I would like to dedicate this chapter to the amazing and wonderful YaslanaGirl, without whom this chapter would still be sitting on my computer waiting for me to finish it. Thank you for you're great editing help. This chapter is for you! Also, I'd like to thank everyone who reviewed my first chapter. I can't tell you how much it meant to me that you would all take the time to write a review. Every word helps to keep me motivated and excited to keep writing. Thank you all! I hope everyone enjoys Chapter 2 of the Hunt!
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. Unless you count the manga sitting on my bookshelf.
The stench of blood and fear permeated the air. It entered his lungs with every intake and made his instincts howl in fury. How he hated those instincts now. They snarled at him to chase her. To find her, when his mind told him that it would be unwise to become involved with the human any more than necessary. Did his instincts listen? Why should they, when the sight of her terrified form sprawled helpless on the fallen leaves of autumn sparked unbidden memories of another hauntingly similar hunt in his recent past? A hunt whose victim hadn't survived. The stink of her fear was unmistakable and when the lesser youkai had darted toward the fallen woman, the lifeless brown eyes of a child flashed before him, a ghost of a memory.
That memory had been enough. Enough to end this hunt before it could claim the blood of a young human female with all of life ahead of her. Almost before he had made the decision to come between the woman and certain death, he had already moved. His claws ripped easily through flesh, and his hands were swiftly drenched in blood. Despite his beast's howling desire to run free and revel in the blood of slain enemies, he held the reigns of his instincts tightly, resisting the urge to make safe all that he laid claim to. His control held even as he turned toward her where she still lay, cowering, on the cold, hard ground, that ridiculous outfit that he always saw her in obviously of little comfort against the seeping chill. He held his control, those reigns, with an iron strength that would not falter. And it didn't falter until she met his golden gaze and her terror spiked.
His tightly held control snapped, like a bone beneath his sword. Her fear spurred his rage, for why should she fear when he had destroyed all threats? Unless he hadn't. As this consideration occurred to him, a low snarl issued from his chest, a warning for all near not to trespass, not to impose where he had laid claim. He kept his eyes on hers, and attempted to convey the thought that she could not come to harm while he protected her. Feeling the effects of his fury, and that of the feral blood that rose to the fore, he narrowed his glare in a clear challenge to any who would dare try his power, or hurt that which he guarded. He needed no crystal clear lake or expensive mirror to know that his eyes had changed into the striking hues of his enemies' blood and the cool blue of a winter's night.
Foolishly ignoring his attempted reassurance, the woman staggered swiftly to her feet, clenching her jaw against the obvious pain, and bolted in the wrong direction. That is to say, away from him. If the damn woman wouldn't stay where she was passably safe, why should he bother to safeguard her at all? Which, he tried valiantly to persuade himself, was the driving reason behind his irritation at her frantic departure. He hesitated to follow, nearly convincing himself that she didn't want, or deserve, to be under his protection. Still that pale ghostly memory of a child that he had been too late to save haunted him, and compelled him into nearly-unwilling motion. His footfalls silent, the youkai moved swiftly to the edge of the clearing where he had spent the evening in peaceful meditation, following the young human woman.
And Sesshoumaru gave chase.
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Until next time!
~SableDreamer