InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Wandering Souls ❯ Inuyasha ( Chapter 6 )

Lea burst though the bushes with another strong leap that sent her sailing though the air. Inwardly, she seethed, "Stupid sister. I know she went after that demon herself." Her worry had turned to anger as thoughts of finding her sister dead along with the two others found their way into the forefront of her thoughts.

Lea knew Marie was strong even for a human, but since they day she had found Marie a year earlier beaten and bleeding in her father's garden, Lea had realized just how fragile her human sister could be. She had never thought about it before. Marie had always been there for her more like a mother then a sister but she wondered who had been there for Marie.

Lea had never known their birth mother, only Noratu's other mates. Their stuck up mannerisms and outright hatred of Lea and her human sister was evident to Lea from an early age.

The group of women knew not to mistreat Lea, being Noratu's only child and heir at the time. Marie would remain by her side though the day but at night Lea began to realize from early on that they treated Marie badly. Marie never told her any of it though, but Lea had seen it happen.

At the age of five, Lea had slunk thought the shadows as her father had taught her, when she stumbled upon one of the Mates kicking a collapsed Marie.

Marie had just lain there letting the horse-demoness kick her over and over. Not once did she try to defend herself, but neither did she cry out or show any signs of pain.

Finally, infuriated at the girl's lack of emotions, the woman had stormed away to find something else to amuse her twisted pleasure.

Carefully, Lea had crawled to her sister's side, car4essing her blood dampened hair while Marie just lay there.

Marie, feeling the child's touch had staggered to her feet and scolded Lea for being out of bed so late as though nothing had happened.

"Why don't you fight back?" Lea had asked angrily. "Put her in her place?"

"Because it would be worse." Marie replied scooping the child up in her arms.

"Does Father know?" When Marie had nodded, Lea began to first experience real dislike toward the man she had up till then idolized. After that Marie wouldn't talk about that night again, telling Lea to forget about it.

After a while Lea learned to observe what was going on when others thought she wasn't there. That's how at fourteen, Lea saw what Noratu had done to Marie. Up till then Lea had disliked him, he was harsh to her, calling her names and punishing her when she didn't do what she was expected to do. The only time she saw him was at the training arena or in battle. Otherwise, Noratu

At eleven, Lea had been introduced to Noratu's first son, Kuwaji. There had been two more born in the years before Noratu's death. Once the boys came, he had all but abandoned his daughter, using both her and Marie as nothing more then battle pawns in his ever going battle against the surrounding Lords. Even, though he had lost interest in Lea Noratu still didn't permit any one to mistreat Lea.

Lea growled again shaking the memories from her mind. She was glad that bastard had died. It served him right for being so cruel.

Lea jumped again wishing she had stayed to protect Marie, but deep down she knew Marie could protect herself.

"Hey wait up!" yelled the silvered-haired hanyou following after her, his red fire-rat kimono fluttering out to whip around him as he raced after her.

"Hurry up, slowpoke!" Lea almost grinned. "What if something has happened to her?"

"Feh," he replied catching up. "I'm sure she's fine."

Lea shook her head slightly. "You don't know her like I do, Inuyasha." Lea snorted, "She'd go after the demon that hurt the girl if she gets the chance."

With hat Lea put on a burst of speed learning Inuyasha behind.

Fate's a funny thing thought Lea as she remembered the night before.

Lea had burst into the old healer Kaeda's hut, out of breath and worried.

"Kaeda!" she had yelled hoping the healer had not left to help someone else for the night.

"What do you want with the old woman?" a low voice almost a growl had demanded. Startled, she saw the same silver-haired boy who had killed her father, Noratu. He stood, sword drawn in front of Kaeda, a deadly look in his golden eyes.

"Inuyasha," came Kaeda's voice, "Lower thy sword, I know this child."

"What!" Inuyasha had sputtered, looking at Kaeda like she had lost her mind.

"Where is thy sister?" Kaeda had asked a tinge of worry in her wizened voice. The old healer knew that the two women hardly ever separated.

"Marie sent me to warn you of a demon attack," Lea had rushed over to kneel in front of the old woman, completely ignoring the boy. "But she stayed to help the girl and toad that it had attacked." Lea went on to explain everything to the old healer. All the while Inuyasha stood staring intently at Lea. It made her slightly nervous, but her main worry was Marie at that time.

