Previously in the end of The Blade of an Outcast: Chapter 1: The Outcast's Companion- Inuyasha meets a beautiful young lady who goes into shock from a tragedy that is unknown to Inuyasha. Inuyasha seeks help for the beautiful girl with odd blue eyes. What will be her fate?----
No one rushed out to Inuyasha's helpless cry for someone to apply medical attention to the beautiful woman in his arms. Her face was now drenched with her bloody tears which began to slide down her neck and soak her gi. Inuyasha began to feel frustrated and once more cried out to the village, this time he cried so loud that his voice began to crack.
"DAMMIT! I NEED A DOCTOR OUT HERE!" The old lady who called herself Tae made her way out of her little home.
"Inuyasha-san, what is the meaning of this?" Tae ran towards Inuyasha as fast as her little legs could carry her. "Inuyasha, what have you done?" Inuyasha opened his mouth to explain that it wasn't his doing, but Tae gave him no time to explain. "How dare you injure Etsumi-chan!"
"I-I didn't do anything to the poor girl! She was just sitting there crying!"
"You can defend yourself all you want Inuyasha, but I know your true nature. Etsumi-chan tried to kill you, did she not?" She nodded to the arrow imbedded in the tree.
"What ever it may look like Tae-dono, I did not do anything to Etsumi, why would I call for a doctor if I wished her dead?"
"To-to gain our trust, to seem a hero."
Inuyasha lifted up his hands. "Take care of her Tae-dono…" He said, and with that he ran out into the forest. He ran as far as he could until he could no longer see the village in the distance.
Inuyasha panted trying to catch his breath. "Damn them!" He cried, pounding his fist into a boulder stone pieces flying off of it and landing with a thud on the ground. "I would never hurt her… she was too…too…beautiful…that's what I get for trusting humans a second time!" Inuyasha covered his face with his hands and slammed his fist into another-smaller boulder. The boulder cracked into pieces as Inuyasha growled under his breath. I wonder what she was crying about… Inuyasha thought. That arrow was awfully strange too…sacred it seemed. What if Etsumi was a priestess? She'd never trust a half-breed like me though… I thought they would accept me, for what I was! Why does everyone have to be so damn judgmental! I'm not going to hurt anyone... Inuyasha's thoughts had washed away what he had left behind. Realizing this Inuyasha calmed himself down and glared at the direction he came from. I can't leave my only living friend behind…He began to run back at full speed, thinking of what they all will do when he reached the village. Should he show them how powerful he can really be? Should he actually hurt someone and live up to his reputation?
"They will all fear me…" Inuyasha whispered as he ran. A smirk of amusement played across his face letting out a cold shrill laugh. They will pay… He thought. They will bow…Inuyasha caught sight of the village jumping up into the air and landing in the middle of the village where people crowded around Etsumi with lanterns giving the doctor light. Archers and swordsmen stood on the outskirts of the village. Inuyasha knew they were watching for him. He made no sound as he glided into their small village. Inuyasha grabbed a woman from behind covering her mouth so her scream wouldn't be heard. He dragged her away into the darkness of the village and placed his now extended claws on her neck. He let her feel the sharpness of his claws by digging them into her neck slightly. Inuyasha didn't feel like himself anymore. His eyes had gone completely red, his fangs had grown longer, and purple demon marks appeared on his cheeks. He was just going to threaten to kill someone, make them fear him.
Now he couldn't control his body, his demon side taking hold of his actions. "You don't want to die do you?" He heard himself say his mind trying to fight against the cold life threatening words. No I don't want this! He screamed in his mind. He dragged her out to the middle where he had entered let out the same cold laugh that he had on his way to the village. The woman was now crying and begging for her life.
Tae ran towards them and screamed at Inuyasha. "Let the poor girl go Inuyasha!"
Yes, yes I'm trying Tae-dono! That was what he wanted to say and was shouting it in his mind, but instead he heard himself say, "Make another move and I'll rip her to pieces…" He heard himself growl and laugh.
