Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha.
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The villagers spoke of him as an anomaly.
Few had the chance to glimpse him, for he moved away like a shadow. They knew of his power, but none had ever actually known it, as he avoided people at all expenses.
Leaves were fluttering down, but it wasn't yet autumn, and he wondered why they were doing as such.
As of now, he hadn't seen a human in ten years. The last time he had seen a human was the last time he spoke. He did not plan to speak again.
He had known of his power and his riches; but he cared for neither, and merely wandered his lands for many years, living off it.
A single flower had pushed its way through the snow, struggling to face the sun. It was in his path. Never had he stepped down to anything in his way. But once…just this once, he moved around the delicate petals and walked onward.
Always, he kept his head high, no matter what was whispered. With each passing day, he thought of returning. But…he'd come to far to just throw it away. So on he walked.
That is, until one day.
That particular one day would change him forever.
The water gurgled past him and reflected the suns light. The trees were thick with blossoms and they floated down with the white fluttering insects. He picked up the sweet scents of ripe fruit and the gleaming dew on the leaves.
He hadn't even registered it was another day. He only knew that it was still his time to live, constant time that would abruptly end. Until then he had to keep walking.
Unused to the sound, he turned his head late at the crashing in the brush. Unexpectedly, a little girl tumbled out of the vegetation and landed at his feet. Staring at his shoes, she slowly raised her eyes with an innocent expression of surprise. Her face then broke out into an almost-toothy grin.
"Good morning!" She chirped, not moving from the spot where she sat spread-eagled. He cast a single look down at her, and walked right on past. She turned her head to watch his retreating form, and for a moment she was completely still.
"Heeeey!" She got up and ran after him, giggling. He continued to walk, not making any sign that he had noticed her.
"Can you talk?" She asked, her hands behind her back, twirling in circles.
He cast an indifferent look down, and spoke.
"Of course I can."
"Where ya going?" She asked. He flicked his eyes down to her for a second and said nothing, not sure what his answer even was.
For a while the little girl seemed to be unaware of his lack of talking; she did enough for the both of them. She told him about herself and her life, occasionally waiting for him to converse back. But when he didn't, she went on.
After a few hours, they happened upon a certain shady spot that the little girl flopped down in. He thought of going on, but he, too, was tired. He sat down, leaning against a tree.
For a while all was quiet. Even the birds seemed to hold their breath. Then thelittle girl spoke.
"Are you lost?"
His eyes widened and he turned to face her. She was blinking fast. For the first time in his life, he felt as though he didn't have to walk onward. Maybe for once he had everything he needed. For once he wanted to stay right where he was. Slowly he stood up.
"I suppose I was." He said. The girl looked up with an unreadable expression.
"Come, now. It's time to go." The girl smiled joyfully and jumped up, running after him.