even notice Inuyasha was perched on a tree-branch that had been his bed for the night before.

"You reek of salt and human priestess," he said as a greeting, or at least to let her know he was there. Emi stopped. Her yellow eyes turned upward at the dog, and she glared fiercely at him. He looked right back, but with a more lazy and bored expression on his face.

"You smell like a mutt," she snarled right back, and marched on her way. Now she was determined to get away from him. Inuyasha was rude, she figured that out before she even laid eyes on him.

"Did Kikyou say you could go?" Inuyasha asked, landing beside her, keeping up with her fast pace without any effort at all. She snorted, raising her nose into the air.

"I wouldn't stay even if she commanded me to," she told him, but inwardly she knew that wasn't true. "She's asleep. If you want to go tell on me you can go right ahead. It's no surprise to me a mutt like you has a woman like that for a master. And a human, nonetheless."

"Look at you, talking lowly of humans, and you seem to forget you yourself have human blood in your veins," Inuyasha growled. "And no one is my master!"

"And I suppose you think highly of them? I know that you must get tired of your human blood. Your hands smell of demon blood, so I'm guessing you do battle frequently. Your human blood has to be a disadvantage to you," she replied sharply. "And I have only known one good human being: my father. The others treated me like dirt, so why should I be so kind?"

Inuyasha thought she sounded awfuly familiar. Her words echoed his thoughts almost exactly. She must have gone through the same ridicule he did as a child. But she was still a child, was she not? Her views could be altered, staying here with Kikyou. The priestess had helped him to realize the goodness some humans possessed. He loved her, and didn't care if she was a mortal. Inuyasha grabbed the back of her collar, forcing her to a stop. She yelped as her collar momentarily choked her, then she cried, "Let me GO!!"

"Keh, please. A young whelp like you surviving on your own? And a cat, no less. You aren't leaving, silly girl," Inuyasha said, unhanding her collar, but grabbing her wrist after, pulling her back to the village.

"I am of panther blood, you fool. It's something more to be proud of than being of dog blood," she defended herself. Inuyasha rolled his eyes. For once he was the mature one and just simply ended this silly arguement.

~~~

"I understand that you made an attempt to leave this morning," Kikyou said, and Emi snorted. So Kikyou was Inuyasha's master. Kaede accompied them as they went into the forest for some target practice. Kaede kept eyeing Emi out of the corner of her eye, but she didn't say anything. At least she was better company than Inuyasha, who was more rude. Emi was more quiet than anything.

"Yes, I did. But for some reason he wouldn't allow me to," Emi sighed. "I don't understand why. I can live on my own perfectly well."

"Inuyasha was thinking of what was best for you, though he probably didn't show he cared," Kikyou chuckled. Emi raised her brow. There was something between Kikyou and Inuyasha. Why else would Kikyou speak so fondly of that dog? Then her thoughts settled on what Inuyasha had said earlier this morning, and now that Emi thought it over in her head, he had said she couldn't survive on her own. She guessed that was caring of him. Though he made it sound like an insult towards her. Dogs were silly creatures. Emi honestly didn't know if she could live on her own. Sure, she could catch food and find shelter easily, but when it came to defending herself against other demons, she would most surely be killed.

"Here we are, Kaede. Aim for that tree there," Kikyou pointed.

"But that's smaller than last time," Kaede noticed.

"You were doing so well on the wide trees I thought we would move on to a harder target," Kikyou explained to her younger sister. Kaede nodded, and readied her weapons.

"Come. Let's sit here," Kikyou walked a bit away from Kaede, and sat down on the grass. Emi followed suit. "May I ask you something, Emi?"

"Go for it," Emi laid back on the grass, closing her eyes against the late morning sun. Kaede hesitated for a split second, then recovered, so that the other two wouldn't realize she was ease-dropping. To Kaede, that statement was rude, but she knew it wasn't her place to say anything.

"Do you like Inuyasha, at all?" the priestess asked. Emi opened her eyes, then sat up, looking side-ways at the older woman. Where was this leading, she wondered?

"First impressions leave a bit of a mark," she muttered. Kikyou smiled to herself, smoothing out tiny wrinkles on her sleeve, mostly just to do something with her hands.

"Other than that, of course. You just have to look deeper into what you hear from him. There's always a much gentler meaning to everything he says," she explained. Emi's ear twitched.

"Such fond words," Emi mused, raising her brow. There it was again. The comforting air that came along with being with Kikyou. The priestess didn't flinch at that comment. But her smile faded a bit. Emi suddenly felt guilty for making that smile go away.

"Inuyasha could look after you," Kikyou continued. "He understands you better than I."

Emi froze, her eyes narrowing. "You just want to get rid of me." Kikyou clicked her tongue, her gaze changing from collected to a gentle fierceness.

"No, Emi. Do you know what I am?"

"A priestess," Emi answered, looking straight ahead, holding no expression on her young tanned face.

"That's correct. And as a priestess, I rarely have time for things outside of my priestess responsibilities," Kikyou told her, and even though Emi didn't look at her, Kikyou stared at the young half-demon girl, waiting for some sign that she understood. Emi's throat seemed to restrict somehow. Oh, please, not again. Not anymore rejections. She didn't think she could take anymore.

"Does Inuyasha... mind looking after me?" she asked. Well, maybe she was being a bit selfish. Kikyou took her in, and tended to her wounds, after all. And she was very kind to Emi, she recognized that at the least. It wasn't as if Kikyou was totally rejecting her. She could see Kikyou everyday, she decided.

"He's agreed to it. And if you seem happy to be in his company, he'll accept you faster than what he usually does," Kikyou informed her, happy that Emi was accepting Kikyou's offer.

"I hope...," Emi bit her bottom lip to stop herself. She didn't want to be too open, now. Not yet. She was going to say: I hope he likes me.

"Inuyasha is especially looking forward to training you," Kikyou smiled, finally turning her gaze away from Emi, and watching Kaede, who was still obediently firing her arrows.

"Training?!" Emi slammed her hand onto the grass, growling shortly. "Whose idea was this?!"

"His, of course," Kikyou answered. "Please, don't distress. I doubt he'll work you as hard as you think."

"Can I... can I visit you?" Emi gulped, knowing the answer will most surely be yes, but she was readying herself if the answer was no.

"Of course you can, " Kikyou nodded, looking back at her. "Are you arms tired, Kaede?"

"A little, big sister, but I can keep going," Kaede called over her shoulder.

"That's not necessary. You've done well today. Gather your arrows. We're spending the day at home," Kikyou smiled, and Kaede excitedly retrived her weapons, and ran to her sister.

