YAAAAAAAAAAAAY~!!!! REVIEWS!!! *glomps all reviewers* Arigato Gasaimasu!! I know it's only a few, but I appreciate any that I get.

I have to say...out of all the reviews I received, I found Korva-chan's the most interesting. () Oh, by the way, check out her story, To UNLiMiTED. It's on fictionpress.net, and it is where I get some of my bloody descriptions from. ^_^

Also, a special thanks to Goth-fae and Heies2Dreamer, Arigato for reading since the beginning! *hugs*

Oh, and one more thing. I have decided to change the storyline a little bit. Now I am not so sure I want to make this a OC/Sess situation. I think I might place Marisa with Inu-yasha instead. Myhahahaha..I shall play with you minds!! *evil cackle*

Disclaimer:

Nenuiel: *jumping around like crazy on a DDR (Dancing Dancing Revolution) pad* Sugoi!! I got...reviews!! Celebration time!! *Tsugaru ends*

Sessho-maru: *coldly* Shouldn't you be writing your story right now?

Nenuiel: *snarling* Just because you're not in the story yet doesn't mean you have to rush me!! *pokes his body armor* In any case, you should be extremely nice to me considering that I can control you!! *turns to vent her frustration on Paranoia*

Inu-yasha: Damn, you pissed her off. Not a good idea.

Sessho-maru: For once, little brother, you are right about something.

Inu-yasha: Too bad Mistress Takahashi can't stop her. She should be able to, after all, she owns us.

Sessho-maru: Indeed.

Nenuiel: *collapses on the ground, worn out from DDR* @_@ Too much...Paranoia...

*Sessho-maru sighs as a sweat drop appears on the back of Inu-yasha's head*

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Blood Oath: The Mark

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A blood-curdling scream shatters the calm of Inu-yasha Forest, startling those passing through its silent shadows. "Itai, itai, itai..." whined Shippou, covering his ears. Inu-yasha, rubbing his ultra-sensitive ears, let out a loud string of curses. "SHIT!! I can't hear a damn thing!!" yelled an angry Hanyou. Kagome stretched out a concerned hand towards the growling demon, "Are you ok Inu-yasha?"

"Yeah, peachy."

"I thought you said you couldn't hear anything," Miroku reminded his friend. "Feh," was his only answer. Sango looked around her, "I wonder where that scream came from? It sounded close, and human."

"You didn't have to tell me that. Anyway, the fucking screamer is most likely dead. You usually don't hear a sound like that without seeing a dead corpse," Inu-yasha stated simply to the group. They stood in silence for while, until Kagome murmured, "Still....." Inu-yasha's eyes softened as he looked at the worried girl, but his voice held an edge, "Don't tell me you want us to go looking for the source?" Kagome nodded, her eyes shining with compassion, "Even if they are dead, they deserve a proper burial." Shippou leapt to the sad teenager's shoulder, nuzzling her to give some comfort. "Indeed," Miroku agreed, "The poor soul needs to be prayed for." Inu-yasha looked annoyingly at Sango, "And I guess you are going to agree with them?" Sango gave a nod, "A dangerous demon may need to be dealt with." Sighing, the Hanyou turned to Kagome, "We'll split up, cover more ground faster that way. Shippou, you go with Miroku, and head toward the village. Sango, you take Kirara and search in the direction we just came. Me and Kagome will go towards the well. If you can't find anything by sundown, forget about it." Shippou instantly spoke up, "I want to go with Kagome!!" The two demons fought for while, before an "Osuwari" decided the conflict.

"Damn fox," muttered Inu-yasha. Shippou stuck out his tongue, safe on Kagome's shoulder. "Come on Inu-yasha! He's just a kid!" the Miko-in- training exclaimed. Grumbling, Inu-yasha turned his head skywards. The early afternoon sun filtered through the bare branches of the trees causing rays of light to reflect on the white snow. It glistened like diamonds, yet the brightness of the white wonderland paled to the radiance of the woman gliding through it. This made the Hanyou's eyes return to the figure walking in front of him. She, because of the weather, wore thicker clothing that completely covered her full form. Inu-yasha sighed silently, watching Kagome's raven hair sway back and forth, catching some the sunlight in its glory. He shook his head, *Why the heck am I thinking like this? Kagome's not even in heat.* But he had been thinking more and more about her, and it was driving him crazy. It had scared him to death when she was almost killed by that woman who had a strange scent. But then again, it hadn't been as frightening after fighting the girl. In his mind's eye, he built up her image. First, her looking at him with a smirk on her sculpted face, then her studying him with shining eyes as she held her wound. Her beauty had captivated him while she had tried to take all the blame of the day's events. To hide his fascination, he had tried to leave as soon as possible. He began comparing the women who had touched his life that cold day. While Kagome was beautiful in an adorable, caring way, Marisa seemed, well, sacred. She was like a fragile flower he was never supposed to be able to touch; just like Kikyo...His thoughts were interrupted by the smell of blood permeating the air. He sniffed, trying to identify which way it came from. Kagome turned around looking with concern at him, "What is it Inu- yasha?"

