Man it's been a while since I updated and I'm really sorry everyone.^.^*
Please forgive me you just have to make sure to get on to me every so often
to make sure I keep to the old keyboard I'm sorry this chapie isn't up to
my usual lengthiness but I've been really busy and I'm going to try and
update again really soon
Anyway I don't own IY Rumiko Takahashi does with that said on with chapter
13!!
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^**^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^ InuYasha Beyond the Skin Chapter 13 'Uncertain Feelings'
Marina felt an impending dread come over her mind, would Koyasha break with his promise not to let out that he was a demon...well at least part demon? The older men lightly laughed at Mr. Umezu's childish comment. "Believing such fairy tails is really out of date Umezu-san." Marina could feel her hair rising up, growing irritated by Professor Takenaka's narrow mindedness. She found her own self preparing to raise her voice in protest but found a quick jerk on her wrist and began to head away from the group of men. Her eye's blinked in surprise and followed up the arm to the face of her kidnaper. "What ignorance, I don't know why you stay in a place like this. At least in our time humans have some respect for demons, even if they've never seen a demon for themselves." Marina yanked her hand away from Koyasha's grasp and planted her feet in protest. "What do you mean 'our' time?! In case you can't remember I woke you up in this time, which means this is our time not back in the..." Marina bit down on her lip and turned around to gaze at the group of men staring in much bewilderment. "That is I mean...uh..."Marina laughed nervously unable to think of any reasonable explanation. Professor Takenaka leaned in close to Mr. Umezu, "Are those two well you know...all there?" Mr. Umezu scratched his head nervously. "They are a bit curious at times I admit." Tsukasa walked up behind Marina and taped her shoulder, "What's the matter?" "Oh it's nothing I've just been having, temporary delusional fits were I act as though I lived in the past and Koyasha was trapped in a permanent sleep and I woke him up." Marina laughed nervously elbowing Koyasha. "Isn't that right Koyasha? He just likes to kid me about it so he goes along with the delusions." Marina closed her eyes and continued laughing nervously turning away from Tsukasa, she stopped as a very familiar voice from her past whispered in her ear, "Now are you sure that's the truth, lying really doesn't become you." Marina's eyes snapped open and she looked all around but the only people even close to her were Koyasha and Tsukasa. ("But that's impossible I know it was him!") Marina's face turned very pale and she felt her legs go numb and soon found herself lying on the ground staring up at a crowd that surrounded her. ("Oh great, I just had to faint didn't I!") Her eyes went dizzy and she closed them quickly to keep from feeling sick. "We have a room in the back we can take her to" Mr. Umezu nodded to professor Takenaka and started to lean down to pick her up but Tsukasa already had her in arms and started to follow professor Takenaka, closely followed by an agitated Koyasha. "I didn't think you'd resort to hanging out with a demon after I left." Her eyes shot open and just caught Tsukasa's finishing the sentence. ("But that's impossible! He was called back to... It just can't be Aniss!") Her heart stopped as she noticed his eye's glaze over with a light purple tint and go back to a deep brown.
The group entered into a dark room with a small bed, by the looks of the room the historians stayed in this room many nights doing research. Tsukasa laid Marina down on the bed and stepped back. "Thank you Tsukasa, and thank you very much Professor Takenaka." "It's no trouble Umezu-san I'm only disappointed I couldn't ask her more questions." Professor Takenaka walked over to the door and opened it back up, "We can continue with our conversation out here so we don't disturb her." Tsukasa stepped up quickly cutting off Mr. Umezu's reply to the professor, "I'd be happy to stay with her until she feels better." Koyasha felt his face heat up as Mr. Umezu motion for him to go out of the room, "That's very kind of you Tsukasa we'll be waiting for you." Koyasha glared at Tsukasa as he left with the other two men. "Don't worry Koyasha I'll give you three time to get the assignment done." Koyasha ignored him walking past both the professor and Mr. Umezu. ("How did Tsukasa know I was a demon, I never said anything to him and I know that woman didn't have a chance to. I'm beginning to think he's hiding something from me in order to get closer to her.")
