As I looked around to the world around me, my golden cat eyes drifted to the scenery around me. The trees was green and fresh and even the grasses shone a beautiful emerald green. It had been a few months now since that day when a human stood in-front of me, to protect me from the clutches of InuYasha. My eyes drifted to the silver haired figure who strode ahead, his red kimono perfectly fitting his body and his little white ears listening for the slightest sound.
Yes I had grown use to his arrogance and childish behaviours, but I still didn't fully trust him, he had tried to kill me. Beside him was a young girl with longish black hair, wearing a strange outfit which she had called her 'school uniform' as she walked silently. I still didn't understand her. My eyes once again drifted around me as my black ears twitched, I could hear birds chirping softly in the trees, and my eyes found the sky above me. I let out a soft sigh, as I saw the golden sun sinking lower and lower in the sky. Tonight was the first full moon of the new month and not my best time either.
I stopped in my tracks. Tonight I really didn't want to be around this group, not when I was at my most vulnerable. The other times I had managed to avoid them on this night, and I planned to do the same tonight. As I watched the sun sinking lower, I could feel myself wanting to get away from them. We were surrounded by trees and places to hide, perfect for someone like me to be seen.
"Sayuri, why have you stopped?" A young voice chirped. My golden eyes drifted to a small figure who was standing in front of me. He was wearing a blue kimono and had a bushy tail sticking out of the back and cute little ears, this was the little Fox Demon pup that had joined us not long after my early encounter with InuYasha and Kagome.
"I was just looking at the sky Shippo. Who knew the sun was setting so fast…" I said, eyes returning to the horizon.
"Yeah, the day is going so fast Sayuri…" Shippo replied as he jumped into my arms.
"Hm, yeah. We need to find a place to stay tonight. Or at least you, Kagome, InuYasha and Miroku do…" I continued. Yes, this was the same thing I tried to say on this particular night months ago. Almost as if on cue, Miroku came striding past, stopping when he saw us. The young monk was wearing his normal purple kimono, his black hair tied in a small ponytail, and the beads covering his right hand.
"We need to do what, Sayuri?" he said, in his usual tone.
"We need to find a place to stay for tonight…" I answered. Shippo's large eyes watched me and Miroku. Yes, the Ladies Man… As I liked to call him, or at least think it. This young Monk loved to go to everyone young woman he met and asking them to bear his child, which often got a look of disgust from InuYasha and a death Glare from Kagome and me. He had even the nerve to ask me, all he got was a conk in the head. I was much older than him that was for sure even though I physically looked eighteen.
"But what about you? You need a place to stay also." Shippo added. I gave him a light smile.
"I'll be fine tonight, Shippo." I said, putting him on the floor, this little kit was adorable though.
"Guys why have you both stopped!?" Kagome's voice said as she looked back at us and waved.
"Now what?" InuYasha's arrogant voice echoed as he turned to face us, his gold eyes and expression showing one of annoyance.
"Just talking about needing to find a place to stay tonight." Miroku said.
"Why not just sleep under that stars tonight? There's still quite a few miles to go before we go to the next village, Miroku…" InuYasha called back. Sighing lightly, I began to walk forward once more, Shippo beside me ad Miroku trailing behind. Within mere moments I was standing in front of both, Kagome's large eyes watching me, InuYasha's gold ones watching me irritated. So much for avoiding them tonight… I thought silently. A cool, seasonal breeze blew around us, my hair blowing in my eyes, Kagome's behind her and InuYasha's blowing beside him.
"Sayuri are you alright?" Kagome asked. I looked away, forgetting how I carried myself for a moment. My eyes went back to hers.
"Yes, I'm fine. Just a little tired." I replied.
"Since when are you tired Cat Girl?" InuYasha said. He often called me that, because I had cat ears and cat eyes. He liked to call me that sometimes, just to see my reaction.
"You should talk dog boy…" I threw back. Hey he was a dog boy, he had adorable little white dog ears on his head.
"Oh enough you to…" Shippo chimed in.
"Shut it Shippo!" InuYasha called, turning his nose up at us. Yes, a mere child he behaved like half the time.
