InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Existence ❯ Introductions ( Chapter 1 )

Existence- by: Lee-Lee

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any characters that pertain to it, but Mai and Makoto are mine!

A/N: Thoughts are in these: `…………' Read and Review, Please and Thank You!

Act 1, Scene 1

The cool air washed over her skin. She ran wildly through the green trees, never once stopping to fill her lungs with the sweet air they burned for. Her body ached for rest but her mind pushed her forward. She ran passionately… ran from her fears, her past, her life. She ran until her legs could no longer keep her up and she collapsed grudgingly onto the soft green meadow.

An insignificant clearing surrounded her trembling frame as she held back her emotions. Breathing hard as her muscles took a slight rest, she gazed disinterestedly at the beautiful flora surrounding her. Spots of pink, white, yellow, and blue dotted the green lawn.

`Where am I?'

Ridiculous thoughts come to mind as she took in the natural beauty of the earth around her.

`It doesn't matter where I am right now… I just need… to get away… Stop the hurt from taking over… … … Don't cry… It was his decision to make, not yours. You only did what he asked you to… You didn't know it would turn out like this…'

Tears threatened to spill from her glassy eyes as her heart contracted painfully in her chest. Memories that she had been trying to run from sprang up in her head, overwhelming her exhausted body and mind.

`It's not your fault! It can't be…'

She glanced around her once more, truly witnessing what magnificence the earth had to offer.

`This place is beautiful. What's led me here?'

Rinsing slowly off the lush field of emerald, she stood against the pain in her legs. The usual hum of the forest invaded her sensitive ears allowing them to pick up even the smallest of sounds. Birds chirped merrily in the trees as the wind whistled softly swishing them this way and that.

`It truly is quite peaceful here.'

Sniffing silently at the air she detected the faint scent of water nearby. Her ears perked up ever so slightly to listen to the minute sound of running water. Walking leisurely. She made her way to the faint, yet distinct sound. Past the thick foliage from the vast expanse of trees and undergrowth, she embraced the sight of an inviting hot spring. Her body longed for the steaming water to relieve her tense stature as well as clean the filth from her battered body.

Her once fair, tanned skin was heavy with the remnants of caked dirt and blood. Her long fine hair was almost black with grime. Her once beautiful tail was heavy with grime and filth. Stray twigs, dried blood and heavy dirt enveloped her form, hiding her true appearance.

She peeled off her kimono and armor, both rundown from overuse and negligence, and cast it off to the side of the spring, leaving her body exposed to the warm night air. Every freckle, blemish and scar that defined her was covered with grim from past events. She sunk down heavily into the warm, inviting waters of the spring and started to scrub… scrub away at the layers of dirt and blood that now held great impact upon her life and in her past.

She tore off a piece of her frayed kimono, using it as a washrag. The dirt washed from her skin with her insistent strokes. Relaxing further into the comforts of the water, she took no heed to her surroundings or to what may have lain beyond her plane of vision. She was only focused on finishing her bath.

Her body clean and pristine, she worked on her other necessary areas of washing. Careful of the triangular shaped ears atop her head, she ran her fingers through her hair, starting at the bottom and working her way up. The process was rather tiring due to the immense amount of dirt and the utter length of her hair. The process was repeated with her tail.

Finally finished, she relaxed against the rocks in the spring letting her eyes drift shut as she recalled the events that brought her here…

Flashback…

"Father, I'm leaving! I can't take living here anymore! All you do is treat me as your fucking heir. You don't see me as your daughter… You never have and you probably never will! You only see me as the rightful person to take control over the fucking southern lands. My brothers and sisters don't get treated nearly as bad as I! Give one of them the throne. I don't want it!"

Quickly turning, she walked briskly away from the cause of her rage. Her "father" made no attempts to stop her.

"Fine, you may go but you are still in control of these lands when I shall die. As long as you are alive, the southern lands WILL belong to YOU and YOU ALONE!"

Upon her depart from the castle she ran into, quite literally, her only friend.

"Makoto! Gomen… I wasn't watching where I was going…"

"Mei, I heard from various people that you are leaving the castle for good. Is this true?"

Mei didn't respond, instead she looked down at the floor refusing to meet his gaze. Makoto had been her only friend since they were children. His family was very close with hers until her mother had died and her father had taken another wife bringing in her half brothers and sisters. She and Makoto had naturally become close and despite her father's efforts to get rid of him, she refused to allow his leave and he stayed for her benefit. They had been together for nearly 17 years. She would be turning 18 years of age in around two moons time.

