Kill or Be Killed

[elinor01]

Leaves littered the floor of the forest as she ran. Spots of red could be seen running through the trees. Tagging not far behind her were three demons. Two which were four legged and must have been guardians of the two legged one in the middle. Saimyoushou followed not far behind the demons so it had to be trouble.

The three demons were gaining on her but she was not going to stop and lose hope for what she had been working so hard for. To get to Inuyasha to give him the jewels that she had found. In a vile around her neck they hung. Stopping for a moment she jumped up into the trees and hid behind some branches. The grip on her bow made her hand bleed just a bit but she grabbed an arrow and took down one of the four legs and it brought it down hard.

With a small smirk she went to leap down but the other four leg jumped at her and clawed her skin up pretty bad. The two leg came at her and stopped infront of her. She moved back then clenched her fist and looked up at him. He grabbed his blade and came at her but before he could touch her she sent her hand into his chest and pulled his beating heart from the veins then out of his chest and dropped it to the ground.

The Saimyoushou buzzed for a moment then came and grabbed the heart and trailed off back to where ever they were going. Looking down at the demon it almost made her sick. Fighting was something she was not very fond of but in the situation she was in she had to.

Looking around she grabbed her bow and placed it on her back then walked along the forest ground for a moment before she colapsed at the base of a couple of trees. There at the bottom was a small stream that was running out from under them. She placed her hands up under it and washed the blood from her hands then ripped the boottom of her skirt and then cleaned the wounds on her stomach and arms. It stung but she had to do it.

After about 15 minutes of this she closed her eyes and leaned back up against the trunk of the tree and took in the evening breeze.

[Birdie]

She was small, almost insignifigant looking in height. Her large eyes were like opals set in tan kissed skin. Her hair was as pale as the rays that come from the full moon. Her body was slim. It appeared that she might be easily swept away if the wend blew hard enough. She wore a simple sky blue kimono that held no decorations. On her obi she had sewn some bells in order to keep evil wind spirits at bay and to bring luck.

She was taking her ritual of walking. In being alone her soul was healed. it allowed her soul to stay slightly detatched from this body. Once in a while, when a butterfly stayed amongst mortals and people of the land, their souls tended to want to go completely into the body. In doing this it caused the butterfly to turn into an actual butterfly, small with fluttering wings. Brgantia could not allow this to happen to her for she would like to stay with Sesshomaru until ehr three hundred years were over.

It was as she was walking that the scent of blood filled her sensitive antenea. The earth beneath her rumbled in fear. It was something only she could a feel, a different sort of rumbling. Like a child in fear, that was how it felt. She also began to tremble. For over a year now she had an insane fear of blood. She was torn between helping and running. Finally her maternal insticts took over and she ran towards the smell. What she found were some dead men... demons? One's heart lay a little ways from his body. Brigantia was effecitvely sick in a bush nearby. She began away from the dead people, towards another scent. What she found was a girl, a living girl. She sighed. Knowing one of them was alive made her feel a little less afraid, and less sick. She did not know if she could bear looking at it again, outside of memories.

Brigantia reached out and gently touched the girls cheek. "Come too... Wake..." she murmured, her voice sing-song, holding an echo of magic that caused her voice to resonate.

[Lord Sesshomaru]

The saimyosho had been what attracted the hanyou at first. For, he knew that wherever there were saimyosho, there was Naraku. Or at least one of his reincarnates that he could destroy. Garbed in red he made his way through the forest, his hand on the grop of his sword. He was set, and nothing would keep him from getting to Naraku. Nothing ever would. Except, well, Naraku himself.

Inuyasha let out an aggrivated growl when the saimyosho flew away, too fast for him to follow. Even so, he decided to follow another trail. The scent of blood. Naraku's doing, he could guess. And the hanyou had to find out. He leapt out of the trees, his bare feet crunching the grass beneath him and his long silver hair being pushed back by the force of his running. Dog ears twitching to the slightest sound.

Inuyasha made it to the area with one last jump as he landed he put his sword from its sheath, it transforming immediately to his whim as he pointed it to who seemed the threat. "Do you work for Naraku!?" he yelled, glaring at the woman. Sure, she seemed innocent enough, but he would not take chances. Naraku could get the most innocent people to do his bidding. And besides, it looked like it had been her that he wounded the girl he could see her crouching beside. A priestess, he guessed.

