InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Wandering Souls ❯ Midnight Meeting ( Chapter 8 )

The two hanyou sat staring at one another, complaints flying back and forth across the room while the others of their small group sat around and listened to them. Their backs were pressed close to the walls of the hut not seeming to trust each other in their present state.

Marie, who sat alone, was glad that the change had not surprised anyone. Up till then she had not been sure if Inuyasha would go through the same change, after all Lea was a daughter of the Southern Lands where as Inuyasha was a son of the Western Land and it maybe something only a Southern Hanyou had to face. She looked between the two silently deep in thought.

Lea's appearance reminded Marie so much of their mother, with her dark hair and her deep chocolate eyes that held anger in them at this moment. While, Inuyasha had long raven black hair and eyes so dark that to Marie they looked like a piece of ebony. They too held the anger in them that all Hanyous must experience at this time of the month. Both hanyou scowled, hating their weaker human selves.

Complaints and grumbling flew between the two, peppered with insults that both seemed to have gotten good at lately. Suddenly, Marie could not take it any longer and against everyone's protests, she stepped out into the peace of the night.

The calm night lent itself to the night birds song and the cicadas chirped merrily to one another among the long grass. Over heard the bright stars twinkled with a cold uncaring, the only lights in the darkened sky.

"It will be dawn soon," whispered Marie aloud, stepping away from Kaeda's hut, "then they will be back to normal again." Deep inside Marie was grateful that the waxing and waning of the moon did not control her powers. Instead she had inherited them from her real father's side, or so she believed, as her mother had never showed a trace of the talent.

"Oh mother," Marie sighed letting her guarded down for a brief moment. She stared longingly up at the sky, a single tear rolling down her cheek unnoticed. "I have done all that you asked of me but I fear Lea will soon no longer need me."

Only the rustle of the gently breeze at it crept though the grass answered the girl's tormented soul. She felt so alone in the world, trapped between what she was and what Noratu's cruelty had made her.

"Will I ever know true joy or the touch of a lover's hand?" Marie asked the silent stars, but no answer came to her and she continued along the well-worn path that led deep into Inuyasha's forest.

Even with Lea, Marie felt distant and alienated, who could not really understand her. Toward everyone else, Marie just felt like an outside that longed to be part of their group, but knew that she would always remain on the outside. She decided to give up trying and let fate have its way with her.

Slowly the feeling that someone was behind her began to creep through her very being, her miko senses flaring instantly to life as it detected the demon presence. Quickly she buried her emotions deep inside and turned to face whoever it was that had followed her here.

Marie was surprised when her eyes met those of the Western Lord's who was standing a short distance behind her. She looked around hoping to see the young girl, Rin, but was disappointed to find that the child was not there.

"How is the child?" Marie asked as the thought of the girl flickered though her. She was still worried over Rin's state of mind after being attacked by the giant demon.

"She is fine," Sesshomaru stated in a cold emotionless tone, watching the guarded features of the miko. Strange, her first concern is for Rin other then herself, yet she knows I could kill her easily enough. He found her intriguing to him, yet he let nothing of his thoughts show.

"Why have you come, Lord Sesshomaru?" Marie asked her cautious nature giving her a bit of unease.

Sesshomaru held up his left hand, showing Marie the perfectly formed fingers that had slowly generated. Surprisingly, the regeneration process had not been as painful as he had believed it would be and though slow, it had given him an arm that might even have been stronger then the old one had been. Though he would never show it, he would always be grateful to the strange miko that stood before him void of all emotions.

"I see," Marie bowed her head in respect for the powerful lord. "I am happy that I could be of some service to you My Lord."

"You have done me a great service, human," began Sesshomaru. "You have given back that which was taken from me. Not once but twice."

Marie silently listened forcing herself to hide the joy at seeing Sesshomaru's fully restored arm. Now he will really be able to protect Rin. I just hope he never treats her as Noratu had treated me. I wonder though why I trust him to care for her though?

Her own thoughts confused her, but she was happy in the knowledge that the child seemed happy to be in the demon lords presence, and had displayed the affection that a child would have for it's parent. That had been the only reason; Marie had not fought him to protect the young girl, even though she knew she would have lost.

