Chapter Three

Mitsukai ran for several blocks before slowing her stride into a determined stalk. Her mother's parting words rang in her ears. Her mother dismissed her without care and while the action pained her it angered her as well. Her lips pressed together into a fine line and youki crackled about her slender form. She had never been truly angry with her mother, not like she was now.

She bit back a small whimper as she shivered. Her skin felt large and aching swallowed power still dancing in her aura. Her right hand tingled almost as if a minute electrical current ran from her palm to the tips of her claws. She held her hand, still stained with the blood of her attacker, outstretched in front of her. His blood was caked under her claws and the in lines of her palms.

She lifted her hand slowly to her mouth. Her pink tongue darted out slowly as she began to lick the dried blood from her skin. Experimentally she stuck her index finger into her mouth as her tongue probed beneath one long talon. There was a small sharp pain and her mouth filled with sweet metallic blood. She gasped as the realization of what she was doing hit her. Blackish red blood dribbled out the corner of her mouth as she sagged to her knees.

"What's wrong with me?" she whispered half to herself.

Bile rose in her throat and she laid her palms flat on the sidewalk. Her head hung low as she swallowed hard. Her gut twisted and she felt positively ill. A small sob escaped her lips as she leaned forward so that her cheek rested on the cool sidewalk. Her fears had now been confirmed. She was a monster, a hideous fiend that reveled in carnage and the taste of blood.

Now she understood why her mother kept her locked away. It was not for her own protection but rather to protect others from her. The slaughter of the man that attacked her was proof enough. Mitsukai sucked on her teeth as she remembered. She had been exploring downtown darting between buildings in effort not to be seen by the swarming populace.

Unfamiliar with the area she soon found herself lost and the mixture of scents made tracking impossible. She had been retracing her steps when he had grabbed her and flung her against a wall. The impact surprised her but she was unharmed. He tugged at her clothing and when she struggled pain flared in her side.

"Now, be a good girl," he had hissed as leered in to force his mouth on hers.

Strength she had not known she possessed filled her limbs as her vision bled red. She lashed at her attacker with her claws rending through flesh and bone. He screamed a horrific shriek and lashed at her vainly with his knife. Rage and blood lust welled with in her as she leapt on his fleeing form her poisoned claws and fangs rending his flesh.

'I should have just ran away,' she thought to herself grimly. 'Even if he hurt me first I shouldn't have…have….enjoyed killing that man.'

She shivered involuntarily at the memory. A memory she did not and could not share with her mother. The sound of her breathing echoed in her ears. She lay in an inelegant heap for several moments her mind continued to taunt her with horrid images. She froze when she heard footsteps. Someone was coming.

She took a deep calming breath as she turned her head sideways to peer at him through her bangs. Worn blue jeans and dark shoes came into her view. Her eyes traveled upwards to meet his face. Pale hair that looked blonde in the streetlight framed his sculpted cheekbones and full lips. His skin was nearly as pale as her own and just as flawless. He looked ethereal, unreal more a work of art than man.

She rolled her eyes as she sat up. Here for the second time in the span of a day in a she was in a precarious position. He did not seem to want to hurt her. Perhaps he was merely just a concerned citizen. After all most young women did not make it habit to lie on the pavement.

Mitsukai ignored him completely as she wiped the blood from her chin with the back of her hand. Her hands trembled as she deliberately smoothed her long hair long her face making sure to concealed her pointed ears and striped cheeks. Inwardly she wished she had listened to her mother and gone home. Her silver hair surrounded her like a shield. She sniffed at the air from its protective barrier and growled almost inaudibly.

The owner of the footsteps paused as her warning growl reached his sensitive ears. A subtle frown marred his flawless features, as he looked at the youkai female. She was a child not even an adult by mortal standards and frighteningly powerful. He worried little about her strength for she was no match for one such as he. In several centuries she would be a force to be reckoned, but for now she was an infant. A powerful carnivorous infant.

She was a brave little thing to growl at one that could strike her down in an instant. That is if he were so inclined. For now he was merely curious. Curious as to what could drive a youkai such as her to lie on the ground in such despondence. He sniffed lightly and several scents assaulted his sensitive nose. Blood both human and youkai clung to the girl as well as tears. He growled softly as the scent of fetid human arousal reached him. Some foolish mortal thought she was easy prey and received more than he bargained. If she killed him it was justified in his mind.

