Author's Note: Hey, I'm back with another chapter. Been having trouble so both chapter 1 and 2 have been uploaded at the same time J Anyways-- serious warning: There Is Much Gruesome Stuff Going On in this chapter!!! BEWARE, you people who don't like gore. I'm not sick minded, I'm just trying to get the seriousness across. o_O…

Anyways, hope this is realistic, not drama-istic.

Disclaimer: I own nothing!! Inuyasha don't belong to me

The air stank of blood and filth as Aikonaga's steps brought her closer, her stomach turning inwards on itself. Swallowing bile at the sight of the disemboweled Manten, she tried not to stare.The body might be twisted, but even I can tell its a youkai

Naga set down her pack, and found a threadbare blanket, fingers fumbling as she ripped it in half. She quickly draped it over the mutilated form; as soon as the cloth came into contact with the cold flesh, bright red started to seep through; Naga turned away.

Such a waste of life.

Trying not to dwell on what she was walking through, she crossed the clearing. The smell seemed to lessen there, but perhaps it was because the body had not lain as long. She was about to turn away when a thought mesmerized her.

As Naga gazed at the body of the man who had fought so fiercely, she wondered if he had known his efforts had amounted to nothing; his opponent had walked away unscathed.

Just as she was about to pull the tattered fabric over his bloodied, bruised face, he groaned. Naga gasped and snatched her hands away.

Gathering courage, she held her hand before his face and felt his exhalation like a feather of air against her palm. Naga withdrew her hand. How could this man still be alive?

What should I do? He's youkai... but he was defending his brother. Can I help him? Naga stared at the man; it was as if he was clinging to life by sheer will. Naga mouth settled into a grim line; she couldn't leave him there.

His lips moved soundlessly; Naga fetched her pack, and took out her skin of water. Uncorking it, she splashed water into her hand. The man grimaced as she dribbled a few drops between his cracked lips; he swallowed convulsively. Encouraged, Naga gave a handful of water to the man; his throat moved as he swallowed again.

Naga rocked back on her heels, trying to decide whether to move him, then decided against it; he looked too heavy for her. Biting her lip, she set about removing his armor. That proved to be a challenge, but Naga managed to most of it. After discarding the breastplate, she took up the torn blanket that had lain unnoticed beside her and soaked a corner in with water and cleaned the blood away from the wound on the left side of his chest. It ran from the top of his head, crossing from right to left, missing both eyes, nose and throat. He is lucky to have escaped with it, though it will scar him greatly. But I do not know if everything inside is whole... Naga's thoughts trailed off as she washed the blood from his face, cleaning the blood away from the gash as best she could, hoping it would not become infected.

Naga briefly wondered at the still pink scars covering his torso; they looked newly healed. She shrugged it off and cleaned the remainder of the crusted blood from his chest; the man groaned once as she poured water directly into the slashed skin.

The blanket was a bloodied rag by the time she had finished removing all traces of blood from his. The man was still alive; Naga shook her head in amazement as she trickled more water down his throat. A thought came to her she rummaged in her pack for something to bandage the man's wounds with; what will happen when he wakes?

Finding the small jar of salve she had bought and a clean length of cloth, she tore it into strips and bandaged the wounds on his chest, arms and face. Strange... he looks so human, Naga glanced at the pointed ears as thoughts crowded her mind. She trickled more water down his throat, noting pointed teeth as well, --to match his ears? Or do they have a purpose? Naga tried to picture fangs covered in blood, then shook her head. Maybe not...

Turning her attention away, Naga looked up at the sky; it was dusk. Time passes so quickly Naga crouched by her pack, rummaging for something to make a meal of, hearing her stomach protest its empty state. Then she paused; should she make something to eat? Could she risk a fire; how safe was she here? Can he eat? What could I give him? Naga's lips tightened as she cursed herself for not thinking of those things before. Then her shoulders relaxed-- muscles Naga didn't remember being so tight-- and her thoughts lost their self reproaching edge. If there where those watching, I would have had an arrow in my back long before.

Promising herself she'd bury the body of Maten in the morning, Naga nodded to herself, and went about finding a place for make a fire circle. Before she left the makeshift campsite to search for something with which to start the blaze, Naga gave the unconscious youkai another mouthful of water, checked the bandages and cushioned his head with a makeshift pillow.