Her father had planned a celebration in her name. It would also announce that she was old enough to take hold of her father's vast territory. That seemed to be her father's primary reason to throw her the party.

Makoto, sensing his friend's wariness, stepped towards her.

"Mei… is this true?" He took her chin in his hand and forced her to look at him. Her eyes showed sadness and much regret.

"Makoto… I will miss you most…" Her almost inaudible response caused him to take a step back. He looked at her, shock and anger clearly marring his handsome features.

"Were you planning on leaving without telling me?" His voice held a low and dangerous tone.

She unconsciously took a step back. When Makoto got angry, he got very, very scary.

"It would have been too hard to leave knowing that you would've tried to stop me… Please, don't make this harder than it already is…" Her bangs hid her now teary eyes. Her ears pressed flat against her head. Before she knew what was happening, she was pinned between a wall and her best friend.

Her hands were on his chest gently pushing him back. Her gaze was still set on the floor. His hands were on the wall on either side of her head making sure she couldn't escape. His noses nuzzling her neck and she gasped when she felt a hot, wet roughness on it.

"Makoto…" She couldn't help but moan when he started to nip at her tender flesh. "What are… you doing… to me?" A low cry, followed by a gasp spilled from her lips when his fangs brushed against her sensitive skin.

"Mei…" His hot breath against her flesh sent shivers down her spine as she felt something start to build in her lower belly. "I refuse to allow you to leave…"

Her heart sank at his words and her unshed tears spilled from her eyes. She bit back a sob that threatened to escape her throat.

"Makoto, I can't stay here…" She found it very difficult to raise her voice above the sound of a whisper.

"I know this…" He placed a tender kiss to her lips before kissing away her tears. "That is why I'm coming with you… I won't let you leave… me…"

Her eyes widened in shock as he claimed her lips with his. Her initial shock quickly dissipated and she timidly kissed back, her innocence clearly evident. He ran his tongue against her lips, his silent plea for entrance, which she graciously permitted. Her lips parted ever so slightly and his tongue darted past, exploring every surface in her mouth and relishing in her taste.

"MEI! MAKOTO!" A strong voice boomed through the hall causing them to break their kiss abruptly. Makoto quickly stepped back and looked at the source of the authoritative voice. There stood the current Lord of the Southern Lands, also known as Mei's father. With a snap of his fingers, guards instantly appeared and seized Makoto.

"Father? What is your reasoning behind this?" Her tone reflected tranquility with hints of hate and menace. "Release Makoto… now! He has done nothing wro-"

Her words were left unfinished when her father intervened, "He was taking advantage of the heir to the throne. For that he shall be punished!" His voice once again boomed through the wide hall.

"Fuck your `heir to the throne' crap! I don't care anymore! I'm leaving and never coming back so give it to someone else. I don't want this! I don't want this life! Now release Makoto or else…"

Her hair had started to billow around her and her eyes, originally a greenish-bluish-amber, had started to alter to a blood red with a blue pupil. Power surged around her small form in her fury and a low, feral growl escaped her throat promising death to those who disobeyed.

"M-My L-Lord!" The guards looked up at the now enraged `father' and then back to the more dangerous looking daughter.

"I said now…" Her voice was quiet, emotionless and held a cold tone that would send shivers down anyone's spine.

`But she isn't even fully demon! She can't have this kind of power… it's just not possible…'

"Release him…" Her father's voice was shaky and the guards immediately released Makoto, "Now go… you still hold claim to the throne until your death. My time is near and you will be responsible." With that said, he turned and left never expecting to see his first born again.

"Mei?" Makoto approached her warily. Her anger had not yet settled and it seemed to emanate from her in waves.

"What!" She growled menacingly in her father's direction. Abruptly turning and walking in the direction of the castle gates, she noticed Makoto trailing behind her.

"Don't follow me…" She spoke clearly and directly. Before she could turn around he had her pinned again against another wall, this time face first.

"What the fuck! Let me go!"

"Like I said before," his breath hot against her neck and his hands pinning hers above her head, "You're not going to leave me behind…" He nipped at her neck, earning himself another gasp. Still pinning her hands, now with only his left, he brought his right down to her waist. He moved it slowly to her abdomen and gently raised it to lie upon her left breast.