"I smell blood, a lot of it," he told her waiting face. Shippou clutched at Kagome, shivering in fright. "Which way is it coming from?" she asked him, "Is it a demon?" He looked at her, "I don't know what it is, but I think it's coming from the well." He knelt, waiting for the girl to jump onto his back. As soon as she settled herself comfortably, he leapt into the air, and sped his way to the well. In all honesty, he had told Kagome the truth. At this distance, he could tell what species the creature was from the spilt blood. He had never smelled a scent like this before, except once, when he drew blood from Marisa with the Tetsusaiga. Realization dawning, he picked up his pace. When they finally entered the clearing, he stood still, allowing Kagome to slide off his back. Kagome stared up at him with confused hazel eyes, "Inu-yasha? Where is the scent coming from now?"

"As I said, it is coming from the well," he repeated his answer to her. Shippou, curious at the turn of events, and not seeing any demons, bounded towards the well. He landed on the edge, and peered in. Gasping at what he saw, he started shuddering with shock, "Ka.kago..Kagome?" Worried at the small fox's reaction, Kagome started running to the well, but was stayed by Inu-yasha's hand on her shoulder. "I wouldn't advise it," he told her, "I think there is something there you wouldn't want to see." The way he put it, it sounded like there was another demon corpse dumped in the well, putting her at ease. Shippou, this whole time, still hadn't moved, paralyzed. "I still need to get Shippou, Inu-yasha, I don't think he's going to move for a while," she giggling told the demon as she suddenly ran to the well. Failing to stop her, Inu-yasha slowly walked forward, following the unsuspecting girl. When she reached the edge, Kagome plucked up the small kitsune, and told him, "There's nothing to be afraid of, Shippou. It's just a corpse, it'll disappear soon." The boy asked shaking, "Even though it's still bleeding?" Kagome blinked rapidly, then glanced into the well. She dropped the fox demon suddenly, her hands trembling in shock and horror. "MARISA!!!" she cried, placing both hands on the ledge and leaning over to get a better look. The girl was lying on her stomach, with no clothes on, her face lying on the side, revealing her profile. With the markings, and all the blood, the woman was barely recognizable. Inu- yasha, finally arriving at the scene, told the surprised fox on the ground, "Shippou, go the village. Tell Kaede to prepare a burial ceremony." Shippou, snapping out of his reverie started to leave, but stopped when Kagome yelled, "NO! She's not dead! I can see her breathing!" Inu-yasha looked over the edge of the well, and studied the still form. Though it was slight, the back rose up and down unsteadily with breath. "Never mind what I said earlier, fox, tell Kaede to prepare for some major healing." Turning into a pink bubble, Shippou flew from the clearing. Inu-yasha turned back to Kagome, not surprised to see tears streaming down her face. "How...how did this happen?" she asked mostly to herself, her eyes still focused on her friend. Removing his red Haori, he climbed over the ledge, and lowered himself down slowly, as not to activate the magic of the well. He touched the bottom, near Marisa's head. The ground felt slightly moist, and he lifted one foot. It was already stained with red, telling him the earth was soaked. *Damn,* he thought, *How could she live after losing so much blood?* He kneeled, feeling Kagome's eyes on him, and laid his fire rat robes lightly across Marisa's torso. Within seconds, a darker shade of crimson started to spread. Gingerly, as if not to hurt her further, he rolled her onto her back, and securely wrapped the fabric, covering her body. Something landed on his head. Reaching up, he removed a long piece of wool, and stared up at Kagome. "It's to tie your haori in place," she explained to him, "so that you can carry her without fearing that it will fall off." Nodding in understanding, he pulled it under her back and tied it in the front. He then lifted her, expecting her to dissipate like a cool mist in early spring. She remained firm, even though rather slippery with the blood. Crouching close the ground, he sprung upwards, and landed in the cool snow next to the well. He turned seeing Kagome rummaging through her pack. "What are you doing?! Do you think this is good time to....?"