"Tell me," Sesshomaru continued after a moment of silence between them. "What would you ask of me in return?"

"Nothing," Marie replied quietly. Before Marie could blink, she found herself staring up into the golden eyes of the demon lord, as he seemed to materialize before her. Startled, she went to step back only to have him gently grip her shoulders effectively keeping her in place.

Marie instinctively flinched as his strong fingers touched her, and her time with Noratu made her half expect Sesshomaru to beat her, maybe even kill her, for not answering him the way he wanted her too. Marie stilled herself for the inevitable, yet she forced herself to remain emotionless, staring calmly into the golden depths that threatened to consume her.

"Humans rarely give of themselves so freely, without wanting something in return." Sesshomaru told her quietly, searching her eyes for some sign of emotion. He had felt her reaction to his touch, yet he could read nothing from this confusion human nor could he find no sign of what she was thinking at all. "Others have always asked of me, some things I could not give. What is it your heart wishes for little human?"

"What I want, no one can give to me, Lord Sesshomaru," Marie said so softly that even the demon lords hypersensitive hearing had trouble making out what she said, but he saw a quick flash of deep sadness reflect in her eyes before being suppressed. "My only wish of you is that you continue to keep Rin safe."

For a brief second Marie felt his grip tighten on her shoulders and she quickly fought back a wave of fear. Marie braced herself expecting him to shake her in exasperation like Noratu had done so many times, but when it did not come, Marie became confused.

Are not all demons like Noratu? Marie asked herself staring up at Sesshomaru, trying to hide the confusion she felt.

Though Marie stared up at him with deadpan eyes, he could smell the tiny fleck of fear as it coursed though her quickly before fading away as though it had never been there. It had been so brief as though a long dead memory had caused it instead of him.

She controls her self well for a human. He thought amused at her display of courage. She stares death in the face but does not blink.

"What is your name, human?" Sesshomaru asked removing his hands from her shoulders, much to the relief of the woman before him.

"Marie." She said softly, fighting back to the impulse to step away from him as he towered over her, her eyes level with his chest.

"Strange name." He replied, "I will always protect what is mine."

Marie knew he referred to Rin but she could not help wish someone felt that way about her, someone other then Lea. She inclined her head respectfully toward the demon lord hiding the look; Marie knew to be reflected in her eyes.

"I thank you, Lord Sesshomaru." She held respect in her voice and kept her head bowed, eyes trained on the ground at her feet. She dared not let the great demon see her weakness reflected so plainly in her face.

"We will talk again," Sesshomaru turned away as he spoke. "Marie," was the last thing she heard before he disappeared into the dark.

Marie glanced up to see where he had gone but wasn't surprised that he had vanished. Demons were apt to do that from time to time, especially the Noble ones, she reasoned.

I need a bath, Marie thought as she headed toward the small pond deeper in the forest itself. The girl looked toward the eastern horizon and noticed that it was beginning to lighten in color.

"It'll be dawn soon anyway," Marie said aloud. Bathing had always been the only time she could escape from Noratu's other mates. They never wanted the human stench to wash off on them that bathing together might cause. Even Noratu himself would not disturb her when she was bathing, even though she had often wondered why. Whenever she hurt or was troubled, Marie longed to emerge herself in the chilly waters and allow it to cleanse her soul.

As Marie stripped off her clothing and plunged into the cold waters, she had the distinct feeling that something or someone was watching her. She looked everywhere but could find no trace of anyone in the area. Marie let her aura span out seeking any kind of demonic presence within the area but still she found nothing.

Even as dawn cast its first rays across the morning sky, Marie went back to her soul-cleansing swim unaware that someone truly watched her.

Two pairs of eyes watched Marie closely; they had been watching her for a while now. Their presence masked by the barrier that shimmered around them.

"Do you really want to do this?" A deep male voice asked from under the cover of a heavily furred baboon pelt.

"I do," replied the female who eerily resembled the gentle Kagome. She was dressed in a Miko garb and held tightly to a simple wooden bow in one hand.

"You know my price," the male replied coldly.

"I do," the miko replied.

"Then we will wait and watch our friend to find the right time."

The miko nodded and both vanished from their high advantage point over looking the small pound.