A\N: I had this weird idea of a NarakuxOC, so here's what came of it. Enjoy. x
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.
Summary: She was an enigma and he just couldn't shake her.
He had first met her whilst he was still Onigumo. She was still but a child back then, but still as genuine and beautiful as a rose in full bloom. He hadn't known what attracted him to such a frail human being, that and there was the matter that she was nothing more than a brat, but when she had found him atop a vacant mountain, he found her presence to be slightly off-putting.
She had appeared to be carrying a small basket that held different herbs inside. It was mid-Spring when she had made her way up that mountain that day and to forever change the way he saw her.
"Um-" She began lamely, addressing him cautiously.
'Clever girl.' He thought to himself without turning around.
He had masked himself under the guise of a white baboon, a few of his Saimyosho flew by before disappearing. The girl was silent for a moment before she took a step forward. At this, his shoulders went rigid defensively.
"Are you going to jump?" She finally asked, her voice still a good distance away.
He laughed at this, the sound bubbling to the surface before he could stop himself. He turned his body slightly to assess the girl that dare approach him. She was a brave one, this child. Now that he could see her, she didn't appear to be as afraid as she should have been of him. Her expression was a mix of wonder and confusion, curiosity building up behind her soft brown eyes. Her hair was long and swept back in a low pony-tail, her bangs covering her forehead and coming down to frame her face. She appeared to be of some type of upper class, judging by her fancy kimono and unscathed hands.
"What makes you think I would jump?" He countered thoughtfully, cocking his head to the side as he assessed her.
The girl narrowed her eyes ever so slightly at him and this was another point that was proven to show she was of royalty. It was surprising to see her alone if she were, considering she was a child of power. They were to be watched at all times, being almost never allowed to leave the castle grounds. That much he knew.
"Because," She stated, her tone coming off clearly annoyed at the obvious situation. "You're standing awfully close to the edge to just be watching the scenery."
Naraku chuckled amusedly, moving away from the cliff to appease the child's wishes. Then she spoke again, this time her tone had completely changed to indifference.
"You do not have to change your mind on my behalf, Mister. Do as you wish." She blinked. Once, twice. Even a third time as she stared back at him, expressionless.
He was silent for a moment as her words sunk in. It wasn't particularly unusual for a royal to be snobbish, but it did seem uncharacteristic of a young girl. Without waiting for his reply, the girl turned on her heel and started to walk away from him. A part of him, the more demonic part of him, had wanted to crush her within his grasp. To watch as the life drained from her body and she fell to his feet, immobile.
However, Naraku remained silent as she vanished from his presence.
The next time they had crossed paths, he had just rid himself of both Kikyo and Inuyasha. Kikyo was dead and Inuyasha was sealed to a tree. Unfortunately, he had not anticipated that Kikyo's body would have been burned with the Shikon Jewel. And in a fit of rage, he had destroyed an entire village; killing men, women, and even children. He was merciless in his anger and as such, was doused in the blood and filled with the screams of the people that had suffered his wrath.
She had been with her horse, a pure white stead that did not have the proper equipment attached for riding. The horse was grazing in a field not too far from where the decaying flesh of the village he had left behind. She had appeared to not have noticed his presence yet; instead, she was running her hand through the mane of her horse, humming softly to herself.
Once again, she was alone.
He approached her quietly after several moments of just watching from a distance. Abruptly, her voice filled the silence and he halted in his approach towards her.
"You're a very cruel man, Mister."
Naraku halted his breathing and watched as she slowly turned around, her brown orbs watching him carefully. His baboon mask was stained with blood and even still, she did not flinch. The horse looked up from his spot grazing, blinking up at him before returning to the grass.
"And yet, you're still here." He commented, his tone low and curious. "You're either incredibly brave or horribly naive."
The girl licked her dry lips before smirking at him. It was odd, seeing such an expression on a young girl. He still knew nothing of this child and yet, she challenged him in ways not even a grown man could. It was interesting and yet, almost unnerving.
"If you had wanted to kill me, Mister, we would not still be talking right now." She stated, her voice unwavering.
He cocked his head to the side, smiling behind his baboon mask. "You're quite fearless for someone who does not know what I am capable of."
Suddenly, her horse straightened its posture and neighed in warning. The girl turned to pat the horse's head, running her hand gently down its nose and smiling. From his vantage point, her smile was bright and comforting, warm almost. It was nearly endearing, though he wouldn't admit it aloud.
"You're right, however-"
"Your Highness!"
Naraku quickly disappeared just as a few men ran up to the girl, breathing heavily as they approached her. They were talking loud and fast, lecturing her but she remained impassive. Watching from above, he could see that she was looking elsewhere, almost as if scouting for him.
"I am not afraid." She suddenly shouted, ignoring her guards entirely.
Her men began questioning her and what she was referring to, but Naraku understood completely. And all of a sudden, he was no longer mad.