Tsukasa blinked a few times in the darkness before his eyes adjusted. "Now we're alone to talk, you can stop pretending to be asleep now." Marina sat up holding her head, that felt like it was about to spin right off her neck. Marina caught the color of his eyes and hair change drastically; even in the faint light it was obvious. Marina forgot her head and stared at him speechless. "Come now you didn't think I'd stay gone forever." "This is impossible you can't be here." She felt her eye's pulsate and begin to fill with tears. Tsukasa knelt down touching her head lightly lifting back her bangs that hid her eyes with her head lowered. "Why are you crying, I didn't leave so long ago." Marina slapped away his hand and her face filled with anger. "That's easy for you to say Aniss, you don't age! Time for you just stands still!" "It's almost strange to hear my name again. I've posed as this human for so long it feels like I have aged, I feel this human body dieing all around me." Marina wiped her eyes and stood up falling right back down to the bed and lay back down. Aniss leaned over placing his hands on either side of her. "You don't have to fight me I'd give up heaven itself to be with you." Marina couldn't believe her ears and stared up speechless as Aniss leaned in closer his lips growing closer to her by the seconds which felt like minutes. He couldn't, this wasn't happening first Koyasha, then Mushiro, and now! ("No!") Her hands flew up seconds too late the door was wide open with a familiar figures shadow cast on the wall. Koyasha's hair rose as he saw Aniss's lips separate from hers and his true features visible, ("How dare he touch her!") An evil wind rose up around Koyasha, which could only have been his aura, making his hair whip violently. Aniss's eyes narrowed and a massive cross shaped sword sprouted from his hand. "It's been a while since I killed a demon, although I admit half demons are really no challenge." Marina shot up from the bed and threw herself between the two. "Stop this right now! This isn't the time or the place for fighting!" "Boastful bastard, I'll rip you're heart out!" Koyasha's eye's glowed a blood red with pupil markings on his face, his fangs and claws had doubled in size, and his whole air gave off that he intended to kill Aniss or even Marina if she tried to stop him. "Koyasha stop please." She said as calmly as she could trying not to bring on the fight. "Move Marina you don't have to protect this pathetic excuse of a being I'll make short work of him." "Aniss that's enough!!" Marina pulled her backpack off and threw it in Aniss's face knocking him off balance and onto the floor. Koyasha just caught a faint image of her wings as the wind from a strong flap sent him hurling to the ground. "You two are so immature!" She screamed slamming the door behind her as she stomped off. She stepped off into a corner breathing a sigh of relief, "What just happened, how could he come back after so long." She slumped down to the ground cradling into a fetal position. "I'm going back, at least in the past my feelings are not so confused." Marina gathered up her strength and headed for the exit, "Who cares about this time, I want to just disappear from existence anyway." "Marina-chan wait up!" Marina swirled around to see Yuka and Riico running over. "Where are you going Marina-chan, what happened to..?" "I don't want to talk about it!" Yuka and Riico traded worried glances, "What did they do?" "You mean besides trying to get into an all out fight!" Riico and Yuka stopped, "Is Tsukasa-san ok?!" "I don't know and I don't care!" She shouted running out the exit door. "Was it just me Yuka or did you see tears in her eyes?" Yuka nodded in reply, "This means one thing, we're only going to find out what happened if we interrogate Ko-Yasha." "I agree lets find him this is way more important than a crummy report....besides we're almost done anyway!"
Koyasha rubbed his head and looked over at Aniss who had taken the liberty of returning his sword to his arm and disguising his hair and eyes again. "Interesting how we all have our little secrets, eh son of Inu-Yasha." "How do you know my father?" Koyasha's eyes narrowed again wanting to rip out Aniss's throat to shut him up. "I don't have the time to deal with you right now someone more important needs me." "Don't even think of touching her again! She swore to help me, and not even you can stop her from keeping her promise. If you even remotely know her that should be obvious." "She made a promise to a creature like you! That's impossible, how dare you speak such blasphemy against her good name!" A slight grin formed on Koyasha's lips ("So she's what triggers his temper. This could prove useful in the future, but right now that woman's getting away.") Koyasha stuck his tong out at Aniss and took off out the door after Marina. Aniss's eyes narrowed, "Ignorant demon you don't know the first thing about her." Koyasha sniffed the air and headed towards the exit only to be headed off by Riico and Yuka. "What did you do Koyasha!?" Riico pushed Koyasha backwards "I don't think I've ever seen Marina so mad!" "I didn't ask for your opinion woman, Move!" "Oh no you don't Koyasha!" Riico and Yuka locked arms and plastered themselves against the exit. "Now tell us what happened." Koyasha's eyes glowed fiercely, "I'm not in the mood." Riico and Yuka jumped apart frightened by his vicious glare. Koyasha walked passed flinging open the door. "Maybe this wasn't such a good idea Riico." "I'm getting that vibe too."