"I'm sure there's a place for us to stay tonight." Kagome chimed as we walked on, even now the sun was setting, and to me it felt like time was speeding up. Barely one hour left before nightfall… I thought, a slight touch of fear sparking. I pushed it down. Soon enough we found a small shrine, not far from where we were. I could hear monks chanting quietly inside. It was an eerie but beautiful sound. All too soon we were welcomed warmly and given food and a place to stay. I ate happily, but soon enough I was done, before anyone else.
I was feeling my yokai side fading slowly. I needed to come with some reason to leave. Silently I got up, and went outside. The rustling trees gave me some comfort, not much though. I couldn't think of any excuse to say to leave, I guess I would just have to fade into the darkness that was slowly caressing the land. With a sigh I headed off, preparing to leap away.
"Sayuri, where are you going?" Kagome said, as she came outside, shivering for a moment.
"I have something to do. Don't rely on me tonight. Stay with InuYasha and the others." I said, without looking back. With a quick elegant leap I landed to a tree and went to the next one before I left them behind, but not before I heard InuYasha ask Kagome where I was going.
"InuYasha keep an eye on her…" Kagome's distant voice called as I faded in the night. I landed on the ground, off a tall branch. I saw the silver moon rising, as I looked at the dark sky. I looked around me, but couldn't see too much, ahead I heard soft rushing of a waterfall. Standing up I took a step forward only to fall down as the last of my Yokai powers left me. Alone in the darkness and the silver glow of the moon I felt vulnerable but even if my friends had known what this night meant, I still would be useless to them.
My black hair fell softly in my face, as the wind blew it around me. Standing up I started to walk towards the waterfall. My Kimono's sleeves covered my delicate hands, soft to the touch and closed my eyes for a moment. Despite acting and carrying myself like a full yokai this was the part of me I wanted to hide from everyone. I didn't want them to know I was a mere Hanyo, half human and half Yokai. I was too proud of my mother's blood running in my veins, even though I was proud I was still modest.
Yes my father had been human and my mother loved him, as I did, but when he was slain by demon slayers for no reason, I despised humans and even being one, even if it was just for one day in each month. Anger stirred, but so did sadness, loss and loneliness. I felt tears threating to form in the corners of my dark eyes, but I made sure they didn't spill. I took a step forward again, but this time I rested on a stone near the waterfall. The rushing hiss, made my tears vanish. A soft thud drew my lightly eye-shadowed eyes from the waterfall to a figure standing only meters away from me.
The moon came out from her hiding behind a dark cloud, illuminating the figure. His silver hair blowing lightly in the wind, the red kimono hugging his body and the golden eyes watching me. I turned away from him immediately, as those bitter tears threated to pool from my eyes. I got up, trying to hide my features only to nearly trip on a loose rock, when muscled arms wrapped around my waist, within a second I had regained my balance with support. Yes, sometimes I was clumsy but rarely.
"Sa..Sayuri?" InuYasha's surprised voice said as he sat me down on a moss covered log, before sitting cross legged on the ground. When the moon came out again, the dog demon's golden eyes went large and an expression of pure surprise crossed his face. This time it was my turn to be in denial.
"Yes, so what?" I said, turning away from him as my black hair blew behind me and in my face. I rested my hands on top of each other in the sleeves of my kimono, which was decorated with cherry blossoms and perfect patterns, which represented nobility and richness. I let out a surprised gasp to see into InuYasha's pretty golden eyes. He was looking at me with sharp details. His even touched my head, where my black cat ears usually rested, only to feel my hair in his hands. He jumped back, blinking.
"You're human Sayuri!" he shouted at me, shooting me accusing daggers. I just turned my nose up at him, being in denial and childish.
"Yeah, what is it to you, InuYasha?" I said, sounding rather childish. He leapt up again and stood in front of me.
"How can that be? You're a full demon!" he shouted angrily as he pointed at me. I remained silent, still trying to swallow my pride. For a half demon he was easily fooled. How could he think I was a true and proper Yokai? Because you behave like it Sayuri… I thought coldly. I sighed and got up, heading to the waterfall once more and sitting on a moss covered boulder. I could feel the mist lightly falling on me from the rapid falling of the water. I let out a heavy sigh.
