InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Inari Torii- An Inuyasha Story! ❯ Part 1- A strange new place, A strange new Person! ( Chapter 1 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

The last thing I could remember before I woke, were the gathered monks around me...Chanting...Chanting my death to me.
She awoke with a start, and could not move too well at the moment. "Breathe..Breathe...Ah-Ahh...Ohh...." Ahhh, Her throat! Her voice barely came out in a rasp. She took deep slow inhales of air which was what first alerted her to the sharp stinging pain in her back, arm, and shoulder. She slowly let her eyelids fall closed again for a moment or two, gathering energy inside her she would need to heave herself off of the ground. She could feel by flexing her hands that her muscles hadn't been used in a while. From this she could determine that she'd been lying here for at least a day. She tried to think back, tried to remember how she got here. She traced her memory back to the very strange dream she'd been having before she'd woken up. There were.....Voices.....Deep voices that sounded Dark and Ominous. Also...Ugh....it was so hard to remember...Also......Figures. Yes the people, men, chanting. They wore robes of black and a very very lush purple....And...-AHH!
She'd scared herself awake again as she sat up too suddenly. She let out a pained shriek as her Non-Injured hand flew to the wounds made on her arm. It hurt to touch them so her hand merely hovered over the wounds as she panted from Fear and Excitement. It was obvious she couldn't go back to sleep, even if she'd wanted to. But, she had to get to water. Her throat was feeling incredibly parched to the point where shrieking as she had done felt like a piece of sand paper being dragged across inflamed flesh. She did a few silent practice movements as she flexed the muscles in her legs and arms. While doing this little ten minute exercise she decided to finally take note of where she was.
She was in a Place that was nearly completely covered in Moss. That was why the ground was so soft, she supposed. About a meter up ahead she could make out small statues which had been halfway buried on the moss and dirt beneath it. The rich vegetation looked nearly completely untouched, other than what indicated Animals passing through here occasionally. But even then, there were few tracks. This place was sacred, how did she end up here? Another wave of throbbing in her wounds reminded her that she needed to get to water. She gave an Airy grunt as she used her body weight to throw herself onto her feet, stumbling forward a few steps. She paused to regain her balance. Much to her surprise, the moss covered ground was still solid, and she did not sink at all as she had expected to.
And so her journey began. She began stiffly walking, taking a glance behind her at the imprints of her feet left in the moss. Somehow they looked so special to her...Like a peaceful difference made in a place that hadn't been changed in so long. She placed her hand on a tree as she looked as the moss covered Statues. She couldn't help but wonder, how long had they been here, and why were they here, as Deep Blue eyes stared out among them. After a moment or so of admiration she began walking again. She gasped as she tripped, causing a branch to snag on the ribbon holding her hair up, and for her beautiful Chocolate-Colored hair to fall and cascade around her shoulders and back. She sucked air through her teeth when her wounds tingled because of her hair lightly brushing over them.
She gazed back at the branch that looked like a bony hand holding her ribbon. She simply sighed and thought, 'You keep it.' as she continued walking. She was glad that the ground was soft since her feet were simply too tender right now and would be sliced on the twigs and rocks she knew lay below the dirt and moss. She rested her good hand in the cradle of her neck so the rest of the large sleeve of the Priestesses Haori could cover her injured arm where the sleeve had been ripped off. Oh-...That's right. She gave another light sigh at the clothes. They were not hers. Ooh so many questions she wanted to have answered.
She paused, thoughts interrupted, as she heard water. Her face brightened up a little at this as she wanted to let out a loud shout of joy, but instead she took to her feet once again and fled through the foliage as she soon reached a small river. She slowed to a walk again and fell to her knees to drink and tend to herself. She cupped the water and brought it to her mouth as she drank needingly, not caring that her hair was falling into the water. After she'd drank her fill she then began timidly washing her wounds that she could reach. For this, she slowly removed her blood encrusted clothes from the upper half of her body. And why not? There wasn't anybody else here. The river was only about 6 feet wide and was only 5 feet deep. She heard light noises from behind her and froze for a moment. She slowly turned, and blinked at the Deer that was standing there behind her with a curious gaze on it's face. She returned the odd stare and simply went back to cleaning herself off. As she began to wash her face she gave another very light shriek at feeling a tongue licking the wounds on her back she could not reach.
