InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Wandering Souls ❯ Lord Sesshomaru ( Chapter 5 )

Last chap: Marie had defeated one of Noraku's demons to protect Rin and Joken.

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Slowly, it sunk in, the deep feeling of being watched, an eerie sort of feeling crept into the young miko as she rested against the tree.

=Either I'm lost in sleep or he is more powerful than he seems. = Marie thought as she forced her eyes too open. She longed to sleep a while longer, her body weak and tired from over excursion of the previous day.

He stood not more then five feet away from her, his long silver white hair blowing in the gentle breeze. Dark eyes met a golden gaze, yet neither showed any emotion. Marie's arms tightened protectively around the small child she held, but she just sat and stared at him feeling almost lost in those molten depths.

"Joken tells me I have much to thank you for." To Marie his voice sounded deep, rich yet void of any feeling. Strangely, it reminded her of a warm breeze on a cold day. Mentally, Marie shook herself still holding Rin.

"You must be Lord Sesshomaru." Marie stated with out a doubt in her mind. His noble manners spoke of a highborn lord, his clothing of the rich silk only the richest lords could afford. She kept her voice soft, letting none of the things she felt bleed into it. Marie instantly recognized the demon Lord of the Western Lands from the description Noratu had given her, and now here he was, her old mate's worst enemy was standing right in front of her.

"I am," Sesshomaru replied in a monotone voice that spoke of boredom, yet his golden eyes seemed to drink in her appearance, intently watching every move she made especially those where Rin was concerned.

Marie glanced over him, taking in his full appearance. Her eyes resting on the empty left sleeve where it danced emptily in the breeze twisting and turning to its delight. Finally, the miko drug her gaze back up to meet his eyes.

"Why have you not healed?" Her tone held a slight curiousness to it, though her tone seemed to be tinged with the slightest hint of worry.

"Do not question Lord Sesshomaru, human!" Joken sputtered outraged at her boldness. She should be bowing lowly to the great demon, not standing there defiantly watching his every move.

"Quiet Joken." Sesshomaru said, he did not turn to look at his vassal, keeping his eyes on Marie. Already he was filling the familiar stirrings of curiosity deep with in him.

"B.b.but Lord Sesshomaru!" Joken protested only to fall silent at the glare Sesshomaru gave him.

"When he turned back to look at Marie she felt the depth of that cold gaze on her like a weight. It were almost as if her were judging whether she were worthy of speaking to or not.

"Where is your mate?" He asked in that same expressionless tone. His question startled her, yet she kept the cold mask to hide the emotions that the question stirred up within her.

"Dead," she replied coldly.

"By your hand?"

"No," Marie shifted the girl's weight in her tiring arms slightly and knew the instant Rin woke up.

"Lord Sesshomaru, you have come to help Rin?" The girl cried out, squirming from Marie's arms to run toward her foster father. Happily she hugged the Demon Lord's leg and began telling him all about what had happened to them. The child's angelic face light up with happiness as she talked, the look telling Marie all she needed to know. A kind of forlorn happiness filled Mari inside thought she hid it well. Silently she wished her mate had been something like the great lord that stood there patiently listening to his ward tell him everything. He showed nothing of the rage, Marie sensed coming from him as Rin explained how the demon had hurt her and Joken.

"What will you ask of this Sesshomaru in return for this kindness human?" He asked when Rin finally finished her tale and run off to play with Au-Un the two headed dragon that stood behind Sesshomaru. Noticing the dragon for the first time, Marie wondered how she had missed something that large. As she watched the girl hug the dragon, Marie contemplated her answer.

Marie's gaze shifted from the small girl back to the Demon Lord, deep in thought. Then she took a deep breath and spoke in a soft voice the one thing she desired at the moment. "Please, allow me to see your arm."

"Why?" Sesshomaru asked, this time it was his turn to be surprised by the human's request. Never had one made such a simple demand of him before and his eyes narrowed slightly as his instincts told him it might be a trick to get close to him.

"To see if I can heal it for you." Marie readied herself for anything thing, almost expecting him to attack her for her insolence.

"Why would a human miko want to try and give me my arm back?" Every minute he spoke with this strange human she confused him more and more. In the back of his mind an image of his brother's wench came to mind and he mentally shook himself. =She's even braver than my half-wit brother's mate or stupider. = He thought to himself in slight amusement.

"Simply to allow you the chance to better protect your human ward better." Marie stated calmly, though her inner thoughts seemed to be in turmoil.

Sesshomaru nodded his understanding and pulled the kimono from his shoulder. His eyes fixed on the Miko as she slowly moved forward, he did not trust anyone, yet he was allowing this slender human look closer at his only weakness.

Marie moved hesitantly toward him with a healer's eyes, closely studying the stump. Its secrets revealed everything, she as a healer needed to know. Marie saw where it was trying to heal itself, but some sort of magic had sealed his arm not allowing it to heal as quickly as it should.