"I'm not a full demon InuYasha, I'm a Hanyo just like you are. Once a month, more to the point the first full moon of each month I lose my power and become human…" I said, eyes watching the water. Yes I didn't fill vulnerable with InuYasha around, but Kagome and the others were without him. A thud signalled that he had landed right next to me. I couldn't bear to look at him. Mixed emotions stirred, the disgust of being human, the sadness, the confusion, the hate, the anger, the compassion all burned, raging inside.
"But how? You carry yourself as though you were a full demon…" he started to say, his surprisingly gentle hand cupped my chin, turning my head so that I could look in his golden eyes. This time his face showed a strange maturity that I had never seen before.
"Because my mother was a Cat Yokai and my father was human. They fell in love with each other after he healed her wounds over months. I carry myself like a full demon because I'm proud that my mother was a demon, I'm proud that her blood runs in my veins. She was a truly beautiful demon, powerful. She was…." I said, as tears slipped silently from my eyes. InuYasha's anger had now defused, it was replaced with understanding and compassion as he lightly wiped the tears away.
"I loved her and my father. Even though you never see it, I'm glad to have his heart. I'm glad that he was human. But I was always looked down upon. Before I had even had a childhood, both of them were slain by demon slayers. My father protected my mother, only to be killed. My mother retaliated, but she too was killed. I was but innocent child and saw they were killed. That's why I wanted the Shikon Jewel, InuYasha so that I could become a full demon to seek my revenge on them…" I said, more tears slipped from my eyes.
When I was human I experienced emotions I didn't understand sometimes. When I was human o felt vulnerable. A strong, warm embrace pulled me into InuYasha's arms, and my head rested against his muscled chest. I sobbed silently.
"I know how you feel Sayuri. It was the same with me. I was always seen as an outcast, because I was a half…breed…" the words were difficult for him to say, I could tell, but the way they came out. I could see mixed emotions swirling behind his eyes, as though he too was human at this moment. Never had I know someone to have such understanding of me. This side was the side I liked the most of him, but I knew that all too soon he would go back to being arrogant and childish. He would deny this tomorrow.
"My mother was a human, just like your father, my father was a demon. But I barely remember anything from him in my life. I may not want to avenge my parents, but I want to be a full demon to, so that I won't feel so vulnerable or weak… So Sayuri I know how you feel. Because when I'm human I feel useless to, but…" he said, before getting me to face him again.
"Why didn't you tell me?" He asked, as he brushed my hair from my eyes.
"Because I was too ashamed, and too proud to let anyone see this side of me…" I said, avoiding his concerned eyes. He just laughed, lightly.
"Yes, I was like that to, until Kagome and my friends saw me in my most vulnerable state, Sayuri. Now, I have seen you like this and I know." He replied, voice mature. I gave him a kind smile. He pushed some hair behind my ear, golden eyes shining.
"But I will say this, you are truly beautiful in your human form, Sayuri. You have inherited your mother's beauty, but your father's kindness. I'm sure he was a wonderful father in the time you had with him…" he said, I felt a tiny blush creep in my cheeks. For this moment I saw another side to him, the human side.
"Thank you. But promise me you won't tell them you saw me like this, as a human." I said, seriously. He just laughed.
"I won't." he replied, but within the next breath he was up and on guard. His eyes searched the area around us. He pulled me to my feet within a second, and his claws were out and he stood in front of me. Behind us, I felt a rush of icy wind pass over my back, and InuYasha, turned around leaping.
"Iron Revoir soul stealer!" he shouted as his claws slashed the wings of a giant moth.
"Sayuri, InuYasha!" Kagome called, as she, Miroku and Shippo crashed through some thin branches in a loud pile. Great, not what I need now…I thought quickly.
"Kagome, Miroku, Shippo what are you all doing here?!" InuYasha shouted, any traces of his human side vanished, replaced by the arrogant one we all knew and loved.