~~~

"Are you ready, Emi?" Kikyou asked.

"I s'ppose," Emi mumbled. She was wearing one of Kikyou's old outfits. It was when Kikyou was an early teenager, and so it was a bit loose on Emi's petite frame, but it was all right. "This is what the human girls wore, where I lived. The ones who hit me with sticks and stones."

"No use in making me feel guilty, Emi. Come now, Inuyasha must be waiting," Kikyou took her hand, and shyly Emi let herself be lead by the older woman. It was evening, and the sun teetered above the horizon, sinking farther everytime Emi turned her head to look at it. Why did Kikyou comb Emi's hair and change her clothes? It's not as if Inuyasha would care if she was grimy and homely-looking. Humans. Emi thought she would never understand.

"Here we are," Kikyou sighed, letting go her hand, and stopping at a large tree. "He's supposed to be here at the Tree of Ages by nightfall. That's what we agreed on."

"Relax, woman. I'm here," Inuyasha's gruff voice said, and he landed beside Emi heavily, making her jump.

"I have a sick child to attend to, Inuyasha. Emi, don't think I'm thinking an excuse up to leave you, either," Kikyou shook a finger at the young half-demon. Emi scowled. "Thank you, Inuyasha. You have no idea how much I appreciate this." She briefly touched his hand, sending his cheeks into a shade of crimson. Then she turned to Emi, kneeling before her. "Sleep well. I expect Inuyasha will conduct lessons in the morning."

"Yes, Kikyou," Emi mocked, but smiled. Kikyou giggled, and left them. They both watched as she departed into the on-coming gloom. When she disappeared, Inuyasha looked down at Emi, and Emi looked up at Inuyasha.

"Look, kid. During a new moon I go through this... change. So, if you wake up in the middle of the night, and I have black hair, don't freak out," Inuyasha explained quickly, waiting for his response.

"By the Gods, you are a fool. I'm a half-demon, too! I go through the same transformation," she sighed almost irritably. Inuyasha smacked her head. Not enough to make her cry, but enough to let her know he demanded some respect.

"I suggest you get used to sleeping in trees,"he grumbled, hopping onto one of the low branches, and looking down at her. Emi couldn't help but smile. Oh, how she loved to be in the trees! But her father never approved of it. She scrambled up the tree-trunk, and perched herself next to Inuyasha. "There are wider branches higher up."

