A/N: OMG! My first InuYasha fanfic! I've always been thinking about this one since my first crush on Lord Sesshy. drool But I just never got around to it. So. Enjoy!

Chapter 1: Forest of Souls

The sweet melody of my long flute carried out with the inky night sky. Long slender fingers lightly covered the circular holes of the gleaming silver. The trees themselves seemed to sway in motion with the tune. That's when light began to dimly brighten the small clearing. Orbs about the size of a baseball drifted lazily around me. They were mainly of bluish tint, some purple, and they contrasted greatly with the fireflies that dotted the landscape. This is where I first met him, in this forest of souls.

My long lashes flickered up as the sound of crushed grass met my long, pointed ears. My eyes of bright blue, so light in tint that they were almost white, quickly looked to the moving brush in front of me. I didn't move, but stopped my tune. This caused chaos among the orbs, which until recently had been following each other in a line, encircling me. Now that their musical lure had stopped, they all scattered into the sky. The intruder walked into the open, but with only the fireflies left for light, it was hard to identify him. The first thing I recognized was his long, flowing silver hair, which reflected the dim light more brightly than it should. Then my aqua orbs traced to his eyes. They were golden, serptine eyes, with a thin, black line running through the middle, and directed at me. Our eye's met for a moment which seemed like eternity to me. We read into each other's souls, and I gained a profound understanding that this man was a quiet fellow, who suppresed his feelings. And I grew the understanding that he was a deadly demon, very skilled in technique.

Then, our eyes seperated to observe the rest of the other. He wore a beautiful flower kimono, such was the fashion of this time, that spoke of wealth. He had simple armor. A breast plate, with a ring of spike running around one shoulder, and a traditional sash of yellow and purple hanging around his sides. Around his ungaurded shoulder was a long, fluffy white boa, whether of feather or of fur, I could not tell, such was its fluffiness. He sported the long white pants that poofed along the end and simple black tabi shoes.

I did not stand up, but lowered my flute so that I was no longer holding it to my lips. "What brings such a specimen of demonic power to this quaint forest of the dead?" I asked him in a calm, yet demanding tone.

"I am simply passing through," he answer in a calm, yet more demanding tone than I.

"To where, may I ask?"

"My destination is none of your concern."

I smirked. Another cocky one. I seemed to get a lot of those passing through my forest as of late. "What you speak is true. I have no authority to seek such information from you. Very well, traveler. I grant you passage through my forest, however, there are rules."

"State them."

"My forest holds the souls of those who cannot bear to part from this plane. Either they have regrets or such love of this world that they cannot pass over. It is my job to watch over them, gaurd them from trouble, and to keep them from causing trouble themselves. Whatever the situation, you must not interact with the souls. They are to remain untouched."

"Understandable."

"Secondly, my forest is meant to keep people in, not out. You must find your own way out of this labirynth. I will not help you."

"Yes."

"And lastly, for your own safety, do not eat anything from this forest. Nay plant nor animal. The animals are sacred creatures meant to keep the purity of this forest, and the plants likewise. They are not of this realm. Eating such may cause you to die. I know little of the consequences. If you require provisions, I'll lead you back the way you came and you may simply walk around my forest."

"I understand and agree to your terms, Sentinal. Now let us be gone. Come, Jaken."

I had noticed until now that a little creature of green color had been following him behind with a staff of two heads on the top. I felt I recognized this staff, but couldn't quite place my finger on it. "Does the little one agreee to the terms as well?"

"O-of course! I'll follow Lord Sesshoumaru anywhere! Even into this accursed forest."

I didn't take kindly to him insult my wood. I found it simply elegant. It was quiet, peaceful, and even though there was no other of my kind, I was never lonely. I had an entire race of souls with me, after all. I sighed. "Fine, you may go with your Lord, but I will punish you severely if you break my rules. Now be off. I have work to do."

The duo nodded and walked past me. I held my flute to my lips and continued to the melody from which I had begun, and my souls came back to me.

The demonic lord and his green-skinned vassal turned their heads to glance over their shoulders as a sweet chord came to their pointed ears. Jaken immeadiatly relaxed, and smiled drunkenly. He was about to turn around completely and go back to the enchantress, but a pale hand on his shoulder stopped him. "Jaken, we are heading this way," a deep voice broke his trance.

"Ah! Y-yes, my l-lord! Please forgive me! I do not know what came over me!" The young demon squabbled as he hastily went ahead, infront of his lord, whom followed after him.

'Such enchanting music,' The silver-haired lord mused.'It does draw the soul. I'm having a difficult time resisting, myself. I must not linger on such matters. I must keep my wits about me. This forest seems more dangerous than she lets on.'

The two continued on through the forest for some hours. Tredding deeper and deeper into the enchanted woods.

I gathered up my white kimono, and black veil that hung along my elbows, with some of it floating lazily in the air. My flute has held lazily at my side, and I gazed through the trees. Something was coming. Something evil. I frowned. "What foul stench dares pollute the sacred air of this holy forest?" I demanded aloud, my crisp voice carrying across the wind, staccato.

The was a loud rumble and the ground shook. I could sense some trees being torn down by something of eminse size. When the monster finally revealed itself, clearing the trees in front of me, I saw it to be a large albino wolf with murderous red eyes. My frown deepened. A Soul-Eater.

A flash of beige fur fell from the tall back of the wolf, and landed in front of me. There was a man, of demon descent I could tell, but the foul stench of a human lingered around him too. He must've been a half-breed. He wore a dark violet kimono and a fur coat around it. His hair was greasy, black, and crinkly. It hang it disgusting vines down his shoulders and his vicious red eyes were laughing at me. He smiled smuggly, and bowed politely. "Dearest Karmina of the Forest of Souls, I bid you hello. I Am the Demon, Naraku. I have heard greatly of your splendor and this lovely estate you hold."

"Cut the crap, demon! You're here for my souls, so just say so. Don't be so petty with me! I will not let you take these souls."

"Oh, I see, you are not one for formalities. Very well then. I'll get right down to business. Go!"

The Soul-Eater complied and lunged forth at me, his massive claws threatening to engulf me. I leapt back to avoid them and threw my flute into the air, hand held high. "Tsuki! Transform!"

The silver flute glowed brightly, twirling in the air, and then it grew longer and two blades of deadly sharpness sprung forth at the ends. I caught it in the air as gravity pulled it back down. "Die, Monster!" I called out as I leapt up ontop of the wolven creature and sliced of one of its long, furry ears.

Lord Sesshoumaru turned around as the cry of a huge monster rung through-out the forest. "A battle is underway."

"Should we see who it is, my lord?" Jaken asked, holding the staff tightly.

"I'm not sure. This forest clouds my senses. I can't tell who it is. It's none of our business, anyway. Let's keep going."

Jaken hesistantly nodded his heaad and followed his master.