InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Wind Beneath My Wings ❯ Azumi ( Chapter 5 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

It was dark.

That much she knew.

But everything else was foggy and incomprehensible. It was quiet and still, almost tense. She had no idea where she was or how she got there, or if she was even alive. All she could tell was that she was numb, she couldn't feel the pain and for that she was grateful. But as she was about to commit herself to the sweet oblivion of darkness, one name shot through her mind like an electric shock. Linorah!

She suddenly began clawing her way back to the surface of conciousness, trying as hard as she could to move, but her limbs were heavy, as were her eyelids. She was completely immobile. Linorah, she could be... in danger, I have to... help...

Slowly Izayoi felt herself being pulled furthur away from the darkness that enveloped her senses. She expected her hearing and smell to return first but she was severely disappointed. Dimly, she registered somewhere in the back of her mind that she was human and had she been fully concious she would've groaned in annoyance. But she bit the frustration back as she slowly began to start becoming aware of the changes around her. She hissed inwardly as sharp pain shot through her leg. With conciousness, the pain was returning and that was the only thing that slowed her down. But terrified thoughts about her little sister being hurt shot through her mind and she tried her best to igonore the pain and suddenly her now violet eyes shot open. "Ughnn..."

Darkness.

She blinked again, reaching up with one heavy arm to lay a palm over her forehead, wincing. She blinked rapidly, several times, as a cough tore fromt her chest. She nearly yelped again as hot pain seared through her body as she coughed, hard. Lazily she gently pressed her fingertips against her sides and was met with more pain. Damn, broken ribs. Just what I need.

She coughed again loudly as her eyesight began to clear. "Wh-what the- *cough* heck?" she managed as her eyes fluttered closed, feeling heavy and tired. But her little sister kept her from giving back in to unconciousness and she managed to lift her head up a bit, blinking to adjust her eyes to the dark. Her eyes narrowed as she took in her surroundings, mind racing with plans and ideas.

She was in a small, yet comfortable hut. It wasn't her own, this she knew, because she knew her father would NEVER leave her unattended with wounds like this, especially on her human night. But her father was nowhere to be found, and quite frankly, neither was her mother, or her sisters or brothers. She wasn't home. So where am I?

Gritting her teeth to block out the pain, Izayoi slowly began pushing herself up, eyes screwed shut in concentration. Had she been a hanyou she would've heard the rustle of a reed door being pushed back and soft footsteps approaching. But she didn't notice the other's prescence until she was shoved down firmly. Izayoi let out a groan of both pain and annoyance. Weary violet eyes flickered to the shadowy figure kneeling before her.

"H-Hey!" she croaked, instantly throwing her guard up. "Who the hell are you? What's the big idea?"

The figure merely sighed and stood up, walking over to a bucket by the doorway and dipping a cloth into it, wringing it out and placing it on Izayoi's forehead. Had she not been so weak, the half hanyou would've shook it off. She glared at the figure and was about to argue but it sighed and stood, shaking its head.

"Just pipe down, will you?" Izayoi was stunned to hear a female voice. The mysterious girl continued. "You're already hurt enough as it is, don't make it worse for yourself."

Izayoi blinked, astounded, before regaining her composure. "Oi! And who are you to be ordering me around like that, huh?"

"No one special." the girl murmured as she stepped closer to the fire, illuminating her face. Long brown hair was swept up casually into a loose braid at the back of her head. Piercing blue-violet eyes stood out more than anything else, accented by soft whisps of hair just before her ears. She smirked slightly and tossed her braid over one shoulder. "Just the person who saved your life."

Izayoi snorted. "Keh, whatever. What makes you think I'll believe you, eh?"

The girl shrugged one shoulder casually, as if she couldn't care less what the half hanyou thought. "Maybe because it's the truth."

She sat down and stared at the fire, gently poking at it with a long stick, making the flames jump and crackle. Izayoi's mind swam. What the...

Slowly she cleared her throat and, still maintaining her tough demeanor but dropping the rudeness, she asked. "Well, care to elaborate?"

The girl looked up quickly at her, blinking in surprise, as though she'd completely forgotten she was there. "You were about ready to be eaten by the dragon, out cold. I slayed the beast and brought you back to my mother's village. I was hoping you could be out of here within a week or so, those injuries are pretty bad."

"Keh." Izayoi snorted. "These are nothing, they'll be gone by tomorrow." Slowly, she managed to push herself into an almost sitting position with her shoulders leaned up against the warm wooden wall of the hut. The girl's eyes widened slightly. "But, how-"

"Long story." Izayoi said softly, averting her eyes. Best not clue her in to her transformation -- who knows? The mysterious girl may have it out for any kind of youkai, much less a half hanyou. Until sunrise Izayoi wasn't taking her chances. She and her rescuer sat in silence for a while, lost in thought. Suddenly, without thinking and letting her human emotions take over, Izayoi looked up. "I'm Izayoi." she said with a half smile. The girl returned in kind. "Azumi."

Izayoi nodded thoughtfully. "Azumi, eh? So you claim to have slayed the dragon. How do I know you're not bluffing?"

Rolling her eyes, as if suspecting that she would ask that, Azumi dug into her pocket and held out her hand, palm up. Several scales that matched those on the dragon's hide lay there, partially covered in dried blood. Izayoi sighed slightly. "You made your point."

How could one measley human take it down when I, part youkai, couldn't?

