[Disclaimer; I do not own Inuyasha or any characters in this fiction.]
[A/N] Well, look who's back with yet another fanfiction! I know, I know, you're probably questioning why I'm starting a new fiction while in the middle of writing Summer of Dreams, but I can assure you you'll all enjoy this darker themed story with a more twisted plot of romance and action. Don't worry, I'll still be updating Summer of Dreams frequently; If you want to check out a more humorous Inuyasha fiction, then head to my profile and give it a read! Anyways, I'm testing out different styles of writing and plots, so please leave a review with any advice or constructive criticism. I'm happy to hear all of your opinions! Just a quick notice; every character within this novel will be human, but they may possess spiritual powers or immense agility and strength. Now, without further ado, let's dive into a brand new, thrilling story packed with action, romance, and angst.
~O~
Chapter One: In The Shadows
Darkness cascaded over the forest swiftly, cloaking the rolling hills and tapering trees in a heavy layer of shadow.
As nightfall occurred, the activity within the woods died down to a mere buzz. Wind whistled delicately through the topmost boughs of the trees, carrying lush green leaves through the currents in the air. The occasional grunt of a wolf or hoot of an owl could be heard echoing through the depths of the forest.
Nightfall was usually when little activity occurred; creatures settled into a deep slumber, while plants closed their blooms to maintain energy. Humans generally avoided staying out past dark.
Yet some came alive at night; they thrived in the cloak of darkness which seized the earth.
They were known as assassins; the most terrifying humans of feudal Japan. Slaughtering others mercilessly for fortune, women, or power, they used bloodshed as a method of temporarily relieving their own clouded hearts. They never worked for a sole ruler or group, making their livings off of anyone in need of revenge or power. These humans operated within the night, using shadow to their advantage.
However, there was one particular assassin who was infamous for his ruthless and clean slaughters, as well as his inability to be caught or identified. The dark forests of twilight were his domain; catching wanderers off guard was his specialty.
His name was Inuyasha.
With a heart as dark and scarred as his, killing was second nature to him; he often murdered humans he came across just for the thrill. It seemed as if there was no hope for him, as he was tangled in a web of pain, darkness, and sorrow.
But even a soul as wretched and tormented as his was still in reach.
It was still capable of being saved.
~O~
A cloaked figure swiftly leapt across the topmost branches of the canopy. With agile movements, he bounded from one bough to another, leaving a trail of rattled branches in his wake.
This particular evening had been uneventful. He had not come across any wandering women or children within the woods, even after scouring it for miles. Not a single drop of blood had been spilled by his hands, which caused him to grit his teeth. He lusted for bloodshed, longed to tear others apart; the lives of innocent humans had no meaning to him anymore. He only craved their downfall.
Rapidly shaking his head to clear it of said thoughts, he continued his swift bounds across the forest canopy.
As the figure approached his intended destination, a sudden flash of movement caught his eye; he had grown hyperaware of foreign movements throughout his years of assassination.
Skidding to a halt on a particularly sturdy branch, he whipped his head around to face the forest floor. His deep amber eyes gazed hungrily at a heaped figure which seemed to have collapsed into a pile of damp, musty leaves.
A silent swoop indicated that he had leapt off of the branch and towards the mysterious silhouette that had given way.
Landing with a soft crunch of leaves, the cloaked figure approached warily.
A cruel smirk graced his features as he identified the disturbance; a young woman laying unconscious before him.
A perfect end to the night, he concluded, pondering which method he should use to bring forth her demise.
He carefully brushed off the hood of his cloak to allow flowing silver locks that shimmered in the pale starlight to escape. Pulling away the edge of his cloak, he revealed a wide array of knives fastened within it.
Casually tracing a finger over several different selections, he finally decided on a rather sharp looking number with jagged steel ridges.
As he trained his gaze once more on the young maiden who lay unconscious, he flinched slightly.
