Sesshomaru glanced at the fading sunlight, watching as splashes of sunlight filtered through the trees. He had been on his way back to report to his father of his patrol, as the heir to the western territory, it was his duty to protect his father's lands, which included destroying the occasional rogue demons. And, as much as he hated to do so, protect the various human villages that littered the lands.

'Filthy humans,' he thought with distaste, as a sneer found a way onto his young features. The weak beings his father insisted him and his people protect were in sadly plentiful amounts in the areas he patrolled. He tried to stay clear of the human villages, disgusted by the foul scents they usually carried and disgraceful behavior in which they acted upon.

However, there was one small village he simply had to pass by, to check upon and see if the humans were at least living. His father used this village to create trading among the other human villages, as it was relatively close to the western citadel and provided the palace with almost every option available when it came to goods. Even if Sesshomaru hated the humans, he could agree that making certain that some of the villages were prosperous was beneficial to the western lands. His father had a sure notion that this village would soon expand and create great profit, thus making Sesshomaru play watchdog to said settlement.

Even if it displeased him getting so close.

Speeding up his pace, making sure his pristine, white clothes stayed hole free as he sped through low hanging branches, he headed toward the village. The lands he would eventually inherit were well ingrained within his mind. Each path he crossed he had been through thousands of times, knowing the lands from early childhood. He was approaching the hill that would overlook the small village - a perfect vantage point that allowed him to observed the village below without interacting with any humans.

Upon the high hill, he knew, would be a dry well. It was a marker that his father had shown him in his younger years, to help remember that he was close to home. Since the humans had no use of it, he was guaranteed his peace as he checked on the village.

His boots made no sound as he continued toward the hill, his hair -bound up high on his head -flicked from its tie, swaying around his elbows. His face blank as his golden eyes scanned the area out ahead. He had been attacked by various demons in his years, learning his lesson to pay attention to everything in his surroundings. It would be a shame to appear home with a scratch on his person.

A feral smirk appeared on his face, scaring away whatever competition he might have hoped lurked within the forest around him.

'As if there is anything in these woods that could leave a mark,' he thought with a chuckle. Even at his young age, the cusp of almost two hundred and eighty years, he was very confident in his skills. From a very young age, his father had prepped and groomed him for the throne, making sure he met all the skills required of the future lord of the west.

He knew there would be many who would challenge him for his birthright, and he also knew that he would be the one to come out on top. He would never give up what his father had worked so hard to keep and flourish.

As he approached the hill, Sesshomaru noticed a stillness within the woods, pausing at the slope of the hill - he listened. No creatures stirred, no birds flew, there was complete silence.

'There is something-'

Whatever thought he had was cut off as a blinding light flashed towards the sky, its source located at the top of the hill. A beam of pale pink light continued to stream from the source, and as Sesshomaru made to step forward to investigate, he froze as a strong blast of... something passed through him, making him take his long sword out and stabbing it into the ground to prevent him from sliding back towards the trees. The blasts continued to pulse out, sending wave after wave through him. Whatever the power was had his hands flexing and his fangs feeling heavy, as if he was getting ready for a fight.

From far north another pulse answered in response to the power being showered on top the hill. After the forces collided - everything stopped.

Sesshomaru was left breathing heavily, finally standing stiffly up. He paused, listening for any other sound or feel of power. Silence again met his ears.

Making sure there was no threat, Sesshomaru pushed out his aura, searching for any other presence in the area. His eyes widened when he felt that familiar power again, on top of the hill. Keeping his sword out, he quickly made his way up the hill, stopping when the wooden well came into view.

There was nothing there.

'No,' he thought. Listening harder, he heard a shuffle from within the well.

That's when the smell of blood hit his senses.

Staying where he was, he waited with bated breath as the noises and blood continued to grow stronger. Finally, he saw something. A small hand, covered in blood, gripped the edge of the well - followed by another hand that gripped a bow and quiver. After both hands had a purchase on the well, the bow was thrown to the ground along with the quiver and arrows as a torso was pushed to lean over the well.

Black hair was all he could see as the person pushed themselves up to have their back to him, with them sitting facing the bottom of the well. After taking a closer look, Sesshomaru could see the famine curves as the woman threw her legs over the lip of the well to finally face his way.

Her head still bent, she stood on weak legs. He noticed in her struggles the many wounds that littered her body. Her white top was stained red, with a gash in her left shoulder and the sleeve completely gone. A wound in her side also showed more skin as the fabric was missing from her ribs to hip, claw marks marring the skin beneath. Her red hakama had various shades of red from her blood, slashes littered from her feet to her waist. How she was standing, he had no idea, from what he saw it looked like she should be dead.

Failing at her task to stand a few times, she eventually leaned against the well, her arms resting against it as her eyes went up to meet his.

Deep sapphire met his golden orbs as she gasped at sensing his presence.

"Sesshomaru?"


I'm evil, aren't I? Just a warning, these first few chapters may seem a little slow as I get the story rolling. This chapter basically wrote itself, so hopefully, I can get chapters out quickish. Though don't expect it to happen all the time ;) Enjoy! - DividingTime