"It was a trap, where we were. The moths were after the shards of the Shikon jewel!" Kagome shouted getting up. There was a woosh of air and three more moth demons appeared out of nowhere. Right now I wish I was still in my half demon self… I thought briskly. Well I wasn't any good right now.
"Where's Sayuri?" Shippo asked, as he dodged a moth.
"Fox fire!" he shouted as a blue flame, surrounded the moth as it crashed into a tree, only to right itself again. The moon was being cruel at the moment, her light only shone for a few moments, enough that Miroku and Shippo saw me.
"Sayuri! There you are!" Shippo shouted jumping in my arms.
"Hi Shippo." I replied. His little eyes looked at me.
"You look different…" he said. InuYasha had leapt away from me now and was slashing another moth demon. Miroku's purple eyes drifted over my entire figure. From the way he was acting I don't think he could see me, human eyes were usually weak in the darkness. His hands were on mine, as Shippo leapt from my arms, before Miroku had grabbed them. I knew what he was about to ask.
"You are a truly beautiful woman, a princess of the finest quality will you do me the honour of bearing my child?" he said, down on his knees, one hand went to my backside and began rubbing it. I closed my eyes heavily as anger stirred, I was shaking slightly. I may be human at the moment, but I still had strength there. With one swift movement, my hand hit the back of his head and he fell onto the ground.
"No thank you Miroku!" I fumed, walking away, as he sat up, rubbing his head. He knew my hit well, since it was the same amount of strength I had used when he first asked me.
"Ouch…" he called, only to realise it was me. An embarrassed blush crossed his cheeks.
"Sayuri? I'm so sorry…" he said, bowing and repeating it over and over again.
"Get over it Miroku!" Kagome shouted. Before I had a chance to go on the ground, the moonlight shone and a giant moth grabbed me.
"Sayuri!" Shippo shouted trying to jump up and grab my hands, only to grab the edge of my kimono before falling. Good thing it was long. Before anyone could move, a gust of silver dust surrounded them. I looked down, as I saw my friends coughing and gagging. My eyes looked at the moon, there were still a few hours left before sunrise. Now what was I going to do? I had no idea why a demon would capture me because I had no shards of the sacred jewel, in my possession. That was Kagome all her own. She carried them. After a silent flight, I was dropped from a high distance, and landed flat on my back.
I could hear my bones breaking, from the impact.
"Ugh…" was all I could cough out, as a splatter of crimson blood escaped my lips. It splashed lightly onto my kimono. I was gasping for air at that moment. One of the many other reasons why I hated being human, because of how fragile they we and I was. My guess was that a fractured rib had pierced my left lung. Grunting with pain, I barely sat up, only to fall down on my stomach. More blood came from my lips as a crimson pool rested in front of me. I hoped that help would be here soon. Until sunrise I had to make sure I survived, because when it did all my wounds, and broken bones would heal, back to normal as my demon blood returned.
I heard a cold laughter, and looked up as pain echoed throughout my body. I couldn't really see anything, but a silhouette of a male figure. His rough hand stroked my face.
"The beautiful Sayuri, how I love to see you so weak…" the voice said. It was gentle, but had a rough edging to it.
"Who are you?" I spluttered.
"It's not me who should be answering. I was the one who sent those hunters to kill your beloved mother…" the voice chorused. I tried to think of who was the one who had sent the hunters to destroy my parents. No-one came to mind. There was a sharp pull and I felt my body being lifted up as pain seared through me like a venomous fire. I blinked, I couldn't see much, just a young man, who was wearing the baboon skin. I saw blue eye shadow adorning his cruel eyes.
"Ho…How do you know my mother or me?" I said, crimson pooling from the side of my lips and rom my nose slightly. I shakily wiped the blood from my nose.
"Tsk Tsk, that is for me to know. But I will say this…" his voice said, as his lips went to my ears.
"It was the power she had, that I envied. And now, I intend to finish off what I started…" he purred. The sound of his voice made me sick. With a quick flick of his wrist I felt myself flying through the air and crashing into a wooden shrine gate.