He sighed to himself as he shook his head. He would have to discipline her parents now. It after all was their responsibility to instruct their child on how to avoid such situations. That she likely slew her attacker mattered not. What did matter was that her action could alert mortals of the existence of youkai. He would deal with everything on a later date he decided for now he would take her home. He strode around her slowly keeping his eyes on her slender form. He could sense that she was watching him. He extended his hand slowly treating her much like a wild creature. He made no other movement but waited patiently for her to make a decision.

Mitsukai looked at the offered hand for several moments before leaping to her feet with inhuman grace. She flicked her hair off her shoulders in agitation before striding off not sparing the man a backward glance. Her body language was that of someone that wished to be left alone. She nearly froze when she heard his quick steps chase after her. Mitsukai spun on her heel and glared at the man.

Gold eyes met gold and held for an instant. The color drained from her cheeks and the man's eyes widened in undisguised shock. She bit her lip as she cursed her carelessness. He had seen everything, the markings on her face, her slit pupils, her pointed ears and even her claws and fangs. She squeezed her eyes shut tightly and her face contorted into a grimace.

"Just leave me alone!" she snarled finally as she dashed away in a flash of silver.

Mitsukai ran for a precious few seconds before strong arms wrapped around her waist. He had caught her! She gasped too frightened to scream. Cold sweat broke out over her body as panic gripped her. She struggled valiantly but he seemed impossibly strong.

"Keep still," the man said impassively.

"Let. Me. Go," she demanded through gritted teeth as she sunk her poisoned talons into his slender wrists.

He did not release her as she thought he would. Strangely did not react to the pain at all but, instead he tightened his hold on her and placed his chin on her thin shoulder.

"Stop that," he hissed coldly in her delicate ear. His nose brushed her throat as he sniffed her lightly.

Dread filled her being as she extracted her claws slowly. Jerkily she nodded in submission. She exhaled sharply as he sniffed from her ear lobe to almost her collarbone. She gulped and her eyes brimmed with unshed tears. Mitsukai blinked back her tears determined not to allow this man to see her cry. His grip loosened slightly as he looped one arm around her waist and used the other to turn her towards him. She raised her arms to push him away but he crushed her to him before she was able pinning her arms between them.

His free hand moved to her face to brush the silver strands from her forehead. When she flinched he released her. He frowned as his eyes drifted down to her ripped blouse. Mitsukai hissed as she took a defensive step back as she crossed her arms protectively over her chest. The man in front of her spared her a bored glance before slipping off his denim jacket and draping it over her shoulders.

"I will walk you home," the man stated simply.

Mitsukai gave an indignant snort as slid her arms into the many sizes too large jacket. She fastened its clasps as she strode off in the direction of the shrine.

"I can find my own way," she said bluntly.

She frowned as she noted that she was less than a block from the shrine. She had been so close in escaping this rather odd person. His disposition flitted between concern and contempt. She found him impossible to read, in fact she wondered if he even knew his mood. It did not truly matter if she understood him or not after tonight she would never see him again.

"Besides my mother told me never to talk to strangers," she stated with more than a little cynicism.

The man 'hmphed' before replying, "I am less a stranger than you think girl."

Mitsukai frowned at his reply wondering what exactly he could mean. Instead of asking she countered with sarcasm, "That has to got be the worst pick up line ever."

She was disappointed when he did not reply to her wit. Mitsukai sighed as she shook her head. 'What was with this guy anyway?' She frowned she knew she could not out run him nor could she over power him. The realization frightened her but it also filled her with a sort of peace. Perhaps she was not so different after all.

"Mitsukai," she said suddenly.

The man beside her raised a single brow in confusion. She offered him a small smile before explaining, "That's my name."

He gave her the barest of nods but said nothing. She peered at him from the corner of her eye. He seemed to be in deep contemplation and although she wondered what he was thinking she did not dare ask. The scent of the Goshinboku and her family flooded her senses. They were near the shrine she realized with a wistful sigh.

"For now you may call me Sesshoumaru," he said in a careful measured tone breaking the short silence.

"For now?" she asked in bewilderment her eyebrows knitting together.

Sesshoumaru stopped abruptly at a flight of stone steps. "Here is your home, Mitsukai," he said softly as he turned to face her.

Mitsukai nodded as she began to ascend the long stone stair. She pulled the borrowed jacket closer enjoying the comforting scent that clung to the coarse denim. She gasped suddenly as she spun around. Sesshoumaru was watching her with an unreadable expression on his face. Their eyes locked for a moment and his face instantly smoothed to calm impassive lines. Mitsukai bit her lip and averted her eyes from the intensity of his stare.

"Um, your jacket," she said shyly as she began to unbutton the clasps.

Sesshoumaru stared at her for a moment then reached out to still her hand on the final clasp.