She turned around fully now to see the startled deer having backed away a bit. She stared at it, panting from the scare, and wondered, 'What.....Why did...' She'd never encountered a wild animal doing such a thing before. The deer took another timid step forward and licked the air lightly as if asking permission this time. This....was......just weird. Though as weird as things was, she decided to let the animal help her. I mean, if it was smart enough to help her then why shouldn't she let it? She turned around again and inhaled sharply as the deer once again began cleaning the area around the intricately carved wounds in her back. When the deer was finished it leapt off into a different part of the woods. By now she was clean enough and had drank enough water for now. Though she had to adjust something. She used her teeth to rip off the other sleeve so now it was even on both sides. Though she kept the sleeve however and now used it as a pouch to gather things like berries, nuts, and anything else she might come across she would need. But, hell, she might not even find anything edible here. Even if she did would she even recognize what's edible or not? Ohh she just wanted......She just wanted to go home!
Where.....was..........home?
After finding a nice tree to rest under, she decided she would at least try to get some sleep. It wouldn't be easy, she realized, but she had to try and rest up so her wounds could heal. She picked this tree, because she felt protected by it. It's roots curved so while she was lying at it's base it was arched protectively over her. Almost like a hand, you see. She rolled up the slightly bloody sleeve she'd ripped off and used it as a pillow for now. She Just wished--....She wished, there was at least someone else here to talk to. As protective as the tree seemed, she still felt scared and alone. Plus she was in pain. The more she thought about these things the more her emotions raised, and she soon found tears threatening to release from her eyes. She shut her eyes as she lay down fully with a wince and cried herself to sleep.
"Inuyasha, Are you sure this is the way?"
"For the last time Miroku, I'm sure damn it. I smelled blood this way, Human blood. Not to mention Kagome sensed a jewel shard in this direction."
"-sigh- Alright Inuyasha. But we all have to be careful in this place. There is a reason why the Gateway is blocked, because beyond here is a realm for the spirits in the land of the living."
"Like a home away from home for Spirits?"
"That's right Kagome. They could be peaceful or they could be angry spiri- Ahh! Wait! Inuyasha don't-"
"Yeah yeah Whatever we gotta go get that jewel shard!"
"Inuyasha stop tearing the Gate apart! SIT BOY!" THUD.That was the sound that was heard, followed by a groan and growl. "Damn, Kagome!" Inuyasha growled as he worked himself to his feet and brushed himself off while rubbing his head. That hurt EVERY time. "Well, you deserved it. We can just go over the gate rather than going through it!" Stated the girl as she held out an explanatory hand to the gate. Inuyasha simply stuck his nose in the air. "Fine, then." he said as he squat down for Kagome to climb onto his back. She did so, while Sango and Miroku and Shippo rode Kirara over the gate. Then, they started down the slightly mossy, pebble covered path. It did not take long for them to come deep into the forest, only about half an hour.
"This place sure is beautiful..." Kagome noted, looking around at their surroundings. "That's because it hasn't been disturbed by anything other than spirits for a long time. Decades, perhaps." he said. "Hold on guys." Shippo said as the little Fox demon jumped into the bushes, and called from the other side of the thick foliage, "Hey guys come look! I found something!" he called excitedly. The rest of the group rushed to where he was calling, and stopped as they looked at what his eyes were glued upon. "It looks like something- Something was here!" Kagome exclaimed. Inuyasha sniffed the air, getting a few good whiffs before he nodded knowingly. "Yeah. This is the blood I smelled earlier alright." he said. Miroku lightly walked over to the imprinted Moss, and the imprints of the footsteps leading away.
"Well it's a good thing this place is so mossy, it'll be easier to find her." he noted. Kagome blinked, "It's a woman?" "Yes." "Well let's go find her then! Maybe she knows where the jewel shard is too." Inuyasha stated as he hastily began following the footprints. "Inuyasha wait up!" Kagome called as she went after him, as did the rest of them. It was only another 15 minutes before they reached the river where there was very little blood, but water on the bank of the river and more footsteps following alongside the river. Inuyasha sniffed the air more now as he got close to the ground to do it. "She's close now. And still bleeding for that matter." he said as he broke into a run, the other trailing behind him.
Now, they had found her. Inuyasha stopped as the others stopped beside him and they all just stared at her. Shippo hopped onto Miroku's shoulder with an astonished gaze. "Woooow! She's beautiful!" he said before letting out a small fearful noise. "Look how much she's bleeding!" he said as he hopped over to Kagome's shoulder. Indeed, she'd bled a lot while she slept. Her blood trailed down from behind her making a small trail leading to the puddle of blood that had gathered at her hands which lay at the end of outstretched arms. Miroku was the first to approach her as he knelt in front of her and Oh so lightly shook her good shoulder. "Hime-Sama...? Hime-Sama..." he said as he continued gently ushering her into consciousness. She gave a light moan as deep blue eyes fluttered open. It took a moment for his face to come into view, but when it did, she looked quite surprised and gasped as she made another sharp movement to sit up, wincing in doing so. This was Kagome's cue to come over with the bandages she already had out.