"Baka," she choked still searching, "look at her left foot." Inu-yasha looked at it, and gaped at what he saw. Something white shone through the dark blood that streamed down, dripping from her heel, and her foot hung back a bit too far. "Shit," he gasped. At that moment, Kagome brought out another scarf, and made a makeshift cast, bringing the foot back to its original position. "Let's go," Kagome whispered, tears still falling down her jaw line, mixing with red splotches in the snow. After she clambered onto his back, Inu-yasha hastily ran towards the village.

As she watched the trees flash by her, Kagome went over what could have done this to Marisa. She had never seen wounds like the ones etched transversely over the limp form in Inu-yasha's arms. When she thought about it, Inu-yasha had never held her quite like the way he did the injured woman. A flash of jealousy passed through her, but she quickly pushed the emotion, and thought, away. *I'm sure Inu-yasha would do the same thing for me if I was hurt this badly,* she reassured herself. As she the village came into sight, she asked, "How is she?" Inu-yasha's ears twitched back, catching her question. "She's still breathing," he told her, "but barely." They passed many wide-eyed villagers, taking the shorter way to Kaede's hut. When they arrived, the old woman was awaiting them in front of the doorway. Inu-yasha landed in front of the Miko, giving Kagome the chance to slip to the ground. Studying Marisa's condition, Kaede sighed. "Bring her within, Inu-yasha," she said slipping the cloth door aside. The elder lady led the burdened Hanyou to a covered futon laid out in the middle of the room. "Lay her here," she instructed him, "then leave so that Kagome and I may clean and dress her wounds." After setting Marisa upon the mattress, Kagome stared at the amount of blood that covered Inu-yasha. It nearly soaked every inch of the front side of his white Juban, and had dyed some of his hakama a deeper shade of red. He turned to leave, but opening the door he asked, "Where's the fox?"

"He went with the Hoshi to find Sango-sama." His question answered, he stepped into the dimmed sunlight. Kaede started pulling the soaked Haori from Marisa's skin, taking care not to pull too sharply. "Rub her down, Kagome," the wise woman told her, "start with her legs." Grabbing one of the many towels stacked next to the futon, Kagome begun wiping some of the blood off the clammy skin. To her dismay, every time she cleaned most of the crimson away, more seemed to rise from the ghastly wounds. "Worry not, Kagome, just remove the blood around it." She threw away a completely soaked towel, and picked another to continue up her legs. "Kaede-baba," she managed, "do you think you can save her?" The old woman grimaced as she began applying bandages around the left foot. "It depends on her will to live," she said, starting to travel up the left leg with the white wrappings. "I cannot say yea or nay," she muttered. Tears filled Kagome's eyes as she continued rubbing her friend down. They heard someone pass through the door, "May the gods be merciful..." Sango's voice rasped in disbelief. Kneeling next to Kagome, she picked to help with the gruesome task of wiping away the blood. "No lass, come ye here to help me wrap," Kaede commanded the demon-hunter. Soon, all three women were at work dressing the near-death being before them. By the time they were adding the finishing touches, the sun was beginning to set. Sango and Kagome gently lifted the mummy-wrapped girl forward, so that some work could be done to her back and head. Sango gently took the blood soaked hair, and moved it over the unconscious woman's shoulder. Kagome eyes blurry with the crying and hard work thought she was seeing things when she saw some marking at the base of neck. It seemed to be a disconnected star, the left and right tips gently curving down. Another small star located itself northeast of the center. "Kaede-sama," Sango said suddenly, "there seems to be some kind of strange mark on the back of the neck." The old Miko looked at it peculiarly, "Ignore that for now," she said quickly, "let us finish this task." Kagome could not help but be confused as the old woman applied the final bandages with a thoughtful, serious expression on her face. Finally finished, they covered her with a blanket, and told the boys to come in. (to better envision what she looks like, place a woman in Onigumo's position) Miroku looked curiously at the girl lying on the floor, a mischievous glint in his eye, "A pity you had to cover the face. I-" Sango hit him wearingly over the head, muttering, "Hentai." He grinned, unabashed by the weak attack, "She does have the ripest pair of lips I have ever seen, though." Too tired to react, Sango gulped on the ramen that Kagome had prepared for them. Inu-yasha stared silently at the still form, then gladly turned to accept the cup of ramen that Kagome brought him. All of them ate in silence, trying to keep their attentions away from the dark and light hump in the middle of the room.