[Birdie]

Why hadn't she heard him before? Why did she only notice his presence now, when he psoke? Her senses must have been shocked by the blood. She stood slowly, so as not to startle the helfbreed behind her. Her shoulder lenth, silvery hair moved only a little in the soft breeze that blew past her. She took strength from it. Still just as slowly she turned, her antenea ever moving. The picked up scents and sounds. They helped her eyes create forms and therefore see better.

She opened her mouth just as slowly. "I have not relation the the halfbreed Naraku." Her large, jet black eyes that had no white but seemed all pupil stared at the half dog demon before him. She tilted her head to one side, studying the form now in front of her.

"The trees sing. You must be theri name sake. Inu-Yasha... It is a pleasure to finally meet you. I beleive we share a common enemy in this Naraku." She gave him a small, formal bow. In the process she made ehr her kimono was tucked neatly and perfectly around ehr slender form.

"I beleive we also share a common accquatance... Someone from you past... as well as present." She smiled swwetly. She knelt again, still facing him. "It is wonderful to finally speak with you. It is also refeshing to converse with another half human. She looked up, her short hair swinging away from her tan, flushing face.

The scent of blood continued to attack her sences. This caused her to feel uneasy and ill. Insted of the lovely shade of tan she normally was she appeared paled in comparison, though most deffinately still tan. A complete stranger would, most probably not notice such things, because it seemed normal for her complexion and she showed no sign of her own discomforts.

[Lord Sesshomaru]

Inuyasha kept his grip on tetsusaiga as she moved to stand. He wasn't taking any chances! No way in hell! His grip tightened, as he got in stance, ready for any attack she sent his way. Whatever kind of attack she could do. It was kind of hard to think of something when she was so tiny.

"I have not relation the the halfbreed Naraku."

Oh yeah, like he was supposed to believe that. That's what they would say, but he wasn't going to fall for it. He wasn't an idiot! It was still kind of hard to keep himself ready for anything when she looked so...innocent. No! no, no, no, he would not be fooled!

"The trees sing. You must be theri name sake. Inu-Yasha... It is a pleasure to finally meet you. I beleive we share a common enemy in this Naraku." That made him falter for a second, his grip on tetsusaiga loosening as he allowed it to lower a bit to the ground. He looked at her, his brows furrowed. Okay, so....Naraku was her enemy...and she knew his name....and she says she hears trees singing. Oh kami she's nuts. And this last thought, he didn't feel threatened, and his sword turned back to its rusty old form.

"I beleive we also share a common accquatance... Someone from you past... as well as present. It is wonderful to finally speak with you. It is also refeshing to converse with another half human."

Oh, yeah, she was a half-breed too, wasn't she? He hadn't been around a lot of other half-breeds, and its rare for him to see one. Which was why he suddenly found himself too confused and thoughtful to actually speak. Finally, he seemed to remember himself.

"What the hell are you talking about? How do you know me? Who is it that you say you know that makes you know me?" he paused, realizing that he was making himself feel stupid with his odd line of questions.

[Birdie]

"What the hell are you talking about? How do you know me? Who is it that you say you know that makes you know me?"

She smiled sweetly up at him. The edges of ehr eyes crinkled slightly from doing so. She seemed to mature, only slightly, in that instant. Her slim fingers reache dup and brushed some of her silveyr hair away from her tan face. "My dear, please take a seat." She gestured to the grass in front of her. She then carefully folded her hands in her lap, her legs were tucked underneath in the proper way for a lady (or a man) to sit. "I am afraid you would become quite upset if you learned the name of my mate... your aquaintance." She paused, for only a second, allowing the othe rhalfbreed to say nothing. "I know of you, youre name, youre friends, everything, from the memories of this forest. And the ones of your own mind. They are smaller ones, ones that float around in your subconsious ready to burst forth into you mind. I know of Kagome, of Miroku, of Sango, of Shippo-chan, and even of the little Kilala." He voice stopped again, this tiem for about two seconds.