She looked towards the small window at one end of the hut and to her immense relief, the sun was beginning to rise. Ignoring her pain, Izayoi quickly stood and headed towards the door, not wanting Azumi to see her transformation and therefore know her night of vunerability.

"Well Azumi, thanks, it's been great but I have to go."

Azumi stood, puzzled. "You shouldn't be moving-"

"I said thanks, I'm fine, now I'll be on my way!"

With that, Izayoi brushed past the girl and knocked something heavy over onto the floor. But she paid it no mind, desperately trying to get away from Azumi before she resumed her half hanyou form once again. Luckily, she made it out of the hut and past the grand entrance of the destroyed village and had ducked behind a tree to avoid being seen. Strength suddenly consumed her as her broken leg and ribs suddenly healed, allowing her to breathe freely once again but leaving sharp cuts and bruises in their wake. Her senses sharpened once again as her youkai traits were restored and she sighed gratefully, thanking Kami for letting her survive the night. Her mind still on her baby sister, Izayoi set off into the forest, sniffing and searching looking for any sign of Linorah. She was so distracted, she didn't notice Azumi chuckle and disappear back into the hut. Half hanyou, huh? I should've known.

"Linorah!!" she called as she leap from treetop to treetop, wincing with each landing and takeoff but continuing despite the pain. "Linorah, where are you?? Lin!!"

Suddenly she stopped as a familier scent assualted her nose and she stopped, listening precariously. Soon, a faint sound was heard. "Izayoi!! Izayoi!!!"

Joy filled in her heart and she raced towards the sound. "I'm here! Papa! Mama!" Sure she knew it sounded foolish, like a pup almost, but she'd been through so much that she didn't care. She needed her family, and she needed them now. She knew Inuyasha must've caught her scent because there was a flash of red and silver before she felt herself engulfed in a tight, warm embrace. "Papa." she sighed, burying her nose in the red fabric of his kimono and latching her arms around his waist, ignoring the shooting pain in her sides. She breathed deeply, basking in his scent. She'd missed it terribly. Suddenly she felt tears welling up behind her eyes. It was the first time she'd been alone -- and in danger for that matter, on her human night. She shuddered, thinking of how much she'd wished her dad could've been there. She knew Inuyasha must be just as terrified as she, if not more, as she felt him quivering slightly as she hugged him. She felt him bury his nose in her ebony locks, also breathing her scent in deeply. He'd often said that her scent was a balm to his soul. HIs daughters and his mate. They were his undoing. "Pup, you're safe. I was so worried, are you okay?" he whispered softly and she sighed, relief and tension flowing out of her in that one sentence.

Slowly, wincing, she pulled back to look at him. "I-I'm okay, Papa." she managed, a sudden wave of fatigue washing over her. She looked up at concerned golden eyes as her father scanned over her body looking for any signs of injury. He could smell her blood she knew, and could feel the bumps as he lightly ran clawed hands over her sides. It didn't hurt when he was there, it just made her feel safe. "Really." she managed, and he looked ready to argue when there was a rustle in the bushes and a sweet scent enveloped the two. Izayoi peered over her father's shoulder just in time to see Kagome push her way out of the bushes, face tears streaked and tired. "Izzy! Oh, Izzy darling!"

Kagome barreled into her daughter's arms and Izayoi reciprocated, wrapping her arms around her mother. "I'm fine, Mama." she whispered softly as the petite woman sobbed in her arms. "I promise I'm okay." Quivering, Izayoi held her mother and felt Inuyasha's arms wrap around both of them. Izayoi sighed deeply, relieved. This was where she belonged, cradled in her father's arms, her mother close to her. But the quiet moment ended aburptly when a shock of pain jolted through Izayoi's chest and she gasped, hand flying to her side. She nearly doubled over and Kagome nearly started sobbing again. "Oh, Izayoi, what happened?"

Growling under her breath, Izayoi let her father pick her up bridal style as her mother clambered onto his back. For a mortal, this would be impossible, but not for her papa. Izayoi sighed as her father began walking quickly but gently back to their home.

"It was a dragon youkai." she said softly, eyes fluttering closed, both in exhaustion and pain. "It was at least 8 stories, Mama." she continued, ignoring her mother's gasp of horror. "I told Linorah to-"

Golden eyes shot open as she jumped, horrified. "Linorah!! Linorah, is she-?"

Inuyasha nodded, smoothing her hair and shushing her as he approaced the hill on top of which the house lay. "She's fine, she came running in late last evening. I searched for you all night. I'm sorry I couldn't get there in-"

"Stop that now." Izayoi murmured wearily as he reached the top of the hill. "I'm fine and you're here now, that's all that matters." Kagome smiled from her place on Inuyasha's back and a small smile flitted across his lips as well. "Okay." he said softly. "And then what happened?"

Izayoi swallowed loudly. "I taunted it, tried to attack but it blew fire on me. I broke my leg. Then the sun set and I turned human. It hit me with its tail and knocked me into a tree, I know I broke a few ribs."

Inuyasha's brow furrowed in worry as he kicked the door open and allowed Kagome to slid off and hurry into the next room to get the First Aid. Gently, he carred her into the living room and laid her on the couch. She was almost asleep again, and she was dimly aware of her mother gasping at her wounds before bandaging them up and her father kissing her slightly feverish brow before slipping off into sweet oblivion.

It wasn't until she was halyway asleep before she realized that Azumi had Kenshuga.

~*~

DUN DUN DAH!! Wonder who Azumi might be? :)

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