"You may keep it for now," he said softly as he gave her hand a slight squeeze.

"Arigatou," Mitsukai replied flashing him a fake smile. She turned from him almost sadly as she gracefully climbed the shrine stair. His mouth opened then closed as if he wanted to say something. She pointedly ignored him as she climbed. There was no point in getting attached to him or being particularly polite.

She would at least say 'goodnight' after all he had been kind to her. Mitsukai turned when she reached the top of the shrine to bid him farewell only to find no trace of him.

"Oh well," she said softly as she shrugged and turned in the direction of her home.

"Are you just now getting home?" asked a voice she instantly recognized.

Mitsukai dropped her shoulders but did not turn around. "I thought you were going to work."

Kagome said nothing but wrapped her arms around her daughter's waist. She frowned at the jacket her daughter wore.

"Where did you get this?" she asked sternly as she pulled at one sleeve.

Mitsukai uttered a small laugh. "Like it? It's what all the cool shut-ins are wearing", she sneered, bitterness evident in her voice.

"Misty," Kagome began apologetically.

Mitsukai snorted and waved her hand. "Don't worry about it Mama. Actually don't worry about anything. I won't leave the shrine ever again. In fact, I'll even stay in my room forever if that makes you happy."

Kagome pulled away from her daughter. She pulled Mitsukai's arm until she was facing her. Her eyes flashed angrily as she opened her mouth to speak.

"Just leave me alone Mama," Mitsukai said with a tired sigh.

Kagome's lips tightened into a fine line. Her hand slid down her daughter's arm to clasp her hand.

"Do you honestly think I want to keep you locked in this shrine? This is not the life I ever wanted for you," Kagome said with her voice cracking.

"I know," Mitsukai said in a voice just barely above a whisper.

Hot tears streamed down Mitsukai's porcelain cheeks. She did not utter as single sound as the tears fell in huge drops to her lips, but looked at something unseen in the distance. Her mouth formed words but there was no sound behind them.

"Sweetie?" Kagome asked concerned.

"I wish I were normal," she whispered finally her voice sounding heartbroken.

Her mother pulled her close and place frantic kisses on her cheeks, eyelids and the bridge of her nose. Kagome kissed away the salty tears the left crystalline trails on her daughter's face. It was a futile effort for the more she tried to comfort her daughter the more tears that fell.

"You are normal," Kagome said through her own tears unable to bear the despair in her daughter's voice.

Mitsukai looked at Kagome incredulously. She pulled lose from her mother's grasp once more.

"Normal people don't enjoy killing other people," she said harshly before leaping up to the upstairs window.

Kagome looked at her daughter's bedroom window sadly before venturing into the shrine. Her fingers curled around an Ofuda folded innocently in her pocket. She knew what must be done. Part of her would die but it would be worth it if her daughter would no longer suffer. She would carry out her task this weekend until then she was simply bide her time.

Unseen by mother and daughter Sesshoumaru watched the quietly from across the street. His eyes were fixed intently on his child who was near his mirror image. He could remember with utmost clarity the night she had been conceived. Kagome's long legs wrapped about him, her breath warm on his throat. Their coupling had been spontaneous and desperate. She seemed so fragile as she writhed beneath him. Sesshoumaru had been gentle, almost tender with her. She was delicate and he feared she would shatter. Neither spoke of the night they spent in one another's arms. Within the week they had recovered the Shikon no Tama and ended Inuyasha's mad rampage. It had been she that struck the final blow.

Now five hundred years from that shared sorrow, fate delivered her to him once more. Amazingly the miko had produced a youkai child rather than a hanyou. Something that was astounding if not impossible. It was difficult for a miko to carry even a hanyou child to term. A miko's innate powers of purification often treated the unborn hanyou as a corruptive entity. The holy energy with a miko simply did not discriminate between 'friendly' and threatening youki.

Hanyou born to miko mother's that managed to come to term were often stillborn or so underdeveloped that they died soon after. However none of what he knew to be true explained why Mitsukai was of full blood. There was the possibility that his taiyoukai blood proved stronger than her miko powers. That was indeed possible but it still did not explain her lack of mortal heritage. Sesshoumaru frowned that he allowed his thoughts to wander. He would worry about the mysteries of her birth later. That was her past; he was more concerned with her future. A future he was determined to play a part.

A/N

Hmm.. This is a rather short poorly written chapter. I think. I did proofread but it is unbetaed like the rest I thought I'd keep my theme going. Poor Mitsukai I've had her cry for three chapters straight. Hopefully you all enjoyed this chapter. Yup, this story is still growing on me.. A bit like moss rather than mold.