InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Wandering Souls ❯ Pathetic Human ( Chapter 4 )

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It amused her to know Marie could move that fast when her emotions took over. The amusement faded quickly when her eyes fell upon the scene in the small clearing.

Marie knelt beside the small torn body of a raven-haired child no more then nine years old, beside her lay an equally torn and bleeding toad demon with a dual faced wooden staff gripped tightly in his hand.

"Ar…are they alive?" Lea swallowed hard, carefully approaching her sister. The smell of pending death hung heavily in the air, causing the girl's stomach to lurch heavily.

"Barely," Marie growled as she looked over every inch of the child first then went to check the demon. "Go ahead of us little sister and tell Lady Kaeda that I'll be later."

"What?" Lea's eyes widened. " Can't leave you here alone! What ever done this to them might come back to finish the job."

Marie spun on her sister; a look Lea could not describe yet seemed to be a cross between rage and pleading. Though bigger and stronger then Marie, Lea took a step back, her eyes wide. Never had she seen such a look on her sister before.

"For once little sister do not argue with me. Travel to Kaeda's hut and warn her what happened here. Then bring back food and other supplies that I may need to help these two." Marie's voice cracked as she fought back the anger that threatened to cloud her vision.

"What about the creature?" Lea asked weakly.

"I'll deal with it if it shows up!" Marie's hand gripped the hilt of the sword at her side tightly and turned back to the task at hand. "Now hurry before something happens to the village."

Lea nodded and raced away. Marie knew it would take Lea at least two full days to reach the village and return. Sighing she set about her work to help the fallen ones.

The task was a difficult one, draining much of Marie's energy, but by nightfall the two were almost completely healed. The toad demon was lying near the small fire that Marie had built with the oncoming night, while she cradled the girl gently in her arms. Marie had just leaned back against an old tree, letting her eyes drift closed when her senses picked up the presence of a demon nearby. Slowly the feeling grew stronger meaning the creature was slowly getting closer to where they were.

Not knowing if she were sensing friend or foe, Marie remained seated with her eyes closed, slowly moving her right hand to grip the hilt of her sword. She had drawn it earlier and rested it beside her on the ground, and placed in such a manner that it appeared she had fallen asleep with it in her hand.

Marie tuned all her senses on the presence and waited for it to make its self know. She did not have long to wait as a giant emerged from the trees to stare in surprise at the trio.

"Well, well, well," a deep gravely voice broke the serenity of the night. "Looks like I've finally found you!"

Marie could hear the malice dripping in the voice as it spoke. An involuntary shiver went down the young woman's spine, but she suppressed it enough to remain still. A slight movement off to her left told her that the demon was coming closer, yet it seemed hesitant.

"W.. what?" a second voice, almost high pitched off to her right demanded, telling Marie that the toad demon had finally awoken. "Who…" he was about to ask, when the deeper voice cut him off, startling the little demon.

"Thought you could escape me? Thought your pathetic staff could continue to protect you and that stupid human girl?" it asked.

"Leave now before Lord Sesshomaru founds out what you are about," the toad demanded.

"I fear him not!" laughed the demon. "My master bids me to slay the girl and you will not stop me this time Joken."

"I'm warning you don't come any closer!" Joken stammered out, gripping his staff tightly.

Marie had heard enough. Anger glazed in her dark eyes as they flew open to gaze at the two demons before her. The anger was a brief flash that neither demon saw, but soon switched to the emotionless mask she always wore.

While the two argued, with Joken brandishing the staff menacingly toward the demon, Marie carefully laid the child aside and stood. Her sword was gripped loosely in her right hand; it's tip dragging the ground behind her. It gave her the appearance of being weaker then she really was.

"Give me Rin, Joken and maybe Noraku will deal kindly with you."

"Never! I would never betray Lord Sesshomaru!" spat Joken in disgust spraying fire at the giant demon.

"I'll rip out your heart for this!" the demon shouted raising a huge clawed arm as if to strike down Joken. Joken quickly moved, causing the demon to growl in frustration.

Marie sized both demons up, assessing the situation and suddenly began to laugh. It was a musical sound yet full of anger and loathing.

Startled both demons turned to stare wide mouthed at the human woman. The giant towered over her by four feet, his black skin shimmering in the dim firelight. It's disfigured face held a long muzzle with fangs almost as long as Marie's forearm. Glittering red eyes stared at her with rage at her presumed amusement. Black fuzz spread over it's contorted body as though mold grew in patches over it. The stench coming off the giant was almost unbearable.

"Don't interfere human," spat the demon, fairly hissing his displeasure at her intrusion. "You'll die soon enough."

"Don't presume!" Marie laughed then her face grew serious as she studied the giant before her. "What is your name friend?"

"What's it to you?" the demon was looking both confused and irritated at her question.

"Because I like to know who I am about to kill," Marie advanced on the giant demon.

"What?" Joken stammered, "you're nothing but a…"

"Go tend to the child, Lord Joken," Marie interrupted him quickly her eyes never leaving her enemy. "Allow this lowly human the pleasure of disposing of this pathetic excuse of a demon for you Lord Joken. He is not worthy of your time."

Joken just barely nodded turning back to watch over Rin. He stood ready watching the curious human closely, ready to spring into battle should the human fail.

"Pathetic demon!" roared the giant, outraged even as Joken slunk back to the child.

Marie turned cold eyes back toward the giant. Nothing gave away the internal rage that dwelt within her. Glad for once that no one in the Western lands knew who she was, Marie's mind turned to the task at hand.

"Your name!" she demanded. Her waist lengths, rich brown hair covered the front of her body, hiding the demon mark from her opponent's eyes and she preferred it that way. It made her appear all that more weak.

