Don't own Inuyasha just Yuzumi!

Chapter 4: The Assassin and the Demon Within

Morning came unwelcoming to Yuzumi as she felt warm arms around her waist and a rock hard chest against her back. She turn to see Kagewaki in her bed. His hair was long and curled in messy ringlets from sleep. He's face was content and his breathing slow and steady. Then she remembered what hand happened that night...

Hours earlier...

She had hardly slept and when she did she was haunted by nightmares of her past. Really none knew her past. All they knew was that her parents where dead, her fascination with Assassin's Creed, and she was a demon, but none knew of her true past.

Blood filled her nightmares. It wasn't her blood, but it was the blood Yuzumi's mother. It was a frightening sight for any seven year old and her mother's last words while choking on her own blood haunted her more than anything, "Yuzumi... be careful. Don't be like me! Find... your happiness and never take it... for... granted! Be strong... my child. I love... you."

She knew this was only a dream and even as she slept she knew she was dreaming, but it didn't stop the fear or pain she felt as she watched her mother die in front of her eyes over and over again.

"Princess Yuzumi," she hear a voice call from her terrors. It was smooth as honey and soft like a puppy's fur. Help me... her mind cried out as she thrashed in her sleep. Ease my tortured soul, please...

"Yuzumi, wake up..." the beautiful voice called as she felt pressure on her wrists. "Your having a nightmare. Wake up."

Yuzumi shot up into Kagewaki's chest. She wouldn't cry. Yuzumi refused to cry, but being held by Kagewaki she would permit. His arms wrapped around her small tense frame and comfortingly rubbed her back.

"Yuzumi..." he whispered gently into her ear, "Do you want to talk about it?"

Yuzumi sighed. No she didn't want to talk about it, but his honeyed voice had asked and she couldn't deny him the truth. "I was having a nightmare about the day my mother was murdered."

"You saw it?" he asked softly.

"Yes, I saw it all," she replied as a tear fell. Apparently she was permitting her tears after all.

"It must have been horrible for you." Kagewaki said holding her tighter in her arms as he felt the dampness on his shoulder from her tears.

"I'm sorry to make you worry," She whispered as she sobbed.

"I want... I mean it's okay." he said as he struggled for the right words. This woman had such an effect on him. No she was a demon, but Kagewaki he didn't care what she was. He knew she was good and kind, but he also knew she was haunted by her past. He knew the moment he looked into her eyes.

"Don't leave," she pleaded. "I don't want the nightmare to come back."

He blinked, She wants me to stay? "I won't leave, Yuzumi."

She wasn't sure how long she cried, but she remembered him helping her lay down and her pulled him along with her. She wrapped his arms around her before she fell asleep.

Yuzumi blushed. She couldn't believe she lost so much control of her emotions last night. You are hopeless, Yuzumi, she told herself, but you did get a prince in your bed. Nice work...

She mentally shrugged her shoulders before she laid her head back down so she could get more sleep. She was far to happy in this moment to care about anything other than the man she was in the arms of. Such a kind and gentle prince. He doesn't deserve what happened to his lands. She thought sadly. He'd makes a good leader many would follow and respect him. Wait... why am I thinking this? Am I considering being with him? I can't do that! Can I? I don't know anything about demon law! I need to get to my home as soon as possible or I might fall in love with a man I can never have!

Frustrated she left the bed, God what is wrong with me?! Me of all people throwing myself in the arms of a man and a human at that! Pathetic! I should just... no. What am I saying? I thought I was human not to long ago. I want him to come with me and I need my powers in full before I go home though. She sighed. What are these cruel thoughts? Sure I can be a bitch, but judging someone for what they are isn't me at all. Only someone really low would think like that. Is this what the demon within me thinks? Is this what my beast believes?

Perhaps I do, a voice replied in her mind in a barely a whisper.

Why do you not like humans?

Humans are fine, but be wary of them they'd stop at nothing to destroy you for being a demon, the voice warned. I will be clearer to you within this week. You are slowly becoming what you are meant to be.

Great, first super hearing! Now a beast! What's next? Super speed? Strength? Perfect bod?

The beast laughed, Next to come will be painful and didn't you say you were looking forward to the surprise?

I kicking myself for saying that already! And what was with that feeling when I was near Sesshoumaru?

Find out, the beast replied before going silent.

Goddamn you!

Yuzumi opened her bedroom door and, "Inuyasha!" she cheered as she hugged him nearly knocking him over. "Where have you guys been?!"

