Episode 2

New Armor and a Mission

It was Jei who woke me as the first rays of light brightened the sky. He pulled at my hair with a soft growl, urging me to open my eyes again. We had curled around each other to sleep just outside the small fishing village he'd taken me to last night.

When we'd arrived, there had been shouts and screams. The village men charged out at us with their crude farming weapons and we slaughtered the lot of them almost too easily. I had played with a few of them just to make things more interesting.

"Stop demons! You are not welcome here!" This man was larger than the others, and it was not hard to identify him as their leader. He stood at the center of the village center and held his scythe threateningly forward.

With a giggle, I slid from Jei's back, not missing the murmurs and stunned gazes of the men when they realized I was naked. Feeling playful, I slid my hands up my sides, swaying suggestively and rolled my neck with a soft moan.

"Don't you just love that breeze?" I asked, closing my eyes and reveling in these new sensations. "I can't wait to feel the rain."

"We want no trouble demon." The man continued as if I hadn't spoken, which struck me as kinda rude. Jei slid into a hostile stance, his hackles rising with the steady sound of his growl.

"No trouble?" I asked turning my eyes on him and pouting. "But that's no fun at all."

My fingers lifted, and I felt the swell of my power. Slipping him on like a coat, I directed his scythe into the men to his right. The first was decapitated, the second only scratched, but it made the others scream. At the sound Jei leapt forward, tearing into the closest villager with a savage growl as I raised my other hand and took control of the front line of men. In unison, they turned on their comrades. After that, the screaming didn't stop until the last had fallen.

Jei and I had attempted to bath the sticky blood from our bodies in a nearby stream. After that I'd wandered through the village in search of fitting clothes. Of course nothing had really caught my eye, but I'd settled on a short black kimono until I found better.

In all the excitement, I had forgotten to feed myself. Fortunately it seemed that when Jei feasted, I got a piece of the fulfillment. Still, it didn't hurt that he'd found a woman hiding in one of the many huts. She'd cried to me and begged as Jei dragged her into the street and tossed her at my feet like some sort of offering. My smile had frightened her as had the blood of her comrades that covered me from head to toe; but I'd stroked her hair and promised it would all be over soon.

She'd fallen into my arms, shaking violently and I'd wrapped my arms around her, humming softly a song I didn't remember where I'd learned. Just as she finished her wracking sobs , My claws sank into her back, holding her still, then sank further still. As if we were melting together. I sighed happily, still promising her peace as I drew her into myself. Stripping her frail human body of the bright, delicious soul that filled her like fine sake.

When I'd finished and drawn the last bit of life from her, I let the shriveled corpse drop to the dirt and took a deep cleansing breath. That had been the best of these new sensations yet and I couldn't wait to taste another human soul, because surely they all had a unique flavor.

xx

Jei growled again, yanking harder on my hair and I grumbled, stretching against his soft belly. He'd kept me warm through the night in our bed of leaves. Now as I stood, I realized what had him in such a hurry. Naraku had said he expected us at dawn, and I didn't want to find out what he'd do should we fail to return. Cursing beneath my breath, I jumped onto Jei's back and we were off.

The sun was high in the morning sky when we finally entered the gate of Naraku's castle. Jei's muscles tensed beneath me as we slunk into the courtyard with guilt written clear across our faces. I saw no sign of Naraku, or his wind witch, but that didn't mean they weren't here.

The quiet was unnerving. Even for a demon.

"You've returned Umeko." His voice was just as deep and beautiful as I remembered it. Just as cruel. "And with a friend. I am pleased."

I slid off of Jei, resting my hand on the top of his head to comfort us both. So he hadn't known of my other half. It almost made me regret bringing Jei back with me. It could have been nice to have secrets from my master, but such thoughts were pointless now.

"Tell me then," Naraku appeared at the door of the castle, half hidden in the shadows cast from within. "How was your first night in this world?"

Here, I could not hide my smile. "It was fun." I replied, glancing at Jei, though he had yet to relax. "I look forward to many more."

Naraku smiled tightly, and motioned for me to come to him. "The animal can remain outside."

With one last regretful stroke, I left Jei to enter the room with Naraku, cautious as he followed me with his dark eyes. The door slid shut without help, which only put me further on edge, but the demon made no move to harm me. His intent seemed only in frightening me. Perhaps he was just having fun.

The bastard.

"I see you've found clothing." He motioned toward the loose-fitting kimono, eyes blatantly wandering my long legs. Holding my chin high, I shrugged.

"For now." I replied, "Until I find something better."