As she climbed the hill crest and descended to the nearest line of trees, something pushed at the back of Naga's consciousness. Something about the youkai man seemed out of place-- but what it was about him that bothered her Naga didn't know. She turned the thought over and over in her mind as she gathered fallen bone dry branches. Something about him just seemed strange; he just looked different-- less dead, maybe. But he is youkai...everything about him is strange

Reassuring herself, she turned and made her way back to the campsite, noticing how dark the sky had become in the short space of time she had been absent. She made her way down the hillcrest, the armload of wood suddenly heavy. Naga gratefully put the pile down and crouched beside her pack to find her flint chip, glanced over at the youkai-- and stopped. The armor was gone and torn remnants of bandaging lay scattered on the ground... Naga belatedly realized he is awake-- and gone. But where?

Suddenly a low growl reached her ears; Naga felt herself freeze as she heard rather than saw the youkai approach. A strange scent similar to musk permeated the air. Behind me-- kami! I was so stupid! She closed her eyes when she felt warm breath stirring the hairs on the back of her neck. Naga's hand brushed something; she looked down. Ah! My walking stick-- if only I can reach--! A hand gripped her neck roughly and wrenched her around to face the demon; Naga made a strangled noise in the back of her throat as she felt her air being cut off.

Golden eyes regarded her coldly as she stared up into the face of death. Naga's lungs burned and she arched her back, trying to twist from his grip. The vice-like hand tightened till it felt as though claws were piercing into her vertebrae.

"Stop fighting me, whelp!" A hand connected with a jolting crack against her cheek. Naga's eyes widened slightly, but she ceased her struggle, thinking stupidly he speaks? as her dark eyes locked on his face. It was a death mask in the twilight, eyes glowing faintly with strange green-gold animal luminance.

Naga held herself as if frozen, watching his face warily as he continued to stare at her, emotion flashing across his face.

Then the hand loosened; with a low growl the youkai let go of Naga. She shuddered as his teeth flashed in the growing darkness and he stepped toward her.

Run! I've got to-- oh, gods! Instinctively, Naga turned to bolt, and was half way across the clearing when he grabbed her. Both youkai and girl went down, Naga crying out as her head connected with a sharp stone and his armor dug into her ribs.

The youkai straddled her waist, grasping her head by her long black hair. Naga struggled desperately, though she knew the battle had already been lost. Her defiance was countered with an arm wrenched up behind her back with inhuman strength and Naga half sobbed-gasped as she felt something wrench sickeningly. Make it quick. Make it soon--

"Yield, damn you!" The youkai growled in her ear.

"No-- I won't submit! Let me go!" She panted as the pain in her arm increased.

His breathe hot on the back of her neck, the youkai made a sound-- half snarl, half laugh.

"Let you go? I, the great lord Hiten, simply let you go?" The snarl-laugh again. "I think not."

Naga groaned as the youkai lord hauled her to her knees before him, squeezing her arm just below the injured joint. Gods! He is playing with me-- but why? the still functioning part of her brain was racing as she looked into his face. Lord Hiten's eye clouded over as Naga arched her back in protest. Ahhhg!--he feels such pleasure at my pain... A wave of dizziness washed over her as claws dug into her shoulders.

Naga bit back a scream as something gave with a muffled wet snap. I won't scream-- I won't scream...No-won't-make-noise!Her thoughts ran together as bile rose in her throat.

"Scream-- go ahead, wench! Don't hold it back; cry for me," his voice was a harsh whisper.

Naga whimpered as the youkai ground his fist into the torn limb. I should have never let him live! Gods forgive me-- I'm so sorry I let him live!

A razor sharp clawtip pierced her flesh at the juncture of shoulder and arm, slashing into arteries. Dark wetness trickled down her kimono as Naga shuddered, mouth pressed into a bloodless line to keep herself silent as she felt blood gush.

The lord didn't even seem to notice, his face frozen in an odd mask.

And then, even as her pain-glazed eyes watched, his body seemed to tremble.

"...Scream, you--"The demon lord's voice cracked. His grip loosened

"N-no," Naga struggled weakly against him, though the effort was futile. Her heartbeat was deafeningly loud in her ears. "Let me… go."

Naga's eyes widened as his face seemed to crumple inwards on itself.

Then she was free; the iron grip that had held her was gone. Without the support, Naga crumpled to the ground, landing on her mangled arm.

I'm going.... I'm dying... Naga's eyes felt leaden suddenly.

As blood pooled under her, she felt her body become lax.

So soon...so... A soft sob escaping her lips, Naga lay still, her dark eyes no longer seeing.

The End

(…Or Maybe Not)

Author's Note: Eeek! Much blood. __ But keep in mind, Hiten is a bad guy-- youkai, which means demon (in case you don't remember). Hope it was real ^__O. There may be more chapters yet-- DID Naga die? What was going through Hiten's mind? What will become of them? ^__^

You want more? Less? Nothing at all? Review and tell me!!!!!!