"Sorry, Yuzumi," Kagome apologized while Inuyasha gave a shock face caused by the hug, "Naraku showed up."

"Yuzumi," Kagewaki said as he stood.

"Kagewaki, good morning." Yuzumi replied with a smile

"Morning, who are your friends- Slayer Sango?!"

"Prince Kagewaki?! Your alive?! Naraku said he killed you!" Sango said shocked.

"Your the one Naraku is parading around as?" asked Kagome.

"Yes," he replied. "He tried to kill me, but I manage to escape before he could slay me. He still took my lands from me. Then he poisoned my lands and slaughtered my people."

"Another reason we are all going South!" Yuzumi announced.

"Who make you the alpha?!" Inuyasha demanded.

"I want to go home Inuyasha! I have to claim my lands as it's rightful ruler I must do this!" Yuzumi yelled back, "And last time I checked Kagome is the alpha in this group!"

"Why you!"

"Sit!"

"My point is made. Thank you, Kagome. Look I have to get to my home the day after the full moon and claim it from the steward Souh my cousin." Yuzumi explained.

"Well I'm in," Kagome agreed instantly.

"Oh and here is that jewel shard from the demon that was chasing me," Yuzumi whispered in her ear, "before I met this really hot guy named Sesshoumaru."

"Sesshoumaru?! You met him?!"

"Yep and not so loud, Kagome my ears are sensitive now!" Yuzumi said rubbing her ears.

"Sorry," Kagome said apologeticly.

Two Days Later...

The gang had been traveling for the last two days south like Yuzumi had asked. They all knew it would take a good three weeks for them to arrive to the Southern castle. Inuyasha like usual wasn't happy about the breaks they had to take because the 'weak humans' had to take breaks.

"Hey where is Yuzumi?" Kagewaki asked.

"I thought she was with you." Miroku said. "Hey Sango have you seen Yuzumi?"

"Not since this morning. Why?" asked Sango.

"I saw her going into the forest. She was acting strange. Her eyes where all red." Kagome commented.

"What the assassin's daughter is missing again?!" Inuyasha said pissed.

"We should look for her. She could be in trouble." Miroku said.

"Will you humans shut up?" a voice said as Yuzumi walked out of the forest. Her voice was cold and emotionless. The hood of her Assassin's Creed outfit was down and her eyes a sinister red. "I'm right here." She dropped a freshly killed deer on their feet. "I was hunting breakfast. I know you humans would be starving by now."

"Yuzumi, what's wrong? You sound strange." Shippo asked.

She chuckled, "Of course I do. I'm the demon within after all."

"Your her beast?" Shippo asked.

"That is what I said."

"Why are you out?"

"I've been locked up for two hundred years small one. I want out." the demon replied.

"Wait how are you two hundred years old and Yuzumi is only seventeen?" asked Kagome.

"Because in less in three weeks I will be eighteen in demon years and Yuzumi has slept for most of it due to our dear mother's spell." she replied. "Now enough questions, humans. I'm starving." The demon flicked her wrist and cut away one of the back legs of the deer. "This is mine do what you please with the rest." She said before tearing the fur and skin off the leg with her newly formed claws.

"Is she about to eat that raw- Ew! Nevermind!" Kagome said trying not to gag.

Yuzumi bit into the leg and let the deers blood fill her mouth. It had been a long time since she had tasted raw meat, but she noticed Kagome go pale and Kagewaki stare wide eyed. She sallow the blood and lowered her kill with a sigh. "I'll eat away from camp. So you don't have to see this."

Yuzumi turned and head for the river so she may be alone with her meal. She forgot that human were squeamish when it came to raw foods. Humans are weak as usual, the demon thought. She sighed as she took another bit of her food. A feeling of loneliness took her as she remembered the other part of her laughing and enjoying her meal with her new friends. It seemed trivial but enjoyable and not so lonely. It made her envy the other side of herself.

Why can't I have that? Is it because I'm a beast? Or does Yuzumi have a way with people I do not? Yuzumi is me, but isn't me at the same time. Why must this be so complicated?

It is only complicated because you make it so, Yuzumi replied. Now stop with the over thinking and let me rest. I'm in enough pain as it is without you making it worse with a headache from thinking to much.

Did you just call us dumb?

You ARE being dumb, Yuzumi informed her. If you just swallow your pride you could have just cooked the meat and ate it with them like a normal person, but noooo! You have to go and eat it raw to gross them out! And now you are all alone! Are you happy?

