A Demon of a Woman /Sesshomaru Calls\*

Chapter 1

Who I am is simple…and complicated. The simplicity is this: I am Corrine Matsumoto and I am twenty-two years old…that's all really. The complicated: I'm not human…but I can't really say what else I would be either.

Growing up in modern day Japan, I've never known who I am, and I've come to learn over the years that I am the only on. In fact, it would be better put to say 'what I am'. Ever since I can remember, every morning I've woken to find a girl, and now a woman, with violet eyes and silver hair staring back at me. And that's just the start. My hair and eye color weren't even the strangest things about me. Matching streaks of red-violet marked my cheekbones and wrists, and a crescent moon as black as the night on my forehead. Unless all of Japan wore make-up as well as I did, then I was quite certain of the fact that I was alone. In all my years, I had never seen another person with markings quite like mine.

To this day, I had also never met anyone who has ever taken well to, nor accepts, whatever monster or beast they think I am when they see my true face…that's why I've become so good with the illusion of make-up and costumes. I spend a good portion of my hard-earned money investing in Hollywood level concealers. Only the best will do to make sure it completely hides the marks on my face without the need for hourly touch up.

My hair is actually saddening to hide. Under the silver is a layer of natural violet streaks that run through my hair. I love the way its violet shine matches my eyes, but alas, I keep them both hidden as well. I hide my eyes behind a pair of brown contacts and my hair tucked into a rather plain black wig with long locks. I know I could simply dye my hair black and save myself the trouble, but the wig's biggest role is to hide the points of my elf-like ears into the hidden pockets I have made. All-in-all, I've hidden so long and so well, I just might have a shot in the film industry if I gave it a try.

As usual, Kagome had run back home to the Modern Era to catch up on the mountain of schoolwork that she had fallen behind on yet again while away in the Feudal Era. And as usual, Inuyasha lost his patience waiting around Kaede's hut, and he decided to bring Kagome back himself.

Unknown to Inuyasha, a spectator was watching him in the distance. They had also met this strange woman from another time, and he had heard the stories. But, he had never known how it was all possible. That was until now as they watched Inuyasha take the plunge down the Bone Eater's well.

Sesshomaru was on another quest to take the Tetseiga. After careful observation as he formulated his plan for the best attack, he finally knew how to really catch the half-breed off guard. Sesshomaru didn't know what he'd find over there, but he knew that if he faced Inuyasha on uncharted territory. He was certain he could catch him off guard on the other side and swiftly defeat him once and for all.

Also, being a Lord and a much superior demon than most didn't just come from power and strength. He sought for higher knowledge, and this world was unknown to every demon; every demon but Inuyasha…but once he is finished taking care of him, only he will be the wiser.

Living in a human world, I disguise myself as one and keep to myself. I've been on my own since I was only four years old. I know, it seems remarkable that someone as young as that could actually survive on their own, but in the end I'm still not human.

Through all the hardships I went through after starting out on my own so young, I still managed to make a decent living. I now lived in a loft of my own with my best friend Rhys-a sable coated Alaskan Malamute. Figures the only real companion I've ever had and trusted wasn't human either.

Tonight, I found myself, as usual, lying on the cold concrete of the apartment complex rooftop. The cool night air tickled my bare arms and left a trail of goosebumps, but I didn't care. After living on the streets for so long when I was young, it was sometimes hard for me to sleep on the bed I now have. And other nights I realize I sound like a POW recounting his lonely nights away from home, feel silly, and make myself get reacquainted with the comforts of plush top sleeping. But, that was not tonight's story. Tonight, the feel of the wind and noise from the cars driving by was more soothing that the assuring warmth of my bed.

The night was starting out like any other, but I got restless of just lying against the wall looking at the night sky. It was like an ADD on and off switch. I could go for days just sitting in one spot and then the next few I couldn't stand being in any one position for more than a minute. So, to fulfill my current impatient cravings that were rising in me at that moment, I got up and walked to the other side of the rooftop. Sitting on the edge with my back facing the street, I leaned back and kicked my feet in the air like there was a magical recliner holding them up.

I took a deep breath, relishing the feeling of the wind from the streets below soar up and wisp through my hair. The ends of the ribbon that held my 'hair' into loose pigtails flickered with the wind and tickled my cheeks as my torso leaned precariously over the edge of the building.