"Sesshomaru," he said growling lightly. "It has to be Rin and Joken."

"Marie asked me to get supplies and get back to her quickly." Lea explained to both of them.

"How far is she, child?" Kaeda asked slowly standing. Lea heard the ancient bones creaking as the old woman moved. Lea had met the healer the first time she and her sister had reached the village a year earlier and Kaeda had taken the girls under her wings. That was when Lea had learned how efficient the woman was.

"If Sesshomaru is involved you might have more to worry about then a no name demon." Inuyasha had told her, his eyes glowing at the thought of his brother.

"Oh thanks for the reassurance," Lea snarled sarcastically, rolling her eyes at the boy.

"Inuyasha," Kaeda said softly, "why don't ye go back with Lea,"

"But Kaeda!" Inuyasha crouched on the floor, "I told Kagome I'd wait for her."

"The child will understand, Inuyasha." Replied Kaeda softly. "Besides ye may be needed."

"Alright, if I have too!" Inuyasha sulked.

"I can take care of it by myself." Lea had grown angry listening at his complaining. She could see that he was interested in going after his brother but was torn between that and something she did not really understand. Inuyasha was not what she had believed him to be and that made her even angrier. "I don't need his help."

"Maybe not, child," Kaeda handed her a small pouch full of healing powders and ointments, "but if Inuyasha's brother is involved ye might."

"I don't care who it is," Lea replied with her own soft growl. "He can stay here and wait for his precious human bitch!" Lea stormed out of the hut and bounded back the way she had come as fast as she could go, not bothering to wait for anyone to answer her.

"Stupid male," Lea almost had tears in her eyes, "Who needs them anyway."

"Who you calling stupid, bitch?" Inuyasha's voice came from behind her.

"I thought you wanted to wait on Kagome?" Lea replied a note of sarcasm in her voice.

"How do you know about her?" questioned Inuyasha warily, suspicion clouding his golden eyes.

"Every demon in the four lands knows she's your bitch, Baka." Retorted Lea angrily. "I even know you travel with several others looking for the shards of the shikon no tama."

"What!"

They had argued till the sun had risen, Lea never slowing her quick pace. Nor did she tell him just how she had known about him and his group.

"So your sister's human?" Inuyasha asked snapping Lea back to the present.

"Yes and a miko at that," Lea replied cautiously, "What about it?"

"Nothing, just wondering." He replied thoughtfully.

Lea skidded to a halt so fast that Inuyasha had crashed into her.

"Warn me next time, Baka!" He shouted, pulling himself out of the tangle of arms and legs they had fallen into.

"Marie!" Lea ignored him jumping to her feet as soon as she could. Rushing to where Marie laid face down in a heap several feet away from them, Lea knelt by her sister worriedly. Blood covered the ground under her and Lea rolled Marie over onto her lap. Lea sighed a bit seeing that the blood had seeped out of a single wound.

"She's seared this wounds closed," Lea explained to Inuyasha who peered intently over her shoulder down at the unconscious girl.

"She did that to herself?" Lea could hear the disbelief in his voice.

Lea nodded," This one must have broken open when she fell."

"Is she alive?" he caught sight of the bite mark on Marie's neck and looked around cautiously.

Lea glanced up at him, smelling the nervous change in his scent and looked back down at her sister's exposed neck.

"Yeah, but don't worry her mates dead." Lea grinned evilly as she continued. "Thanks to you that is."

"W…w…what!" Inuyasha sputtered glaring down at the two girls. "What are you talking about?" He demanded.

"I'll explain later," Lea pulled out the herbs Kaeda had prepared and dressed Marie's open wound. "We got to get back to Kaeda. She can do a better job then I can."

"Yeah," Inuyasha said then sniffed the air around Marie. "She smells like Sesshomaru."

"She must have given him the other two." Lea looked around for Rin and Joken. "I don't see the two we stopped to help."

"If she did, then she's damn lucky." Inuyasha replied.

"Why?" Lea carefully picked up her sister.

"Because, Baka," Inuyasha retorted," "Sesshomaru rarely lets anyone live."

"You don't think he did this do you?" Lea asked alarmed.

"Not his style." He replied then turned back toward the village. "Lets get her back, I want to hear this explanation of yours."

Lea nodded and followed at a slower pace, trying not to jar Marie too much.