"No I'm not," Yuzumi said allowed with a sigh before finishing her meal and throwing the bone away.

"Talking to yourself?" asked a voice.

"Have a conversation between you and your beast is not exactly talk to yourself. Is it, Sesshoumaru?" the beast replied as she cleaned her face from any left over blood with water.

Sesshoumaru neared her, "Perhaps."

She turned her red eyes to Sesshoumaru, "What brings you here?"

"Why do you care?"

"More of curiosity, than caring."

"You are her beast?"

"Yes, Yuzumi is in to much pain to focus. So I took over while she deals with the changes, but the greatest change will happen on the night of the full moon." the demon informed him.

"Your true form," Sesshoumaru stated.

"Yes," she turned away from him and folded her legs against herself and wrapped her arms around her legs.

Sesshoumaru sat next to her and relaxed slightly, "Once my mother finds out you're alive she'll be sending a hundred marriage proposals to you all about this Sesshoumaru."

Yuzumi giggled, "Good thing I'm not taking a mate yet. Like you I'll wait til I'm ready and do it for love."

"You don't think I'm ready?"

"You are, but you'll wait for that special girl to come around that will mate you for YOU and not your crown," Yuzumi said, "just like I will."

"Not all matings deal with love," he said, "and if I remember correctly an unmated woman can't take the crown."

"This one will. None can stop that and I'll mate only to a man I love. I will not fall to a political marriage like a fool."

Sesshoumaru found himself respecting her for that, "You have my support then."

Yuzumi looked at him and smiled, "Thank you, and I'd be honored if you are at the Southern castle the morning after the full moon and stand at my side as a friend. This request is from Yuzumi, not myself... she likes you and thinks of you as friend."

Friend? Sesshoumaru never had a friend in his life and now this woman wanted to be friends. "I will be there," Sesshoumaru stated his voice cold like usual.

"Yuzumi," Shippo whisper as he suddenly appeared on her shoulder.

Yuzumi looked at Shippo her eyes widen as she saw the bruises on his head, "Who hurt you?" she growled outraged.

"Inu-baka," Shippo replied crying.

"I'll be back Sesshoumaru. I have a lesson to teach a certain kitty eared dog." She stood and walked toward the camp.

Sesshoumaru closed his eyes and listened...

"INUYASHA!" he heard Yuzumi growl.

"Oh... shit," Inuyasha yelp.

"HOW DARE YOU PUT YOUR FILTHY HANDS ON A CHILD!" Yuzumi screamed as she pulled a good foot and a half thick tree from it's roots and swung it at him. Sesshoumaru heard her beat him senseless with it. "BASTARD!"

"Remind me to never get on her bad side," Miroku whispered to Sango.

Sango just nodded as she stared a her in shock. How did such a small girl rip a tree from the ground?!

Once Inuyasha was beaten unconscious she tossed the broken in half tree away and growled as she left the camp with Shippo in her arms. "If he ever does that again come straight to me, Shippo."

Shippo nodded as he snuggled into her arms. She doesn't like it when a child is beating like that at all. She was for years and she wasn't about to see the same happen to children.

Yuzumi returned to Sesshoumaru's side as she took a cloth from her pocket and dipped in into the freezing water then fold it and placed it over his biggest bruise. "Your brother is... infuriating to put it lightly. If I didn't owe him. I would of ripped out his throat."

"What do you owe him?"

"He killed Ryukotsusei and helped me when I was in trouble." she replied. "A dragon demon is supposedly coming for me the night I go full demon if he even knows how to get to this world. He wants me as his mate." She laughed darkly, "I look forward to killing him."

"Get to this world?" Sesshoumaru asked curiously.

"Oh you don't know," Yuzumi said. "My mother hid me in the future where Kagome is from. Interesting world we have in front of us. I wonder if I still rule in that time."

"How long into the future?"

"Five hundred years," Yuzumi said. Her attention still on Shippo who was now sleeping in her arms.

"It's likely," Sesshoumaru replied.

"I think so too," Yuzumi said. "Five hundred years isn't that long for us. Perhaps well stay friends that longer than that."

"You really want to be friends with this Sesshoumaru?" he asked.

"Ever since we met yes. We both do. Doesn't matter if your cold. I see more then most have. There is just something about you." she said smiling at him.

"Then we will be," Sesshoumaru said to his first friend.