**

A large tree floated in a sea of crimson marbled with cerulean. It resembled a Sakura, but the trunk's diameter resembled that of an oak, and the blossoms were a light silver-blue. The dark green leaves blended into the dark, smooth bark. Draped across some of the entwining limbs of the mysterious tree, was Marisa. Her dark brown hair spilled over the flowers and leaves, melding into the matching bark of the tree. The wounds that plagued her in Kaede's hut were non existent where she was. Her unmarked skin gleamed ivory in the light pouring from the small flowers. She wore a white dress that gently folded and tangled itself around her legs and torso, leaving her arms bare. Her eyes were closed, sleeping deeply in the peace that surrounded her. In the distance a form evolved from the red. It was big in size, and had large bat-like wings. It flew quickly across the empty space that separated itself from the tree. Its eyes glowed a sickly yellow, as it soundlessly approached its target. The jaws of the great beast opened wide, summoning a great heat from within its belly. A grand, consuming black flame spewed from its mouth, desiring nothing else but to burn the tree and its occupant. Blue eyes suddenly snapped open. A shield sprung up, protecting the victim from the merciless attack. The scarlet dragon roared in anger at him being denied. Then her pink lips opened themselves, "I will fight you, I will fight for my life." Weariness was interwoven with her voice, and she knew he sensed it. The great serpent chuckled, a sound that would make even the bravest warrior quiver in fear. "Fool, how long to you exssspect to deny my hunger? You barely ssssurvived my firsssst attack." Her blue eyes deepened into a navy, "I will survive." The eyes glowed brighter in fury, then he swung his tail toward the barrier. When it struck, lightning enveloped him, causing him to scream in agony. Twisting in his pain, he flew from the peaceful aura of the tree, disappearing into the vermillion. The small streaks of blue that wound themselves through the crimson grew broader and brighter. Then, around the naked roots of the tree appeared large clumps of earth. Approving what she saw, Marisa closed her eyes, sighing. "Don't underestimate me...death," she whispered as she slipped back into a peaceful slumber.

**

Moonlight filtered through the small window of the hut, causing the water in the bowl Kaede held to reflect silver. She shuffled silently towards the still body now located in a discreet corner, careful not to wake any of those sleeping. Kneeling down, the old woman used her fingers to slightly part the purple lips. Lifting the head gently, Kaede raised the bowl to Marisa's mouth, and slowly poured the clear liquid. She pressed her free hand against the girl's throat, and pulled down, bringing the precious water with the stern motion. The bowl now empty, Kaede rose and retreated to her cushion surrounded by old parchments. Sitting down again, she looked at all the occupants of the room. Kagome had brought some more of those large sleeping mats, and almost all were using them. The young girl was tucked up on her side, while Shippou, tail curled around him, slept in the crook of her arm. Sango and Miroku laid side by side, the Monk reaching out to touch the demon huntress' butt. Kaede chuckled to herself, that young Hentai was going to get a large beating in the morning. Her eyes finally fell onto Inu-yasha, sleeping with his back against the wall, his sleeping bag unused. He had tried to appear he was asleep earlier in the evening, but his eyes had been secretly fixed on the wounded woman. Sleep had finally consumed him only an hour ago. She could tell the Hanyou was fascinated by the girl, for she was as well, for that was what kept her from sleeping. The ears were shaped strangely, but no aura existed to help her identify what species the girl hailed from. The mysterious mark on the nape she knew she had seen before, but where she could not remember. She had searched through all of her spell scrolls, instructing pamphlets, and notes she had taken over the years. Only one set of documents remained, the very set she had been hoping to avoid. They were her elder sister's notes and items of research. Hands shaking, Kaede picked them up, and gently blew the dust off them. She hadn't read them since she was Kagome's age, after an accident with one of the spells. Sighing, she started reading the first page. For hours she searched through the papers, until the light of the sunrise revealed to her tired eye what she had been searching for. The symbol was etched gently on the paper; the small star could barely be seen, for it had faded with age. She read her sister's neat calligraphy as the red sun stretched itself over the item she held. Her eyebrows went up in surprise, and her eye glimmered with an unidentifiable light that looked similar to caution. "So," she muttered to herself, "her kind still exists eh?" Turning to the wrapped form, she thought, *We are in big trouble.*

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Ahahaha~!!!! Mystery shrouds Marisa yet again!! Makes you wonder ne? *dances around again* Anyway...you want to learn what she is? *gives a gentle smile* Well...I'm not going to tell you!! That is, unless you send me lots of reviews!! *sticks out tongue* Oh, and if you want a better picture of Marisa's mark, it should be posted on the website I have stuff on soon. (you can find it under my profile) Ja matte!! Send me reviews!! ^_^