"You heartless, heartless creature!" Tae screamed at him.
"Heartless you call me Tae? I call myself powerful…" Inuyasha smirked.
And Tae grew angrier. "You seek something you will never gain!"
"Oh, but I already have it you see. Do you want this beautiful young woman to die Tae?"
Tae looked a bit taken back at his question and replied, "Of course not!"
"Well then if you move at all, you know I'll rip out her throat and eat her barely beating heart…So therefore none of you will take another step for fear of my threat." Tae piped down looking quite defeated.
The woman that struggled within Inuyasha's grasps cried harder and screamed a man's name. "CHISHOU, CHISHOU HELP ME!" She pleaded. A man in the crowd began to move, Inuyasha pressed his claws against her skin harder blood pouring from the small incisions in her neck.
"Ah, ah, ah Chishou…do you want your loved one to die because of you?"
"DON'T LISTEN TO HIM CHISHOU!" The girl pleaded, but Chishou listened to Inuyasha noticing the blood spilling all over her beautiful white kimono.
Inuyasha smirked. "Pathetic…Your poor loved one will not save you… what a man he is…" Inuyasha said sarcastically.
The doctor then let out a gasp of surprise. "She awakens! Etsumi lives!"
Everyone turned their heads to look and Inuyasha let out a low growl of a laugh. "You were so worried about this young lady and now you abandon her… what a sight… Goes to show how much these people care about you, My Lady…" The girl began to relax as if to give up sparkling tears falling from her brown eyes. "It looks like she's given up!" Inuyasha cried and everyone turned their head back to Inuyasha. "She doesn't care if she lives or dies anymore…do you sweetie?" The woman limp in Inuyasha's arms shook her head lamely.
Inuyasha's ears wiggled as he heard the doctor speak again. "No Etsumi, you must rest…"
"But I must father! Let me go!"
"Let the girl face me! I'll spare this one's life…Inuyasha let go of the woman who fell to the ground helplessly where Chishou ran to help her up. Inuyasha grinned to see Etsumi get up and walk out of the crowd to meet Inuyasha. Inuyasha smiled. "You're still weak Etsumi."
"Yes, but you are not yourself half-breed. I saw you before I blacked out…you were kind to me…this is not you…"
Inuyasha stopped smiling and stood thinking. I don't want to be like this anymore… please…let this free me… Inuyasha thought. Etsumi walked closer to Inuyasha.
Inuyasha stepped back."What are you doing? Stay back or I'll kill you…"
Etsumi continued to walk towards Inuyasha and stopped in front of him. "This is not you half-breed." She placed her hand on his cheek. Her eyes looked sincere hoping that she could change him back.
"This is me…" He growled.
"No it's not…" She replied. Inuyasha's claws shortened and his eyes changing from red to white. "I know your true self…half-demon…" Inuyasha growled again fighting the evil that had taken over him. His golden eyes returned, the calm sweet look taking hold. His fangs became shorter and the purple demon marks slowly began to fade away… "This is your true self…" The crowd watched in awe.
Inuyasha took her hand away from his face and dropped it letting it fall back to her own side. "Thank you Etsumi-chan…"
Etsumi nodded and smiled. "Now half-breed, what is your name?"
"Inuyasha…"
"Ah…" Her reply was simple, but it satisfied Inuyasha.
"I have a question for you Etsumi-chan…"
"What might that be Inuyasha-san?"
"Well…" He began but then stopped noticing the crowd.
"Well what Inuyasha?"
"Etsumi-chan I will tell you later… on… a walk maybe? I have some business to attend to at the currently." He nodded to the villagers and she smiled at him showing her understanding. He walked forward toward the villagers. They all looked terrified, but they stood their ground. "I'm sorry… I'm sorry for everything that I have caused here today…I was not in my right mind…" A couple of them nodded and some just stood, or sat with their mouths wide open. Inuyasha nodded and walked back over to Etsumi. "Come Kenichi!" Inuyasha cried, and the dog flew out of the hut and stood beside Etsumi. "Shall we Etsumi-chan?"