"Nnnggghhh…" I said, as my neck cracked against it. I knew I couldn't take this much longer, my body wouldn't last until sunrise. I blinked away the stars behind my eyes as I landed on the ground, falling onto my right shoulder. I saw a flash, but all too soon, the man in the baboon skin was nowhere to be seen as more moths swooped around this place.
"Wind tunnel!" Miroku shouted, as he removed the beads from his hand, revealing a black void in his palm. I weakly grabbed onto the spirit gate trying with all my might so that I wouldn't be sucked in. I heard the hum of insects' wings and the dangerous wind subsided. I let go, sighing heavily as I coughed once more.
"Sayuri!" Kagome shouted as I saw the young girl skid to a halt and kneel beside me. I felt her arms trying to sit me up, as blood splattered on her white pristine uniform.
"You look terrible…" she said, as her hands brushed hair from my face. The moon was slowly fading now, as the darkness of the sky slowly faded to dark purple. There was enough light for her to see me fully, bloodied and broken.
"Your ears, they are gone, so is your silver-gold hair and gold eyes. You look human." She said, surprised. I gave her a raspy, breathless laugh.
"Haha, no…hiding…it…now…" I stuttered, as my eyes closed.
"Sayuri!" A frightened voice said, as I felt something jump in my lap. I barely fluttered my eyelashes. I felt myself fading, but I had to make it to sunrise, I needed to. I summoned whatever strength I had left and struggled to my feet, weakly opening my eyes. A shadow passed over us and I pushed Kagome and Shippo out of the way as I felt hands grasping me as I was lifted into the air once more. One more drop and I won't be able to survive it… I thought, barely. My eyes saw the sun rising, and I felt an elegant smile cross my battered lips. Sunrise, finally… As the dark sky began to be streaked with golds, pinks, oranges and reds, I felt part of my strength returning.
"You won't survive this, Sayuri.." a gentle but cruel voice echoed on the wind. I just laughed.
"Wait and see…" I replied. As the sun rose higher and higher, the night faded. With each second that passed, I felt my power return. My heart began beating stronger and stronger, and soon I could feel myself pulsing slightly. My dark hair turning silver-gold once more, I could feel my injuries fading and broken bones healing, my dark eyes turning golden once more and I felt my agility and ears return. With a crack of my fingers, my claws came out, sharp and deadly. With a smile, I saw purple stripes delicately decorate my wrist as my nails were glowing with a purple light.
"Not this time. Nightshade strike!" I shouted as my poisonous claw slashed the creature, a moment later, I saw purple lines cross over the demon and I felt it drop me, as the deadly poison destroyed its body. With an elegant leap I landed perfectly on my feet and my nightshade tipped claws faded. I smiled at my friends, only to see them smile back. Now that I was back to my normal self, I stilled acted and carried myself like a full yokai as I made my way towards them.
"Sayuri! You're ok!" Shippo shouted as he leapt into my arms.
"Of course Shippo." I replied. InuYasha strode over towards me, he had a rare smile on his face as he gave me an approving nod, that said be proud of your heritage. Kagome punched me in the shoulder, I didn't really feel it.
"How dare you scare us like that! I was sure you were gone! And how come you didn't tell me you were like InuYasha!" she fumed. I just shrugged.
"I'm sorry for that, but it's how I am. I'm proud of my blood. But next time you will be prepared…" I said, smiling and walking ahead, only to wink at InuYasha, who walked beside me and whispered.
"Everything that was said last night Sayuri I won't tell them. But you better be more prepared to fight more." He said softly, lightly brushing a disobedient hair away from my face. Before he leapt ahead.
"InuYasha wait!" Kagome exclaimed running to keep up with him.
"So Sayuri what was InuYasha saying to you just now?" Miroku inclined. I said nothing, and smiled, before I to leapt ahead and dashed ahead of Miroku who just looked stunned for a moment, only to realise he was being left in the dust.
"Wait!" he shouted running to try and catch up. Yup these were my friends and either way even if I denied it I enjoyed there company. Yes I was a hanyo, but I behaved like a full blooded Yokai because that was who I am.