InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Love Always Hurts ❯ Prologue ( Chapter 1 )

Love Always Hurts

Prologue

A young girl walked through the forest. She looked about 18 with blonde hair that had streaks of green in it. Her eyes were an angry green at the moment. Airina broke into a run as she fought tears. The only home she had ever known had just told her that they were going to give her away to the monster of the world to try and win his favor.

She didn't watch out where she was going until she accidentally ran into someone. Looking up from the ground, Airina gasped. Naraku, the youkai lord that had taken over this place and the demon that she was supposed to be handed over to her, glared at her menacingly. Backing up, Airina started to shake uncontrollably. Naraku's temper was well known.

"You're not afraid of me, are you?" Naraku asked amused at her fear. This angered Airina and made her momentarily forget her fear of him.

"I do not fear anything. Especially, people like you." Airi taunted and gasped as Naraku flew forward and picked her up by her throat, clutching it so tightly that Airi was starting to lose consciousness.

"How dare you speak to me like that? I should kill you for that comment." Naraku was extremely angry. Airi only smiled sadly.

"Then kill me. I have no reason to live. My family has betrayed me to gain your favor. There isn't much worth living for." Naraku's anger dissipated as he heard the mix of anger, sadness, and betrayal in her voice. He set her down gently, to the utter shock of Airi.

"What is your name?" Naraku asked gently. ~Why am I treating her like this. I have known her for the course of about two minutes and I already feel attached to her. What spell has she placed upon me? ~ Naraku pondered.

"Airina." Airi spoke so softly that Naraku almost missed it. Naraku watched her for a second before motioning her forward. Slowly, she shuffled forward until she within a foot of Naraku. Naraku stepped forward and pulled her against him.

When Airi started to struggle Naraku told her, "I will not hurt you. Don't worry." She stopped struggling and he turned around and commanded, "Get on my back."

She hopped onto his back and Naraku took off running through the forest. He stopped as the reached a village that Airi recognized as her own.

"Ummm…" Airi started unsure if she was allowed to talk or not. At Naraku's nod she continued, "What are we doing here? I would've thought that you would have taken me to your castle or whatever."

Naraku smiled menacingly. "I am here to officially take what is mine."

Airi glared at him while backing away but Naraku stopped her. By now, the villagers had come out of their huts to greet Naraku and officially hand over Airi to him. Airi glared at Naraku again before turning her glare to the villagers.

"Now Airi, is that any way to look at the people that took you in and clothed you when you were a child?" The elder of the village walked up with her granddaughter close behind. The granddaughter, Celeste, smiled happily at the thought that she would never have to fight for the men's affections ever again now that Airi was being given to the meanest youkai in the land.

"I look this way to those who do not deserve my gratitude," Airi answered angrily shaking off Naraku's hand as it was distracting her, though she hadn't the slightest clue why. The elder walked up and pushed Airi so hard that it sent the young girl flying into the mud at her feet.

"That is all you ever were girl. Dirt. Mud. Something everyone hated and disliked because of its disgusting nature. Something no one could ever love." Airi turned her head away and blinked furiously trying to ride her eyes of the annoying prickles at the back of them. Naraku saw this and was suddenly angered. He had no idea why but he cared for this girl. There was just something about her.

Suddenly, he felt a body in his arms and a wetness spread on his kimono. Naraku looked down startled, to see that tears stained Airi's cheeks. She felt warm and safe inside his embrace and she reveled in it. Airi buried her head in his shoulder and clutched his kimono in a vice grip as she struggled to keep her sobs quiet.

Suddenly, a hand shot out and grabbed Airi by the hair throwing her to the ground. Airi looked up to see an enraged Elder. "How dare you touch the great Naraku in such a way. Naraku is not some handkerchief that you can cry on." Turning to Naraku, who hadn't done anything because of his state of shock. "I'm terribly sorry your greatness. She is a foolish little girl and we will dispose of her for you as she is totally unfit to be even a slave for you."

These words broke Naraku out of his stupor. Bringing himself to full height, Naraku spoke menacingly, "You will not kill her." Airi looked up thinking that he had done this deed for her. "Do you have the right to judge who will work best with me and who won't? I will not stand for that kind of disrespect to me. I will take the girl. Come," Naraku commanded. Airi hesitated. ~He didn't do this for me. He only did it to prove that he could handle me. I… I won't go. He cannot make me~

"I said come. Do not make me repeat myself to you a third time," Naraku warned. Airi wiped her tears away and got up. However, instead of going to Naraku as everyone expected, Airi turned on her heel and took off running the other way. Naraku growled and started running after her.

Following her into the forest, he caught up to her easily by a small stream. He grabbed her, spun her around, and then smacked her across the face. Airi's hand shook as she placed it to the red handprint that had formed where he had hit her. No one had ever hit her before.

"Don't ever do that sort of thing again do you understand. Now come. We shall go to my castle." Naraku stretched out his hand for her to take but instead she just clutched one hand to her shirt and the other to her face. Slowly, she shook her head.

"I… I won't go with you. The only reason you spared my life was because she hurt your pride. I won't with the knowledge of that," Airi said backing up and slipping when she hit the slippery rocks of the stream. The blow of the water never came and she looked up to see Naraku before he pulled her to him.

"I didn't spare your life out of my pride. I saved it because you are different than all the other girls that I have ever met. I don't really understand this but if you don't come I'll just rid myself of these feelings by destroying the source of them. Understand?" When Airi nodded and he tossed her onto his back before taking off through the forest.

In a matter of minutes, Naraku had reached his favorite summer castle. It was gorgeous to Airi. She had never seen anything so grand in her entire life. She hung on as Naraku ran inside the castle and stopped, letting her climb off his back and stare at the beautiful garden that was at the main entryway.

Airi suddenly felt a happiness form deep within her soul. For the first time in her life she felt truly free of all life's problems. The first smile in years spread on her face. Naraku looked at her and saw the first smile he had ever seen on her face and had to smile himself.

Airi turned to see Naraku smiling at her and she blushed looking down.