"Makoto… we can't do this…" Her voice had gone slightly husky and she started to feel that familiar build up in her stomach. Another gasp escaped her lips quickly followed by a low moan. His hand, which had once lain still, was now massaging her breast, "Makoto… we shouldn't…"

She was quickly spun around and his lips assaulted her own. She moaned into the kiss as his now two free hands started to roam over her body once more. He slowly pulled away from the kiss only to attack her neck, bringing his hands to rest on her hips. Pulling her closer against her body, he ground her pelvis against hers.

"Stop, Makoto! Stop, please…" Her body stiffened beneath his and she started to slightly tremble, panic evident on her pretty features.

He growled slightly, but did as she asked, "What's wrong?"

She stood there, her hands lightly pushing against his chest, her eyes closed and her breathing irregular.

"… I'm just… not… ready yet…" She trembled again and he could smell her scent mixed with fear and arousal.

He kissed her lips softly, "It's okay. I'll go as slow or fast as you desire." With another soft kiss to her lips, they left the castle…

…End of Flashback

SNAP!

The sound of a snapping twig jolted her awake.

`What the hell! How long have I been asleep?'

A breeze blew gently through the trees carrying the heavy scent of rain and sakura blossoms. She reached out, grabbing her yukatta, and swiftly jumped out of the water wrapping it around her frame. It clung to her wet skin providing hardly any cover.

"Show yourself… if you do, I may not kill you…"

Nothing moved except for the trees in the breeze.

"Suit yourself…" She ran quickly through the trees and reached out grabbing something and returning to the clearing. Looking down, she found a small girl in her clutch. She seemed to be around 8 or 9 years of age with mid-length length black hair. A portion of it was in a ponytail atop her head. She wore a flowery kimono which portrayed her as very fragile but full of life.

`Human… What is a human girl doing this far out in the woods?'

She was struggling violently and her cries for help were muffled since she held her hand pressed against the girl's mouth.

"Stop! Stop struggling! I won't hurt you just… OWWW!"

`She's killing my hand! Stop biting my hand, girl!'

The girl had already bitten hard enough into her hand to make it bleed. "Listen: I'm not immune to pain! I do feel things! So please stop biting my hand and if you stop struggling the I will let you go!" She immediately stopped biting her as asked and was released as she promised. This girl seemed extremely frightened of her and she instantly took several steps away from where she had been let go. She licked tenderly at her hand trying to get the bleeding to stop.

`For a human girl, she bites pretty hard…'

"Sesshoumaru-sama! Jaken-sama! Ah-Un!" The girl seemed to be crying out for help frantically. Mei didn't know what to do… She'd never had to deal with little children before.

She walked towards her, still only wrapped in her thin yukatta.

"Little girl, what is your name? How and why were you so deep in the woods… especially in the dark? It's dangerous at night… there are numerous youkai who indulge on human flesh… I don't! You don't have to worry about me!"

Despite her efforts to retrieve any information from this girl, she still stepped away from her, indeed still very frightened. Her scent was thick with fear.

`Oh boy! What a crap day this has turned out to be!'

Another breeze swept by carrying another scent.

`Youkai! Dammit! Of all things! Not now!'

Mei quickly gathered her things and swept the girl in her arms again. Running rapidly through the forest, she dodged trees, roots and low branches.

"Sesshoumaru-sama!"

"Quiet, girl! There is a youkai following us and if you don't be quiet, it will find us promptly. Normally this wouldn't be a problem, but I am not dressed to handle myself in a fight right now!" The girl abruptly silenced her pleas for help and clung to her while I sped onward. The youkai was approaching faster than expected. Mai could hear it speeding towards them and by this time its scent was quite strong.

A small field was approaching and she slowed down as it came in tow, coming to a complete stop a few feet from the close of the clearing that headed back into the thick of the woods.

The bushes rustled before them and the girl, whom she had set down upon entering the clearing, clung tightly to her leg.

"Be prepared to run. I will occupy this youkai. It will not go anywhere near you. I swear it!" She didn't know why she was protecting this girl… but perhaps it was because she was human and her own human emotions were coming into play.

The bushes rustled once more and she readied myself for an attack. Silence surrounded them for a few moments and then out of nowhere a shadowy figure stepped before them.

"Shit…"

A/N: I'm rewriting this story, not because I think it sucks but it's just confusing. I keeping it practically the same, just changing the POV to 3rd person and making it more detailed. That's all. If you want to reread it, be my guest. If not, hey, whatever, you already read it so no biggie. R&R. Thanks!