Inuyasha hadn't helped her up, expecting her to be able to do it on her own. And when she joined him in the trees, he was inwardly impressed. That was one thing he didn't have to teach her. It was true, the branches were joined together here, and Emi could lay down on her back comfortably if she liked. Perhaps she would have if her skull and tail weren't tingling with pain. The sun was setting, and with it, both of their transformation. She gave out a cry of pain, one only a child could make, and it made Inuyasha's eyes open and cautiously watch. Emi dug her fingers into her skull, the rest of her body cringing as she dealt with the pain.

Her ears were gone from her head now, but her tail took its time in disappearing. Inuyasha wasn't sure if he should comfort her somehow. He knew during transformation he was sensitive to touch, so he stayed back for the moment. Her nails and teeth were already finished, but the tail always took the longest. Finally, they both were human. Inuyasha became one faster. He found it gets faster as you grow older. The girl was panting as she leaned against the tree-trunk, thankful the pain had ceased. Including her looks, her defensive and intelligent character seemed to fade. She was now just an average human girl.

"The sky is pretty," she looked up, and Inuyasha saw her eyes were a brilliant green.

"Mm-hm," Inuyasha nodded, looking up with his own navy-blue eyes. Inuyasha changed a bit more than she did. His hair changed color. Emi's didn't. A person who might stumble upon them might think they were brother and sister. Inuyasha didn't look near old enough to be her father. Both their hair was long and jet-black. Emi stood wobbly. Her tail always helped with a bit of balance.

"Inuyasha?" Emi asked.

"Yes?" Inuyasha's voice seemed gentler to her, and she wasn't nervous about asking him anymore.

"Was it your mother or your father that was a dog demon?" Inuyasha paused at the question. Emi was different, too. She was more child-like now, and more open with what she said. No longer did he sense some kind of guard. She was an innocent little girl. That was all.

"My father," Inuyasha answered shortly. "And you?"

"My mom!" she smiled, like she was proud. Somehow that was unusual to him. She must have been a very kind demon. "But, I don't know where she's at."

"You don't know if she's alive or not?" Inuyasha said, a bit shocked.

"Nope. I don't remember her at all. Daddy always said she was beautiful. He said I look just like her," she giggled, and sat beside Inuyasha, leaning against his arm. Inuyasha wondered if she would ever do that in her half-demon form. It was amazing how the transformation changed her character. He wondered if he had been like that when he was younger. But he didn't remember that far back.