When Kagome approached she paused, a thunderous heartbeat flowing through her. She stared at the Injured Hime on the ground, eyes lingering down to her shoulder, where a tiny light glowed visible to her eyes. Inuyasha blinked as he nudged Kagome. "Kagome, What is it?" "It's the jewel shard, It's in her shoulder.." she said. Inuyasha blinked in surprise as he looked at the girl. Why hadn't he sensed it too? And for that matter, why hadn't the shard healed her wounds? Hmm...This was odd indeed. But odd as it was, Miroku had coaxed her into talking and they had also found the jewel shard they were looking for.
"What is your name, Hime-Sama?" he asked. She shook her head. "I....I d-..." she blinked ,remembering the stream. She couldn't remember her own name, so she gave herself one. "..Mizu. My name is Mizu." she said. She finally felt safe to a point, and a smile had even shown on her face with grateful eyes until they lingered down to Miroku's clothes. Her face immediately froze, turning to pure dread and horror in an instant. Miroku's own face looked seriously surprised. "Mizu?" he asked. At the sound of his voice, now, an image flashed before her eyes of the same type of clothes, men in the same clothes standing around her with a blade slicing into her shoulder. She shrieked as she jolted to her feet and ignored the searing pain of such sharp movements.
Her sudden reaction made Miroku fall backwards but he stood up again. She turned around and took to her heels as she sprinted around the tree and started into the forest again in a hysterical frenzy. "Miroku what did you do?!" Kagome asked as they all chased after her. "I didn't do anything!" he replied as he and Inuyasha took the lead of the chase. She was pretty fast for someone who hadn't eaten in a while, and was injured at that. Blood now created a trail on the ground as she literally leapt and cleared the river in one jump. Of course, the rest of them did also since they got their exercise on a daily basis. Sango cried out, "Inuyasha you have to cut her off she's going to bleed to death like this!"
Inuyasha nodded, and with a grunt he pulled ahead of Miroku. With a burst of speed he made one great leap over her, landing in front of her just in time to catch her as she stopped. "Let GO! LET ME GO!" she rebelled as she thrashed around until Inuaysha restricted her movements. She tried thrashing still, but stopped with a cry of pain as her shoulder back and arm ached more than anything. The others caught up in no time, and Miroku took a moment to catch his breath. "Mizu.....-pant- -pant-...What's the matter??" he asked. Mizu stared at him with fear filled eyes and turned her head away from him with only a small whimper as she shut her eyes tightly. "Don't hurt me..." Inuyasha blinked at the calmed girl, not letting her go until she stopped making sudden movements hoping to jerk from his grasp.
"What the hell are you talking about? What do you have against Miroku?" he asked pressingly with a harsh voice. Though, Kagome and Sango came over. "Inuyasha stop holding her so tightly, she's just really scared right now." Kagome said. Inuyasha loosened his grip, letting her fall to her knees again with a sob. Miroku kept his distance since something about him obviously scared the girl out of her wits. Kagome and Sango consoled her while Kagome bandaged her up. They tried coaxing a story from her, but every time they asked she only shook her head and said, "Keep that monk away from me!" This was a mystery indeed. Kagome ordered the two to turn their backs, and borrowed Inuyasha's Haori as she removed Mizu's Damaged shirt to Bandage her wounds, and then let her wear his shirt for now.
"Alright, you two can look now." Kagome said as she helped Mizu to her feet. "Well? So what's her problem?" he asked as he crossed his arms with a slight glance to the still confused Miroku. Sango shook her head. "She doesn't want to talk about it. But whatever it is it must involve Miroku." she said with a wary glance to him. He gave an exasperated sigh and held his hands out palms facing upwards. "But, I have never met this girl! I have NO idea why she is afraid of me..." he said. "Well in any case," Kagome chimed in, "We'd better keep you two separated for now. Maybe when she gets some rest she'd be willing to tell us some more." "Yeah but for now we should rest! I'm hungry..." Shippo said as he poked his head out of Kagome's backpack waving a cup of instant noodles. Which, Inuyasha promptly snatched away. "That's mine Ya' little twerp." "Hey!" "Stop fighting you two, this is not the time for it! But shippo is right. We should find a place to rest for now."