Akemi was in a hurry to get back to the village with her basket of herbs. Night was falling, and they said that was when the demon came out. People in the village said that one look at his blue eyes and you'd lose your very soul. She'd been hurrying to collect herbs, and she was still going to be out after dark.

Her eyes were darting side to side nervously as she went, moving from shadow to shadow in search of evil blue eyes, and consequently she didn't notice the loose rock until her foot hit it. She went down, her ankle twisting painfully under her. She hit the ground hard, herbs spilling out of her basket. She tried to stand, but cried out as her ankle throbbed. She wasn't getting home tonight.

Akemi could have cried. She was going to die out here, she just knew it! She could already see the glowing lights of soul collectors coming for her!

Wait, that wasn't just her imagination, there really were lights. Akemi squinted, staring intensely as a cluster of yellow lights meshed together then spread apart, leaving a long line of light behind. From that light stepped a man.

Was he a man? Oh, he couldn't be, no man was that handsome, that beautiful, that… perfect. He had frosted blue eyes, like the sky just after sunrise. Hair of the same color hung pin straight past his shoulders. That didn't seem unnatural though, no it was amazing, it only added to the beauty of his pale skin, his angular but soft face, his intense gaze. He was dressed simply, in tan and blue, his hand holding a shining staff with green leaves that swayed softly.

Only moments ago she had been terrified of those blue eyes. Now she'd give anything to see them for the rest of her life. This was the demon, this had to be.

"You are injured," he said, his voice as soft and lyrical as a flute. It was soothing, it made her want to cuddle up to him, safe and at home.

"Y-You stay away from me!" were the first words out of her mouth, and she was surprised that they were. "D-Don't come near me, demon!" What was she saying?

He cocked his head and took a step forwards. He knelt before her, placing his staff beside her. Reaching out, he tenderly cupped her heel with one hand and lifted it, the other probing her ankle softly. His hands were cold, the claws scraping gently at her skin in a way that was both threatening but promising. Akemi shivered, with what she had no idea.

"I will not hurt you," he said, looking up at her, and his eyes showed a tenderness, a compassion that she had never seen before. "I merely wish to heal your ankle. Then you may be on your way with your herbs."

"W-why?" she stammered. "Y-You're a demon! Don't you… Don't you eat humans, or something?"

He chuckled softly, shoulders shaking, and it was like the first wind of winter, not cold, but hinting at something coming, something amazing.

"I have never consumed human meat," he said as he placed his hand alongside her ankle. His long fingers glowed and her ankle felt warm, like she'd just stuck it in a hot spring. Immediately the pain was gone, just a light tingling sensation left behind. "I am a healer."

"No kidding," Akemi said, letting out a breathless chuckle.

Forget losing her soul, one look from those blue eyes and her heart was his.

"What's your name?" she asked softly.

"I am Daiki," he responded, slipping her sandal back onto her foot. He stood and took up his staff, extending a hand to her. Blushing, she took it, and allowed him to help her to her feet. "What is your name?"

"Me? I'm Akemi." Her heart was pounding. "Would- Would you like to come to my hut for a cup of tea? It's not much, but... I'd like to thank you."

A small smile pulled at Daiki's lips. "I would like that, Akemi."

And there you have it, the meeting of Jinenji's parents! I watched that episode and seriously started wondering what actually went on there, and this was born! I'm thinking of continuing it with Inuyasha's parents, maybe the parents of some other half-demons that pop up later in the series. Could be interesting, ne?