"I do not know any of them personally, nor do I know you personally. I only know you through these memories given to me. Such is the way of this particular buttefly half-breed." Her antenea twitched. She held up her hand. "I will not speak the name of he whom I love." She stared at Inuyasha with eyes that showed she would never budge. After a moment's time she calmed. "Again, I can not say how wonderful it is to finally meet you in person."

[Lord Sesshomaru]

Inuyasha placed his sword back in it's sheath. Slowly he made his way in front of her, still wary of her even as she sat on the ground and wanted him to sit. He continued to glare at her, even as he lowered himself to the ground, crouching instead of sitting, and his body slightly leaning away from her, expecting some sort of trickery at work.

"I am afraid you would become quite upset if you learned the name of my mate... your aquaintance."

The more she spoke of this 'acquaintance' the more he wanted to know who the hell she was talking about. Who was her mate that he knew. Koga? No...he was still obsessed with Kagome. He couldn't think of anyone else! This was stupid, she was only making him mad and curious. He must know now!

"I know of you, youre name, youre friends, everything, from the memories of this forest. And the ones of your own mind. They are smaller ones, ones that float around in your subconsious ready to burst forth into you mind. I know of Kagome, of Miroku, of Sango, of Shippo-chan, and even of the little Kilala."

Inuyasha didn't like that she knew so much about him and his friends. Not at all. But he couldn't find himself to say anything at the moment as he allowed himself to think over her words instead of just yelling. He was still wary of her of course.

"I do not know any of them personally, nor do I know you personally. I only know you through these memories given to me. Such is the way of this particular buttefly half-breed. I will not speak the name of he whom I love. Again, I can not say how wonderful it is to finally meet you in person."

Why would she want to meet him in person so much? Was it because of her mate, this 'acquaintance' of his. It was really bugging him because he couldn't figure out who it was, and he just had to know! But she wouldn't tell him! But he had his own ways of finding out, afterall, he was a dog demon...half that is.

Inuyasha moved forward before his face was only inches from hers as he took in the air into his nose, the scents that were on the butterfly hanyou was something oddly familiar. When he realized what the scent was, he was on his feet, making distance between him and her, his sword once again in his grasp.

"You work for Sesshomaru!" he exclaimed. "He sent you to steal tetsusaiga didn't he?! Well, you can't have it!" Although she had his scent, it had yet to come to him that that was the acquaintance that she had been speaking of. He could never see Sesshomaru having a mate, it seemed impossible for him.

[Birdie]

Her slim fingers moved to her temples and rubbed them. It was as if she was trying to force away a headache. "Please sit. If you keep attacking my aura with your own, I'm afraid I can not be responsible for the side effects it may cause you." SHe sighed, bringing a hand up. With a small wave a large gust of wind came forth as if to knock him foreward. "Sit!" she commanded in an annoyed tone of voice.

"Now, Sesshomaru-sama has no desire for your sword any longer. I have no personal use for it, therefore it is your to keep. Inuyahsa-san, I do not work for Sesshomaru-sama." She moved the thin strip of cloth, her kimono, to show the two marks on her neck created by Sesshomaru after 'mating' with her. "I'm afraid I'm a lot closer." She spoke calmly. She was not afraid of Inuyasha. Somehow she had a feeling he could not hurt her with that sword. She bore him no ill will, on either side of her blood, therefore he had no real reson to attack her.

She allowed her hands to be folded in her lap again, her mouth set in a charming smile. "I only wish to get to know all of my love's family. I have met your father. He was such a charming man. And..." she frowned for a moment. "And Sesshomaru-sama's mother. I do not think she liked me..." She sighed, unhappily. She twirled some hair around her fingers. "All that is left is you." SHe looked at him with large, black, innocent eyes.

[Lord Sesshomaru]

Inuyasha winced as she said the dreaded three-letter word, and did as he was told, even so, it showed on his face that he didn't like to do so. Now he was more wary of her then ever. He knew she was lying. Sesshomaru will always want his sword, just because father gave it to Inuyasha and not him. There was no way that Sesshomaru would get over that. Of course, he didn't know Sesshoamru very well, that was just what he thought.