The demon nodded, then moved to sit back against the wall beside his window, though the shade was drawn to shield us from the sun. For a moment, he only watched me, then his eyes flicked to the doorway, seconds before it slid open to reveal Kagura.

She looked angry already, shooting me a glare so acidic I swear I felt the burn. In her arms she held a large wooden box which she dropped at my feet with a grunt.

"As you requested, lord Naraku, her…necessities."

My eyes fell to the box, then moved to him. The suspicion must have been plain of my face, because Naraku chuckled and nodded toward the large box.

"Open it, my Ume. It will not bite."

I didn't bother hiding my distaste at his use of a nickname. As if we were friends. Did he know something I should? Whatever the reason, I didn't like it. Curiosity, however, was too much to ignore. I dropped to my knees and took hold of the lid, glancing once more at my master before throwing it open.

This time when he chuckled it was because of my bright, elated smile.

Folded neatly inside the box, were colorful strips of material I knew would be clothing. It would fit me perfectly, because he knew me like the back of his hand. I dug into the box with a cry of pleasure, pausing when my fingers hit something solid. Armor, cut specifically for me, lay nestled with my new wardrobe, and beneath that, to my greatest delight, a sword.

I pulled the short blade from the box and unsheathed it, lips parted in a permanent smile. It was maybe a foot and a half in length, sharp as a razor, and light. I gave the sword an experimental swing through the air, standing with a giggle. Kagura leaned back against the wall, arms crossed, and watching me in disgust. Naraku, however, was smirking silently, his dark eyes glittering.

If I had been smart, I might have wondered what warranted such good treatment, especially after my mistakes the night before. I might have questioned his sudden turn for a caring master and refused to touch the gifts until he explained.

I however, am easily won it seems, and I made no such attempts.

"You are pleased?" Naraku asked softly, watching me as I stripped from my stolen kimono with no regard for the others. I was comfortable in my skin, and Naraku seemed to enjoy looking at it, so everyone went home happy.

"Delighted." I smiled, pulling on the tight under armor he'd had fitted into a short dress. It didn't cover much, but I wasn't concerned and moved to the next article of clothing. It made sense that the demon would know my tastes, being that we were of the same design. The breastplate was a deep blue color, decorated with light, silver scroll work. It pressed tightly to my breasts, but I was not worried. I felt powerful in my feminine body, and such things could very well serve as distractions in the future. I shoulder brace, was smooth and black, it connected to a dark blue brace that fitted to my bicep and ended at the elbow. On my left arm, I placed a black and silver gauntlet which ended in a plated glove over my hand. Each arm was tightly fitted with black arm warmers that reached to my elbows and connected to decorative silver rings on my middle fingers. He'd even gotten my silver plated black boots that reached to my knees and had a slight heel.

I was beautiful and powerful and deadly.

My hair, I bound tightly behind my head with a decorative leather thong, but even tethered, it hung down my back in crimson waves. With a smile, I tied my sword to my belt and held out my arms for appraisal. Naraku smiled wickedly, nodding.

"Now comes the real test Umeko." he stood and a seemingly young girl entered the room. In her tiny fingers, she held a mirror, pulsing with the aura of a demon. She was yet another incarnation of Naraku, and when he motioned to her mirror, the images rippled and changed.

"You will go, and find these travelers." I watched as a smiling woman in strange clothing skipped down a dirt mountain path. Behind her was a young, handsome monk, and woman carrying a great weapon and a tiny fox demon.

"They're an odd bunch." I glanced at him before studying the image again. "What is so special about them?"

Naraku's jaw clenched but he said nothing, so I decided not to push it.

"What would you have me do to these travelers?" I asked as Naraku took his place by the window, starring at the group with a loathing I would never understand. His eyes flashed red, but the change was gone almost before I could catch it and he sighed.

"Kill them." he said softly as the last of the travelers stormed into view. "I want you to kill them all."

I smiled to myself, watching the half demon that now argued with the odd girl. He was handsome, like my Naraku, with golden eyes and ears like that of a dog. My fingers went to the hilt of my sword as I mused on how I would do it.

"As you wish, my lord." I murmured and turned on my heel to get Jei and be off.

"And Umeko?" I paused, halfway through the door, looking back over my shoulder at Naraku. "When you find Inuyasha, make him suffer. I would hate to learn that he went without pain."

I nodded, flashing my fangs when my smile spread, and hurried out the door. Jei was already up, facing the gate, so I jumped onto his back and we took off.

Inuyasha. That was the name of this half demon. Well...I couldn't wait to have my fun.

True to Inuyasha traditions, the incarnation must battle him.

lol

Till next time.