"Marie let a slight grin cross her face, one that whispered of the evil to come, yet only those that knew that innocent look would ever know what it truly meant. She dragged the sword around to grasp with both hands, letting it appear as though it were almost too heavy for her to lift.

"Have it your way." Marie replied coldly. Ready for what was to come next. The demon was predictable in his actions.

"I'm going to shred you to pieces slowly human!" the giant roared again. Swiftly, he lunged toward the seemingly helpless woman, his claws raised to strike her down instantly.

Marie spun quickly out of its way, dodging under its upraised arm with such speed that confused the demon before her. Behind him, Marie could see Joken staring at her wide-eyed in amazement. Wanting to gain more information out of the menacing creature before her, Marie decided to play a game of cat and mouse. At least till she could find out why someone would want an innocent child dead.

"Pathetic, you can attack a small child and an old toad, yet you cannot even faze a human as weak as I!" Marie taunted, her laughter ringing harshly in the giant's ears. "No wonder your master sent you after them."

"I'll crush you for that human!" The demon lunged again, but once more his claws only struck though thin air.

"Should I slow down for you old man?" Marie asked patiently, never letting any of her emotions seep through into her voice.

The giant growled, lunging forward swiftly, only to swing his arms wide in time to feel the bit of his claws into soft flesh. Satisfied, the demon looked to watch the human fall. Only to his surprised, the human was not down, but merely looked at the deep gash along her chest. The strike blew the girls hair back behind her revealing the old scar.

"What? Has Sesshomaru taken a mate?" The stunned look on the demon's face as he stared at the perfect imprint of fanged teeth along the girl's collarbone. Its color and shape having bleed to the raised white of an old scar long formed.

"I know not this Sesshomaru." Marie shrugged. Somewhere in the back of her mind she heard that name being repeated over and over by another voice from long again. She could not help but wonder what the Lord of the Western Lands had to do with this nonsense. Letting nothing of her thoughts show, Marie continued to talk to the stunned giant. "My mate died long ago."

"It does not matter," the demon laughed once again. "You will die, then I will finish off Sesshomaru's human brat."

The rage inside Marie welled up then, taking the firm control over her self away as swiftly as the wind might carry a leaf away. His words stirred inside her, gripping her stomach tightly as though he'd sliced through her with his claws instead.

"No one hurts a child while I'm still alive!" She screamed at him, her movements becoming a blurred response. She brought the sword up in a one-handed arch and sliced the demon's head from his shoulders before his laughter could die in his throat. The shock shown brightly in his eyes as the grotesque head bounced on the ground, then dimmed as it slowly descended into death.

Marie stared at the hulk of its body for a long while, watching for the small death demons that came to claim the souls. She could have killed the demon long ago, but had not wanted to use her already weakened powers. Healing Joken and the child had taken a lot out of her, but she used them now to watch as they slowly covered what was left of the demon. They crept stealthily toward the creature, wanting nothing more then to do the job that they had been created for. They glanced at the miko; almost afraid she would chase them away, but kept to their destined task. The moment Marie saw them; she nodded and relaxed her grip on the sword. Taking one last look at the swiftly decaying body, Marie then turned toward Joken, who still held his defensive position.

"He's gone," Marie stated calmly sheathing Tasuke. "Is the girl alright?"

At Joken's speechless nod, Mari strode to the fire and grasped one of the burning branches she'd placed on the fire earlier.

"What are you planning on doing with that, human?" demanded Joken, his tone dripping with hatred and worry toward the woman that just saved his life. He held his staff tightly in his hands, ready to fight her if he had the need to.

"I cannot heal myself as I did for you and the child. My powers are too drained to attempt it anyway." Marie truthfully stated in a monotone voice that told the toad demon nothing.

Joken watched in astonishment as the miko raised the burning branch toward her chest and slowly pressed it into each of the deep gashes. The sizzling of flesh echoed in the small clearing and the stench of burnt flesh drifted plainly into the night air. Never once did Marie cry out in pain, but he caught a quick glimpse of pain reflected in the girl's eyes though it was fleetingly brief.

"Lord Sesshomaru will reward you greatly for protecting what is his." Joken finally stammered out as Marie bent over the sleeping child. He watched as she checked on the child for any sign of distress.

Marie, content that the child was still sound asleep, carefully swept that small girl up in her arms and settled against the bark of the old tree. She cradled the girl to her, positioning Rin in her lap till they were both comfortable.

Marie's eyes fell on Joken who stood across from her, her face passive yet her eyes told of deep thought in them.

"Does he truly care for this child, Lord Joken?" Marie suddenly asked surprising the nervous toad. "Does he truly protect her as though she were his own?"

"Y.y.yes," Joken stammered, he doubted he'd ever get over anyone other then Rin calling him that, nor was he use to the respect this human used toward him. "He even saved her from death." The moment he said it, Joken felt like hitting himself, once again he'd said way too much but looking at the girl he could not help but feel as if just this once he'd actually said something right for once.

"Good," Marie said softly, "You should rest now so that the healing can still work on you."

"That sounds like a most excellent idea, human." Joken replied happy that for once no one was there to strike him for his big mouth. Quietly he settled himself against the same tree that Marie leaned back against and shut his eyes.

Rin moaned softly in her sleep her head thrashing back and forth. Marie soothed the child's hair from her face, a soft greenish glow covering both her hand and Rin's forehead. Softly she spoke to the tormented child," Shh, Sleep peacefully child and when you awaken it will be alright once more."

Sighing contently Rin snuggled closer to Marie and fell back into a peaceful slumber, leaving behind whatever it had been that frightened the child.

"You're a miko!" Joken's whispered exclamation startled Marie and she looked over at him questioningly for a second before realizing that he must have sensed her powers.

"Yes," was all Marie said as she closed her eyes effectively cutting off any more of the questions the toad demon might come up with.