The mark he could see on her neck made him gawk at her. No way! It was impossible! Sesshomaru had a mate? How could anyone want to be with that bastard? He continued to stare at her as she spoke, meeting all the people in her 'love's' family. Was she really in love with Sesshomaru? It was just too hard to believe, for he couldn't see anyone with the man, he was a heartless killer. Meeting his father, and meeting Sesshomaru's mother. And now him.

"How can you stand to be with him?" he asked her, a look of disgust came across his face. Not for her, but for Sesshomaru and...having to be with him. It just seemed like torture. She seemed like a nice person, and to be manipulated by Sesshomaru, he was more of a bastard then he thought.

[Birdie]

Her bell like laughter stirred. Soon she was giggling like a school girl. After a few moments, she settled, a chuckle still forcing it's way through. "Ah, Inuyasha-san..." she spoke softly. Her large eyes sparkled with something. Love? Adoration? Understanding? Maybe all three. "You have never seen what I have. Of course, I am sure he would not desire my speaking about him in such a awy. In truth, because I trust you, I will tell you this. He loves me as i lvoe him. Of course, it all started on..." she flushed, her cheeks turning to a bright, rosy crimson "sexual attraction. I must admit it is the fault of my demon side... But it grew... later. I loved him for the longest time, since our first meeting perhaps. I was always in awe of him. He was so strong. Yet... he hid everything under his mask. FOr me he will take it off, when we are alone... I have seen sidesof him no one else will ever see." She spoe in a soft, reverent tone. Her cheeks only turned a lighter shade of red, as if oly slightly getting over her embaressment.

She raised a hand to her cheek. "Oh... Mybe I should stop." She laughed lightly again. "Forgive me." she bowed a little, mor elike an inclining of her head. She stared up at him again with the same glittering eyes. "I hope this answers you question. I also must ask you to never speak of those words again.... I share them with you because I trust them with you on this subject."

[Lord Sesshomaru]

Inuyasha glared at her, not understand what she found so funny. But if anything, she was laughing at him. Did he do something? He didn't like being laughed at. Even so, he waited, as patiently as Inuyasha could wait, for her to be quiet. He listened intently, wondering on what it was about Sessomaru that she could stand to be around him. It was surprising to think he was in love with anyone. He always seemed to hate everyone except himself. It was also surprising to think of Sesshomaru showing emotion to anyone, much less a hanyou.

Ah, that reminded him! She was a hanyou! That...that hypocrite! She couldn't be telling the truth, Sesshomaru hated humans, much less hanyou's. She probably just thought he loved her. Sesshomaru was probably just using her. As she had said, that it had started out with 'sexual attraction.'

"I don't believe you." he said, after everything she said, his arm crossed over his chest. "There's no way he can love anybody, much less a hanyou." he said, and he believed this a hundred percent, and it would take a lot to convince him otherwise.

[Birdie]

She smiled sweetly. The way she appeared should have shown a calmness. But her aura spouted annoyance. "You should know things are not always as they appear. You had to learn that lesson the hard way... through Naraku." Her voice was calm and steady, but her eyes were hard, her face stoic. She looked almost scary. "Was there not a time that you also beleived human blood was something disgusting? Don't you still have a desire to be a demon? Then tell me, what are your feelings towards the human Kagome... also known as Kikyo." her voice was almost breathless.

She did not wait for an answer. "Perhaps it is time you looked beyond first impressions. Did you ever considered how it might feel for Sesshomaru-sama? Of course, it is not your fault, but as a demon, when they get mad they are mad. I tis hard for them to forgive, and often they enver do. Perhaps in the begining Sesshoamru-sama wa snever mad with you, but when your mother died.... He had to transfer his anger onto something." her breathing was heavy, her eyes half lidded as memories flooded her mind. She was limp looking, as if she might fall over any second. Her words were comming out quickly. "He is still upset with his father.... He is mad at you. Try to look at things through Sesshoamru-sama's eyes. Consider what it would have been like to loose something..." her voice trailed off.