"Marriage?" Midori asked, raising a perfectly quizzical brow.
Several months had passed by in seemingly a blur; everything had been quiet and peaceful, with no sightings of her masked baboon. She was not worried, however, knowing she would one day see him again. But as the days went on without interruption, she was left to deal with reality firsthand. And that, of course, meant her Father's approved suitors.
Her Father nodded his head briefly, sitting across from her when he called for a meeting with his daughter.
"Midori, you're nearly of age to be betrothed to a fine young Lord. Truthfully, it was your Mother's wish to put this off for as long as possible, but I can no longer grant her last wish. Within a years time, you will have had to pick someone I've introduced to you and be wedded." He paused, gauging her reaction. "For the Toyotomi Clan, for myself as your Father."
Without breaking eye contact with her Father, she went over his words in her head. Midori held no recollection of her late Mother. The woman had died whilst giving birth to her and all she had of her was a painting her Father had done while she was pregnant with her.
"Midori!"
Coming out of her thoughts, she lowered her head to the tatami mat in respect. She could not argue, there would have be no point anyways. His word was final.
"As you wish, Father."
As an only child, this was all she could do.
"You seem perturbed."
It had only been a couple of weeks later when she had been the one approached. Her friend in the baboon attire had chanced upon her while she was outside the castle, deep in the woods. It seemed like that was how they always met; surrounded by trees and dirt. She had been reading through her Mother's scroll she had left before giving birth to her. It was the only thing that came close to her Mother speaking with her.
Midori remained unresponsive as she gazed over the last words her Mother left her, allowing the wind to gently caress her face and ruffling the loose strains of hair that had escaped her top knot.
Naraku watched her in silence, quietly surprised at how easily she could hide her emotions when any other child was like an open book. Her family had raised her respectively; the perfect doll. Finally, the doll spoke. It was barely above a whisper, but he had heard her nonetheless.
"Ya know," She began, still not meeting his gaze. "We've known each other for quite some time now, haven't we?" It was more of a rhetorical question. "And yet, I still do not know your name." This time, she laughed. However, the sound was terribly off for such a young girl.
Behind his mask, Naraku smirked. "You have never asked."
At this, she scoffed and looked up. Her chocolate brown orbs were stricken with the most intense grief he'd ever seen. Even more so than any of his enemies that fell before him. It almost caused a reaction out of him. Almost.
"I'm a lady; it is respectful for a man to give his name before a woman does." She said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world and even so, it sounded wrong coming from her lips.
"Perhaps," He nodded in agreement. "However, I only see a child here."
That had struck a cord deep within her and she quickly stood to her feet, rolling the scroll up and pocketing it. Her face expressed her inner turmoil and yet, she was far too irritated about the situation at hand rather than what was really bothering her before he had approached her.
"Do not speak as if you know me." She snapped, narrowing her eyes sharply.
There had been more than a handful of men who had spoken back against Naraku, but only this girl was able to get a reaction out of him. Faster than the eye could see, he had appeared before her, forcing her back against the bark of the tree she had been previously sitting under. His hands had shot out and he had caged her in, peering down at her through half-lidded eyes hidden beneath the face of a monkey.
'This impudent girl-' He inwardly thought, watching her face closely. 'She is not even the least bit afraid.'
True to his own eyes, she did not appear shaken up in the slightest. In fact, her face had molded into a fierce, challenging look, as if she was daring him to lash out. They had stayed like that for what felt like eternity before a loud voice penetrated the silence and causing him to jerk back suddenly.
"Your Highness? Your Highness, where are you?!"
Midori groaned and turned away from him, the look of defeat flashing across her face for a brief moment.
"Onigumo." He suddenly said, causing her to stop and turn back to him.
She seemed puzzled for a moment before the gears clicked and she tilted her head back in wonder.
"Oni-gumo," She tried, testing the name on her tongue slowly. Somehow, it did not roll off easily. "It doesn't suit you."
"Oh?"
Again, a voice could be heard heading towards their direction.
"You should-"
But he had already disappeared before she could turn around.
"Go..." She finished just as one of her guards ran into the clearing.
That had been the last time they had seen or spoke to the other. It wasn't like he was looking for her, of course. Even passing through the forest or walking along the riverside, he was most certainly not looking for her face in the empty void. Certainly not. That would have been preposterous.
But he would have been lying if he said he didn't turn his head at the faintest sound of a child's laugh.
They had only met a handful of times at random, but he could admit they weren't so terrible. She was smart for her age; quick, too. Her wit was unmatched and her fearlessness, admirable. Naraku could not say he was the children's type, but this girl had intrigued him in ways no other could.
So when he hadn't seen her for nearly half a year, he had noticed. And she wasn't necessarily the same either.
A\N (2): Should I continue this? I have a lot of good ideas for it and how the rest of the story will flow but if no one likes the idea, I probably won't continue it. So just leave a review or fav, so I can know we're on the same page. Until next time! x :)