Strokes of Midnight
Chapter One
The pounding of the blood in her veins is all that she could hear as she ran madly through the thick forest underbrush. Thundering footsteps chased her pushing her forward, always forward. The full moon hung high in the sky, giving everything it touched a ghostly light. Panting heavily, she gasped in pain as a tree branch pulled at her cloths, cutting deeply into the skin of her arm.
"Why me…" she whispered as her legs finally gave out from under her and she fell to the ground. She heard the laughing and husky chuckles of the demons that had chased her through the forest all night. Turning her body so that her back was on the cold earth she met the eyes of her tormenters. Five pairs of yellow eyes leered rudely down at her, desire and bloodlust deep within their pupils. She didn't flinch when the first one climbed on top of her, his fangs nibbling at the side of her neck. The rest soon followed. She didn't fight as they took her life's blood, for she knew she would never win against them. A single tear ran down her cheek as the pain surged through her body.
'Soon now and I will get to see them all again, Father, Mother and the little ones. I can't wait to see them…' her thoughts were cut short as her body became engulfed in bright orange flames. The youkai screamed in pain as the flames extended onto their scaly skin. Blue sapphire eyes slowly closed as bloodcurdling screams passed like waves of silk over her ears. She sighed sadly, curling onto her side into a little ball and fell asleep amongst the charred remains of her attackers.
"Help me, find me…"
Sesshomaru shot straight up from the ground, panting heavily as sweat poured down his body. He quickly scanned the area but found nothing that hadn't been there the night before. Rin was tucked between Ah-Uh's side and its tail, while the dragon slept soundly. Jaken was snoring loudly by the dwindling fire, arms and legs out stretched and flung in very impossible directions.
'It was only the dream again. Why does it always came to me?' Sesshomaru sighed sliding his clawed hands through his pale silver hair.
The forest around him and his traveling companions had yet to awake from their sleep so Sesshomaru decided that a short walk in the woods would be beneficial. Getting up from under the tree he had slept under, he slightly yawned, small so no one would see though nobody would live to see the next second of their life if they did see him show any type of emotion or feeling.
Slowly putting each foot in front of the other Sesshomaru started a steady walk through the light underbrush of the forest. As he walked he pondered on the dream for what seemed like the thousandth time. Every night since the day he had reached puberty, which had been several hundred years ago, he had had the same dream. A woman running through a forest being chased by demons that were intent on eating her then she would fall and the demons would be upon her, trying to devour her body. However just as she gave up strength and the will to live and force of pure power, that took the form of a fire, would rise from her and kill the demons. It had always ended this way and it had never changed in any way.
"Why is it I, the great Sesshomaru, that must have this burden?" his question was unanswered.
"Sesshomaru-sama!" an overly cheery voice called from the direction that Sesshomaru had just come from.
"Where have you gone milord? Why have you left your faithful servant with this filthy human girl? MILORD!" Sesshomaru sighed deeply as the high pitched voice of his unfortunately faithful retainer called soon after.
'I had hoped to get further then this but…' his thought was cut short when the wind picked up the smell of a rain storm that was approaching and fast. Turning on his heels Sesshomaru made quickly for camp where his companions were unsuspecting of what was going to happen. Just as he stepped back into the clearing the rain began to pour.
"Jaken go and find a cave or building where Rin can have cover from the rain. Rin come over here and stand under this tree." Sesshomaru's voice left no room for argument. Rin, who had begun to play happily in the newly formed puddles, smiled and ran over to Sesshomaru, latching onto his leg getting his pants wet. Jaken mumbled hotly and grabbed Ah-Uh's reins and led the dragon to go and find shelter.
Sesshomaru stood like a stone under the tree, Rin talking animatedly to him about everything she could think of, however he wasn't paying attention instead he thought again to the woman of whom he dreamed every night.
'Who is she? For some reason I want to go and find her. Why?" Inwardly he sighed heavily. Rin sat down suddenly and as Sesshomaru looked down he saw that she was shivering violently.
"Rin what is wrong?" Sesshomaru bent down and placed his hand onto Rin's forehead. Rin flushed and whimpered weakly, her eyes glazing over. Sesshomaru was worried now; Rin never acted like this what was wrong with her? Rin gasped as Sesshomaru's hand rested on her face feeling the immense heat that was coming off of her.
'She has a fever!' he didn't know what to do Rin wasn't ever sick and now that she was he had nothing to help her with!
"Milord, milord I have found a place!" Jaken's voice, for the first time in all the years Jaken had served him, Sesshomaru had never felt happiness like he did now at hearing that squawk. Slowly so as not to hurt her, Sesshomaru pick up Rin and tucked her in between his arm and his fluffy tail. Rin sighed happily and nuzzled into its warmth and softness.
"Quickly Jaken lead the way." Sesshomaru hadn't meant to let worry flood into his voice but he had to get Rin better, she was his world!
1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
A/N: I have had this idea in my head for years and only now am I putting it onto this site but I hope that everyone enjoys it! Review please I'm begging here!