She brought a hand to her head. She rubbed her left temple. "Ah, I've said too much Inuyasha-san. I am sure I will get in trouble. And your scent is sure to stick. I wonder what he will say." she sighed, looking at Inuyasha through lowered lashes. "I never thought you could be so inconsiderate towards someone elses feeligns. I never thought you might be so stupid as to never think of this for yourself. Of course, Sesshomaru-sama has his own faults. I am not saying you are the only one who is to blame for the status of your family." She shook her head, sighing.

[elinor01]

Tsukiko didn't even feel the pat on her cheek the first time because she had seemed to have passed out from the blood lost. Opening her eyes after a couple of minutes though she saw a blury red figure and another figure that she couldn't quite make out. She leaned up and grabbed her stomach for the wound was almost like it was killing her. She stood up and straightened herself out but then fell to her knees ontop of her bow. Her vision cleared up a bit and she heard the name Inuyasha. Finally after all her time of serching she had found him. From her neck she pulled a jar away and two shards laid inside glowing emensly. She stood up and started towards him to give them to him but fell and the bottle just rolled towards him.

"They...are for you..."

It was like the blood of the creatures she had slain were posion but it wasn't. Being a mere human she was just very weak from the blood she had lost. Her facial expression was weak and her whole body was a bit pale.

"I've...been trying to find you....to give them to you..."

As she spoke, Saimyoushou came from overhead and buzzed behind her looking at the bottle of shards she had rolled towards him. But she could barely move to get away for she had no idea what was about to occur.

[Lord Sesshomaru]

Inuyasha blushed for a moment as she talked about his feelings for Kikyo and Kagome. He hated this stranger knowing so much. Also for defending his brother. There was just no way he could love a hanyou, the way he had treated Inuyasha. He glared at him as she continued to speak. There was nothing wrong with Sesshomaru, there was no need for his hate. He hated him because they were related, because he was a hanyou and Inuyasha had never understood it. Sesshomaru had everything. He was a full demon, he got to know their father, and Sesshomaru always had to show off how powerful he was. It made Inuyasha so mad. Tetsutsaiga was the only thing that Inuyasha had for himself that Sesshomaru did not have.

Who cares what it felt like for Sesshomaru. What should matter is what it felt like for him! Sesshomaru actually got to grow up with a family, Inuyasha had to live on his own, he had to run not only from demons but from humans too! Sesshomaru had gone through nothing compared to Inuyasha. He didn't understand what Sesshomaru could have lost that was so important, but she didn't seem to think he needed to know that.

Inuyasha glared at the ground, not truly mad at her, but mad all the less and not knowing what to do with the anger. She continued to speak, and he waited for her to be done so that he could rant at her. How dare she call him inconsiderate and stupid!

"Well-!" he stopped when he noticed the saimyosho were still around, and that the woman who had been unconscious was now awake. He watched her, a little concerned on how wounded she was. Of course, his attention was taken away from her when he noticed the bottle of jewel shards being rolled to him.

Jackpot!

Inuyasha was quick to take the jewel, including with all the saimyosho hovering aroudn trying to take it. He turned his attention toward the woman as she spoke. Oh good, they are for him, he got to keep them. When she spoke her other words, he really didn't know what to say, so, instead, he decided to kill all the saimyosho. Once that was done he brought his attention back to the woman. He crouched down beside him. "Don't worry, I'll get someone to heal you." Probably Kaede...or Kagome...hm.

[elinor01]

(ooc: I'm a her...lol)

When Inuyasha took the jewels she smiled. It was what she had been trying to do for some time now. Watching Inuyasha with the Tetsutsaiga was very impressive. She had heard of the blade that was crafted by the Great Dog Demons fang. Though it was a bit rusty and beat up she knew it potential for she had read about it in some scrolls. She smiled then stood up completely and grabbed her side.

"I trust Inuyasha that you will do the right thing with those..."

Grabbing her bow and quiver she placed them on her back and straightened out her skirt. She pushed her hair over her shoulder and looked up. If he looked he probably would of thought she looked like Kikyo.

"Inuyasha.....I am Tsukiko Miroki...You are someone that I have been searching for for a long time. Naraku killed my parents. When I learned that you were searching for Naraku I had to get to you with these jewels before he got to me....and it seems I made it just in time seeing as the saimyosho have been following me for a week now...I am ever so greatful to be in your presence..."She bowed lightly and squinted her eyes.