Etsumi nodded and they both began to walk. "So what is it you wanted to know Inuyasha?"
"When I saw you… you were crying…why…?" The expression upon Etsumi's face turned from cheerful to a sorrowful expression. "Sorry Etsumi… you don't have to tell me…"
"No, someone has to know…you might understand, being the half demon you are…" Inuyasha nodded and his ears twitched to show that he was listening. "About 2 years ago… I met someone, he had compassion for the human which he was not… He loved me, and I loved him. It was forbidden, but we kept it quiet. Down by the waterfall was where we'd meet, share what our day was like and showed affection for one another. Just three days ago he proposed to me at the waterfall. I accepted. It was planned for me to run away with him and marry in secret. Last night was the night I was to go… he did not show up on time. I began to worry; he'd never been late before. Just when I was about to give up and go home I saw him, crawling out of the woods with blood pooling around him. His beautiful face was ripped apart and bloody, only his right eye remained. There I stood before him crying as he fell from this world. My only love…died right before my eyes!" She buried her face into her hands tears spilling from between her fingers. "If only I'd gone with him the night he wanted me to this wouldn't have happened! I don't know who did it… but they killed him… They say a demon can never love, but he could! He loved me with every ounce he had! I was so angry with myself for not listening..."
"I understand... but I also have one more question, what was that arrow?"
Etsumi wiped away her tears and tried to clear her throat the best she could so she could explain. "A sacred arrow I believe, the power was passed down to me, from what line I do not know. I was found in the grass near by the village. They say a demon placed me there. I always wanted to meet a demon when I was young because of it, but my foster mother and father who could not bear a child of their own told me I shouldn't search fore every demon was dangerous. I never believed them, and so when my 16th birthday came, I took my chances and fell in love with Atsushi. I'm 18 now, and betrothed to a 19 year old boy named Baku. We are to marry when I reach the age of 20. An old age to marry many say, but my foster parents wished that I stay pure until that age. I however, have not stayed pure. I have defied my parents wishes. I was to be the mother of Atshushi's children, but that desire of his was broken. I miscarried his child, I have nothing left of him now…"
Inuyasha nodded in understanding. "Do you wish to marry Baku?"
Tears filled her eyes once more. "No I do not! I wish to marry a man that I love!"
"Can't you just run away then Etsumi-chan?"
"The thought has crossed my mind several times, but I would not make it alone. Sure I have my sacred powers, but I wouldn't be able to live with out any company."
"Etsumi-chan... I will be leaving when dawn sets in, and if you'd like you may follow."
"Really!"
"Yes, many have shunned me for what I am, but not you Etsumi, you accepted me. You helped me... but it's not like I need you or anything…" Inuyasha mumbled.
"I'm not one to judge Inuyasha-san…" She let out a little sigh and chuckle.
"Yeah… I figured. If your coming, we wont be going back to the village so you'd better hurry it up…" Etsumi had just noticed that she was falling behind Inuyasha. Had she been that slow? Or was it Inuyasha and his speed. She ran trying to catch up to him but he sped ahead his faithful companion Kenichi following quickly beside him.
"Hey Inuyasha-san! Slow down! I can't keep up!" She reached out her hand wishing she could just grab onto Inuyasha's red coat and be gliding across the ground with him. Instead she lost her footing and fell her chin and body skidding against the hard dirt ground. Inuyasha heard her cry and turned around.
"Ah! Etsumi-chan!" He ran back towards her hoping she was ok. He bent down to help her up. "Are you alright Etsumi-chan?"