*Woosh*

I felt a gust of wind rush by me, and instantly I knew it wasn't normal. Normal is the wind that comes whipping up from the streets below and dances around you. No, this was like a semi had just zoomed passed me…that's where it got odd considering I was on a roof top.

I leaned forward on the railing, craning my neck in the direction the dust had come from, but didn't see anything.

*Woosh*

Another gust stirred passed, and in the blink of an eye nearly all of my hair had pulled from the pigtails. I was nearly blinded as black hair whipped with an almost fury across my face. And in another second, it came to a halt.

So did the wind. I could feel it sway back toward me for a fraction of a second before stopping.

I wiped the hair from my eyes and mouth…and then it was there…or they were there. Standing with the wind now swirling around them, their clothes billowing back and forth. I could only catch slivers of a face around the silver hair that wisped around their body.

And then the wind ceased once again. It was almost slow motion, watching as their hair slowly dropped down onto their-no his-shoulders. I was too slow as I looked to his face-taking in the soft pallor of his skin and strange markings. Before I could take in the rest of this strange man's face…a face with eyes that felt like they were watching me scrutibly…I felt a strange burst of energy pulse from his direction and into me.

"Ah!" I yelped in surprise. That energy…no, not energy…aura…his aura had caught me off guard and I lost my balance. While my mind was still crowded by him and his presence, I slipped back off the edge of the rooftop. My concentration wasn't lost for long, and with one hand still on the ledge for leverage, I kicked my feet on the bit of wall that hung below me. I flipped forward back onto the roof, landing in a crouched stance.

My hair whipped around my face again, and even though it obscured my view, the wind just meant one thing: He was gone.

I shook the crazy thoughts from my head. It wasn't anything. It was just my imagination wanting to play tricks with my lonely mind. I was alone in this world of humans and that's that. Why else would I imagine a man with a crescent moon upon his forehead.

It's ludicrous! I added to that thought as I walked over to the rooftop entrance. There was no way I was going to continue spending my night up here after all of that.

Wait. My body froze, hand trembling on the door knob. Come on Corrine, just make a fist and turn. That's all you have to do…but a crescent moon…there was a crescent moon! Just as real as the one in the sky! I looked back and forth desperately between the entrance to the complex and the distant night sky where he took off. There was a battle inside me waging on which direction to take.

Finally, the hopeful won out over my sense of logic. I must go! I must know…must be certain My body had already been through the door and sprinting down the stairwell before I could finish the thought.

He ran up to me as soon as I'd burst through the door and followed me excitedly, assuming I was hurrying to rush us off on an adventure. "I'm sorry Rhys-y cup" I cooed to him as I ran through the loft and stumbled my way into the bedroom.

I didn't know where I was going, but I did know that it wasn't going to be in my purple lounging pants and a black oversized t-shirt. The outfit I quickly slipped on consisted of a tight corset type bustier and a simple black knee-length dress on top. The dress had long lace sleeves that came down to my wrists to hide the markings on my skin there, and the purpose of a bustier…well, I should say the bustier and the ace bandages tightly wound underneath, is another type of concealer I use.

My preference has always been to keep attention away from myself. With my make-up and wig successfully blending me into the human society, I have found other features of my body bringing their attention-at least of the men-right back around. I know it sounds extreme to go through so many hoops to minimize the appearance of my breasts, but after everything else I do to hide it just became one more part of the disguise.

With the busiest part of my outfit handled, I put on my knee high black leather lace-up boots. With these on, I pulled out the gun duct inside the nightstand drawer and tucked it into the hidden pocket by my calf.

I was running through the apartment getting everything and anything in order as fast as I could. I knew I needed to leave if I hoped to find and catch up with whoever that was. But I couldn't forget the most important thing before I left.

I filled Rhys's food and water, then wrote up a quick note and grabbed an extra key to the apartment. I sprinted out of my apartment, taping the note and key to the door of the dear little old lady that lived next door. She was always so sweet towards Rhys when they passed in the apartment halls, so the note asked her to check in on him, walk him and keep his food full until I returned.

I hoped I would be back by the morning, but who knows what could happen when you go running after strange men who mysteriously appear on your rooftop one second and gone the next? And for all the 'hoping' I could do, my gut told me this might be a long adventure.

*I do not own the Inuyasha manga or TV series. I do not have any affiliation with the writer of this series. This book is a fanfiction and I do not own any of the characters that are from the Inuyasha series. The only character that is mine is the original character Corrine Matsumoto