"I'm sure you do," Inuyasha said to her, his mind somewhere else. The girl was tired, and she yawned loudly, and finally snuggled into Inuyasha's lap. The older man watched in confusion as she did so. He didn't want to move her though. What would she think? That he didn't like her? Emi was already asleep. She must be tired. Inuyasha laid on to his back, which was unusual. On other nights he merely leaned against the tree-trunk, and woke at dawn. But he was always more tired as a human, and he complied with the human way to sleep. It wasn't long after dusk that Inuyasha fell asleep, with a young human girl snuggled up against him. In the morning they would become half-demon again, and probably make themselves forget this night.

~~~

"Mmmm," Emi moaned as she sat up, her hands on something soft and warm. Inuyasha was still asleep. Emi wrinkled her nose at the sight of him, but inwardly she was relieved. He wasn't that bad after all. She scooted away, wondering why she had laid on him, using him as a pillow. Blast her human blood. Of course she remembered what always happened while she was human, but somehow it always seemed like someone else's memory. It was always a very warm and nice memory to think back on. Since both were half-demon now, their senses were of course sharpened, and Inuyasha sensed she was watching him.

"What are you staring at?" Inuyasha asked, scatching his head sleepily, and yawning.

"Oh, quiet yourself, you pervert," Emi snapped, looking away, and crossing her arms.

"Pervert?!" Inuyasha exclaimed, sitting up abruptly. "Don't even try to make this seem like my doing. You're the one who decided you'd lay with me!"

"Get me breakfast. I'm hungry," the girl hid her face since she was blushing.

"Oh, don't even think of me as some sort of servant. You're going to help me get breakfast," Inuyasha growled. "Now tell me, where do you smell food?"

"Do you mean, live deer and boar?" Emi asked, mouth hanging open.

"Damn right. Now tell me," Inuyasha nodded, and sat back, waiting.

"To the East. A doe," she pointed lazily.

"Does she have any babies?" Inuyasha asked.

"No," Emi sighed.

"Let's get going then. But you must be silent," Inuyasha hopped to another tree, and another, not even looking back to see if she was following. And she was. Inuyasha was going slower for her, she knew. They didn't go very far when they were high above a small doe, but it would be plenty of meat to appease Inuyasha and Emi's demon appetite. The older half-demon's hand rose to make Emi stay back, and then, almost to fast for Emi to see, he pounced on the small deer, snapping it's neck quickly. It collapsed onto the soft earthen moss, eyes as black and emotionless as a bird's. It made Emi's stomach turn. She grew up eating cooked meat, and rice.

"Your face is pale," Inuyasha called up to her. He was kneeling next to the dead animal, and the smell of fresh blood made itself known in her nostrils so suddenly, she fell to the ground. Inuyasha glanced over at her, his talons gleaming with crimson liquid.

"You animal," she muttered, having trouble holding down last night's dinner.

"It's the only way to survive on your own," Inuyasha began to eat. Emi's eyes widened. Though he always came off as a gruff and rude person, her sense of his power suddenly was known. Though outwardly, she was squirming at the sight of this raw meat, but she had to admit, it smelled kind of good. So, she tried some. A little piece, and then she began to gorge herself. Inuyasha grabbed her shoulder, with his clean hand, and held her back gently.

"Eating too much raw meat for the first time will make you ill," he warned. She took his word, and sat back. Raw meat filled her up quickly.

"Are you going to save it?" she asked him.

"No. I don't have anywhere to store it. I leave it for other hungry animals," Inuyasha stood. "Let's go wash up. Then we'll start training."

"Do you mean... combat training?" she asked, not moving from her place on the ground.

"Yes. Now get up," Inuyasha barked. She glared at him.

"You can't make me," she raised her brow at him snoodily, and he grabbed her shirt, pulling her to her feet.

"I could kill you, just like this deer," he roughly unhanded her, making his face turn serious.

"But you wouldn't," she snorted, then turned on her heel, walking in the direction of where she smelled water. Inuyasha rolled his eyes at the sky, and followed her, arms crossed. The lake wasn't that large. It was close to the village, and his ears twitched at the sound of them waking and beginning their day. Emi kneeled down, washing the blood from her hands and her mouth. Then she took a long drink. Inuyasha was doing the same thing beside her.

"Now, the first thing to remember about fighting, always defend yourself," Inuyasha started, stepping away from the water a bit, setting his hands on his hips. Though he expected Emi to be rude and act like she didn't give a damn, she stood a few yards in front of him, listening quietly. "Got that?" She nodded quickly. "Basically, the places to guard are your neck, head, chest, and genitals."

"Obviously," Emi snorted. "Tell me something I don't know."

"Shut up, brat," Inuyasha snapped.

"Make me, puppy!" she cried.

"Puppy?!" Inuyasha sputtered. Emi laughed at his reaction. Inuyasha growled, and he jumped with the same type of speed he used while pouncing the deer. Emi looked up, and fell backwards as he landed right before her. He was taller than she remembered.

"Repect, you damn cat. Respect is all I'm asking for from you," Inuyasha grabbed her by the sleeve, pulling her roughly to her feet. Emi clenched her teeth together. She didn't like the way he was handling or speaking to her in the least. This was a bad idea. She never should have agreed to it. On, no! She was going to cry. She could feel them rising. Emi clamped her eyes closed.

"I want to see Kikyou," she muttered, looking down, making sure her bangs covered her eyes.

"Oh, no, you don't. You can't run off to Kikyou everytime you get upset," Inuyasha's grasp on her sleeve didn't loosen.

"I want to see Kikyou!" she screamed this time. She pulled away from hime, ripping the sleeve off completely as she did so. Emi ran, headed to the village. Inuyasha grabbed the nearest thing closest to him on her. Which happened to be her tail. Emi gave out a cry unmistakably like an angry wild cat, and she went down, kneeling on her knees.

"Let... let go," she gasped, looking at him over her shoulder. Inuyasha gave her tail a squeeze. Emi's whole body seemed to jump, and she fell forward.

"So, your tail is your weakness, eh?" Inuyasha released her tail, and picked her up. She was still conscious, but by the way her body slumped, and her half-lidded eyes, he could tell she was weak.

"Please, don't grab my tail anymore," she murmured. "It hurts."

"That's something we can work on, Emi. You can overcome it," he began towards the village. Maybe a few herbs from Kikyou could make Emi feel a bit better. "You definately don't want your tail to be your weakness when it sticks out like that."

"Uh-huh," she nodded, closing her eyes. "I've always hated it."

"I would, too. It doesn't hurt, but I hated it when other kids used to touch my ears," Inuyasha told her. He knew he had hurt her, and was being more kind that he ever used to be. Except of course to his mother, Izayoi. Emi reached up, and yanked one of the ears atop his head. She let her hand drop once more, then she finally passed out, with a crack of a smile on her face.

"Feh, kids," Inuyasha muttered.