She hopped up with ease not taking any of Inuyasha's help. "Ah you worry too much Inuyasha-san! I'm fine!" She smiled patting Inuyasha on the head skipping ahead of him. Inuyasha felt so stupid, of course she was ok! His ears were still pinned back from when she patted him on the head. He glared into the distance watching her happily prance along the grass. He let out a low growl and his ears perked up again with the sound of Etsumi's cheerful voice calling to him. "Come on Inuyasha! Now look at the one who's slow!" ugh… Inuyasha thought. He never knew that having company could be so annoying.
Kenichi licked his hand and whined wagging his tail. "Ah come on Kenichi let's catch up to her before she really hurts herself." They both ran after her and came to a skidding stop when he reached her side. "Humph…" Inuyasha growled. "Why are you all of a sudden so cheery?"
Etsumi grinned with pride. "Because I'm finally going to be free! I don't have to marry Baku anymore! And I get to be with a half demon!"
Inuyasha's jaw dropped. "Be...with…? No-no-no… we are nothing more than friends…" He held up his hands as he said this.
"Man Inuyasha you have trouble understanding things, I meant to spend my time with! Don't you remember? I've always been interested in demons! Knock some sense into that empty brain of yours!" She knocked on his head grinning.
He swiped at her hands. "Hey! Get your hands off of me!" He glared at her.
"You didn't seem to have a problem when I did this…" She had that same sincere look on her face and placed her hand on his face.
His eyes widened. "Well now, I thought you were just trying to help, and now your just messing with me!" He slapped away her hand.
She stuck out her tongue at him. "Man Inuyasha, you really seemed nice when I first met you."
He glared at her as she said this. "Ehh….b-b-but I really am nice!" He said in protest.
"Maybe your just not as socially experienced as I am!" Etsumi gloated.
"Ah, well…" He lost his words and then sighed in defeat. "You got me there…"
"I'll just have to teach you then Inuyasha!"
"Taught… by you…? Hehehehe… You can teach?" He chuckled teasing her.
"Of course I can!" She raised her hand and bonked him over the head.
"Ouch! Maybe you should watch how you treat people!"
"Same to you Inuyasha… didn't know you had such a temper…"
"I didn't either…" He said rubbing his head and glaring at Etsumi. "I have something that you don't have Etsumi!"
"Oh yeah…? And what's that? A temper!"
"Nope!" He grinned and opened his coat and white undergarment revealing his muscular frame. "I have, Rock hard abs!" He grinned.
"Such a show off Inuyasha…"
"What! Aren't you impressed?"
"Hardly…" she said glaring at the path in front of her. Inuyasha grumbled something about not appreciating the effort men make to impress a woman. He then tucked away his white undergarment and coat folding his arms.
They walked on in silence for a while and then Inuyasha began to whine. "Can't we speed up a bit?"
Etsumi whipped around to look at him. "Unlike you Inuyasha I can't run as fast…"
"Ha! Yet another thing I have or can do that you can't!"
"That's not the point Inuyasha… If you want to go faster you'll just have to leave me…" Inuyasha wouldn't leave her… his mind kept telling him to… but his heart said no way.
"Alright then I have an idea…"
"And what might that be?"
"You can ride on my back!"
"YAY! I GET A HORSEY!" She cried and hopped onto his back.
"OOF!" Inuyasha grunted as she hopped on.
Etsumi grabbed his ear and whispered into it, "I always wanted a horse when I was little!"
Inuyasha glared. "Shut up."
"I was just teasing Inuyashey!"
"Don't call me that…"
"Ok! Giddy-yup Inuyashey!"
"Hey! Do you want a horse or not?"
A/N: There you have it! I'd like to thank Hanna and Arasab for leaving there wonderful remarks! A review could change my whole outlook on the story, so if you have any idea's, compliments, or insults. Just review and I read every one! Thank you all for reading! I didn't leave a cliffhanger this time because I couldn't think of anything, but I assure you the next one will be good! So please keep reading! - Thanks again! –Rachee-chan