Carefully, not wanting to make any movements that would anger the great lord, Marie reached out, her hand glowing in a soft gray light that would not harm a demon. She had learned under Noratu's training what she could use on who, the demon forcing her to use it over and over till she could control it like no other. Now thanks to him she could heal both humans and demons. This was done to add and advantage to his side during a battle.

The moment her fingers touched his shoulder a soft jolt ran between the two sending a deep tingling sensation through her body. Her fingers trailed gently along the stump letting her powers flow deep into his flesh. His skin felt soft, yet muscles rippled just under the fragile covering of flesh, intriguing the girl. Marie suddenly realized that her head was barely even with the demon's shoulder and she had a perfect view of the rippling muscles that moved in sink with his breathing right before her and she fought back the urge to run her hand down his shoulder and over that carved perfection. To keep her concentration, Marie let her eyes close blocking out the sight of his ivory skin.

"Strange," Sesshomaru breathed watching the young miko. She showed no fear of him, even was attempting to heal him. No other human except Rin had ever truly tried to help him before. A small shiver slid down his spine when her feather light touch moved from spot to spot on his shoulder, touching key areas where the missing one was cut from him by his damnable half brother, Inuyasha. "You have been trained well Miko."

Marie nodded reluctantly drawing her hand away from Sesshomaru, the glow fading as she did so.

"You should now by the new moon if it worked or not." Her voice took on a soft quality to it as though weakened by the close contact. Marie turned away to gather her things, keeping her eyes averted from the Demon Lord.

"Lord Sesshomaru?" Joken asked worriedly, "Are you alright?" The toad wanted to strike at the human for disrespecting his master but dared not say anything to her for fear Sesshomaru would be angry with him.

"Yes," Sesshomaru answered turning his attention back to the miko. He was confused by her and once more asked, "What would you have in return for your services Miko?" There was no doubt in him that her powers would work, he still felt the tingling sensation racing though his blood and felt the stirrings of something tickle at the end of his stub.

"Nothing," Marie replied coldly. She drew her emotions tight into her and used the calmness she'd always relied on to keep any hint of them off her face. Marie did not wish to him to see how tired she'd grown trying to heal him, especially after losing so much blood the night before.

"Humans always want something in return." Snorted Joken. His comment awarded him one of Sesshomaru's swift kicks. He yipped in surprise and pain as he went flying to land in a pile against a tree some feet away.

Rin laughed hugging Au-Un as she saw the toad, struggle to his feet. "Joken did it again!"

Marie took the scene in with silent wonder, and then decided to speak of the slain demon. "He was sent to kill the child, there will be others. If your arm does return it will aid you in protecting her better."

Sesshomaru just looked at her with that empty gaze. Marie understood answering with her own silence. Bravely, she strode past Sesshomaru to where Rin stood chattering away happily to Au-Un. Marie bent down in front of the girl, letting a warm smile emerge.

"Who are you pretty lady?" Rin asked in that innocent child's tone that warmed Marie's heart instantly. It almost caused her to laugh, but feeling the weight of that golden stare on her, Marie swallowed it back before answering the child.

"A friend," Marie replied warmly. "How are you feeling?"

"Better, now that the pretty lady helped Rin!" the girl gave her a tight hug, laughing merrily.

"Good," Marie pulled away, patting the girl on top of her head. "Be good now."

"Rin's always a good girl! Right Sesshomaru-sama?" Rin beamed happily.

Marie slipped her cold mask back on as she turned back to stare once more at Sesshomaru as he nodded silently. "Seek me out if Rin should ever need me again."

Sesshomaru nodded, though he did not show it he was deeply puzzled by the human girl. Why would a human want to help him without wanting anything in return? He stood there watching her tilt her head towards him in a slight bow, then turned and headed deeper into the forest.

The thought of punishing her for not showing him the proper respectful fear all the others had for him, but something about her drove the thought away as soon as it formed.

"Come Joken, Rin." He said turning in the opposite direction, his mind lingering on the sweet yet strange scent of the woman.

Marie followed Lea's scent trail, tracking her sister easily. She knew where Lea had left the ground and how far away she would.

"Thank the gods she listened to me." Marie sighed heading toward Kaeda's village. Her shoulders ached sickly causing the ground to dip and sway with her every movement. She was glad she did not show this human weakness to Lord Sesshomaru. There thoughts returned to him time and time again, no matter how hard she tried to stop.

"Glad Lea's not here to see this, she'd probably try getting him to claim me." Marie snorted to herself. Marie sighed again and concentrated on her sister's trail, forcing her mind into the task at hand. Finding her sister before something else found her in this weakened state.

There will probably be a lot of OOCness in this fic for the different chars. AU.

Sorry if I do not know the Japanese words for some of the things in here such as Sesshomaru's out fit. Please bare with me. Please read and review.

Thanks you for reading my story!