Laying before him was the most ethereal woman he had ever laid his eyes upon. She carried a sort of pure innocence with her, which seemed to pour out of her soul and into the surrounding atmosphere. She had delicate, silky raven tresses which lay pooled on the forest floor, encircling her head. The pale silver moonlight created a sort of glow against her skin and hair, illuminating her smooth ivory skin and shimmering on the tips of her full, delicate eyelashes.
She donned the clothing of a traditional shrine priestess, a white robe of silk with wide, open sleeves, and a deep red hakama which reached down to the girl's ankles.
Most of all, her expression seemed… peaceful.
The assassin had never met a woman with such an expression up close. His victims were always cowering in fear, their faces scrunched into terrible displays of cowardice and sadness.
Sure, she was unconscious; but although she appeared to have been running, her breath had slowed and her features carried no trace of fear or negative emotions.
The man extended a hand gently towards her face, wanting to touch this young priestess who carried such a foreign expression.
Yet the moment his outstretched finger made contact with the surface of her ivory skin, he immediately flinched backwards.
It was almost as if she was too pure to touch or approach. Her very being radiated innocence and peace, which repelled his own sullied, darkened heart.
Was it this girl's aura, or just his own conscience? He decided to try again.
Extending a soft hand once more, he allowed his fingertip to rest against her smooth, pale cheek. Even with a single touch, he felt as if warmth was flowing through his body, connecting the priestess to his very being.
The knife at the side of his body clattered to the ground as he released his grip.
Somehow, for the first time in his life, he knew that drawing this girl's blood would not bring him satisfaction or pleasure.
For the first time, he despised the idea of killing. And that terrified him.
Shaking his head to clear it of such thoughts, he withdrew the jagged steel knife swiftly from the forest floor, slipping it back into the array of knives within his cloak. Snatching his hand away from the girl's face, he proceeded to throw the dark hood of his travelling cloak over his head once more, preparing to leave this pure area which terrified him so.
Refusing to look at the girl heaped on the forest floor as if she would lure him back, he spun around on nimble feet and began to sprint away through the clusters of damp leaves littering the ground.
Away from that pure, wretched place.
Away from that woman.
That woman…
The assassin abruptly skidded to a halt, whipping his head around with a glint in his eye.
She would never survive the night here unconscious.
He didn't know what drove him to do it, but he had never been as determined to help someone in his life as he was in that moment.
He swiftly backtracked, sprinting silently through the twilight woods. Heart racing, he quickly scanned the clearing he departed from earlier, a wave of relief cascading over him as he caught sight of the crumpled figure in the same spot as she lay in before.
He suddenly began to question his actions.
Why do I feel relief? I don't care if this woman is safe… she is none of my business.
He denied to himself that he felt anything towards a pitiful priestess's life, yet he ignored his earlier feelings.
Keh. It's just because I don't want to see a life wasted if I could have taken it…
He felt satisfaction at the internal conclusion he came to, and focused his thoughts on the girl who still remained motionless on the ground.
I know… I'll conceal her while she's unconscious. Then when she wakes up, she can leave this forest for good and I won't have to see her again.
Leaping swiftly towards the centre of the clearing, he proceeded to scoop up armfuls of damp leaves, transferring them to a small pit nestled between two sturdy tree roots.
After several minutes spent collecting leaves, he returned to the girl's side and fell softly to his knees.
Carefully, as if she were made of glass, he swept her up gently in his arms, bridal style.
Feeling the familiar warmth of purity pulsing through his veins, he rushed across the clearing and hastily placed her body within the pit.
Crossing her arms across her chest in a compact position, he shuffled the leaves towards her and evenly spread them across her figure.
Once the girl was completely covered with decent room for breathing, he cast a final glance at the pile of musty leaves before snapping his head away and stalking into the shadows of the forest.
~O~
[A/N] Thank you all for reading the first chapter of my new fan fiction! I would absolutely love it if you left a small review or piece of feedback for me to check out later. If you have any questions or comments, post them in reviews and I will be sure to respond to them next chapter! Love you all! Mwah!