Marina stared up at the clouds as she waited for the bus to stop. "The sky is still beautiful. Why am I bound to a human's reality, why shouldn't I stretch my wings and fly?" "Because you know as well as me what would happen if you did." Marina tasted a bitter note hit her lips hearing Aniss's voice again. "Humans would freak out in a mass hysteria and hunt you down for experiments to try to prove you were some freak of nature and not what you truly are at all." Marina turned to see Aniss in his human form as Tsukasa, "I don't have anything to say to you Aniss, and what I would isn't worth saying." Aniss looked surprised and stepped back from her. "This must be the human side of you that feels this way." Marina turned away from him and stepped onto the bus not bothering to look back. Aniss stood hurt and unable to comprehend why she was acting the way she was. "I don't understand, has the demon boy made you so bitter or was it my absence. Perhaps kissing her after such a long time for a human was to fast, I never had before...but then again she was only a small child and to her I've always been a teenager. For a human it wouldn't have been right to do that." Many passers-by stopped and began to stare at Aniss rambling to himself staring at the bus fading from view. Sweat rolled down his for-head and he ran off in embarrassment, "I have to make a habit of not talking out loud, I forget humans react strangely." Marina stared out the window with a hundred memories with each man running in her head at a mind numbing speed. ("Aniss has always looked out for me and I've cared about him since I was a child. Koyasha acts hateful to me but his heart is one with my own...but that's not his fault it's only because of this cursed jewel. I'll find a way to free us...but you may not want to be with me anymore if you have the whole jewel. But why did Aniss kiss me~! I can't stand this I've got to get away from everyone!") Then it hit her there was one place she could go that Koyasha couldn't follow and Aniss would have to be reassigned to go. A small smile pierced her lips as she exited the bus; yes this was perfect she'd do it.
"Where has that stupid woman ran off to this time?"Koyasha caught the faint scent of her and took off. "You can't hide from me my nose will catch you every time woman."
Marina walked up to her host family's house struggling every so often to catch her breath. Frequently longing to feel the wind under her wings as she stared up at the sky. She opened the door and to her surprise Mrs. Yamaki was in the kitchen cooking. "Oh you're home awfully early, did something happen at school?" "I didn't feel like I could handle the whole day so I came home while I still felt up to it. I hope you're not mad a me." "No of coarse not Marina-chan, I understand you've been through a lot in the last week. You just do what you can for now." "Thank you I think I'll go lay down for now unless you need some help." "No I'm fine, just get some rest." "Oh Mrs. Yamaki I've been thinking of taking a short break from school and visiting home for a few weeks, do you think that would be ok with you and Mr. Yamaki, that is if the school o.k.s it." Mrs. Yamaki stared over at her some what speechless. "I'm sure it would be ok, considering what you've been through I'm sure the school would give you a break, I'll call them here once I'm done and see about it." "That's a lot of trouble I could do it myself Mrs. Yamaki." Mrs. Yamaki smiled and shook her head. "Just get some rest I'll take care of it, I hope you feel better." "Thank you Mrs. Yamaki." Marina walked down the hallway and opened the door to her room and stared wide eyed at Koyasha who was standing in front of her window, "You didn't think I was going to just let you run off and break you're promise." Marina felt her face heat up seeing him standing there with the wind blowing through his hair. Even though he could be so evil sometimes he just looked too handsome when he was being forceful. Marina snapped back to her senses remembering she was supposed to be mad at him, but what was going through his mind did he even care that Aniss had kissed her; should she even mention it or that she didn't want Aniss to, he'd caught her off guard. Koyasha sat down on the window sill looking very solemn staring out at the sky. "So who is he?" Marina walked in and sat down on the bed. "A friend from a long time ago." "Could have fooled me." Koyasha said with a sarcastic tone glancing at her. "Look I honestly never expected to see him again. It was a surprise to see him after so long." Koyasha jumped off out of the window hitting the floor with a thud. "So you kiss all your old friends after you see them again." "I didn't know he was going to do that ok! And what business is it of yours anyway Koyasha!" Koyasha shut his mouth and clenched his fist. Then whirled back around with an arrogant cover-up smile to keep from showing his anger and frustration. "I wouldn't care only I have to make sure there isn't something keeping you from coming back with me. Like some stupid, ignorant boy that thinks you're his woman." Marina's lips tightened but her face fell to sadness "I don't belong to anyone." "Oh yes you do you're mine." Marina's face light up like a red Christmas tree. Koyasha realized what he had said and the way it had come out and became too flustered to cover up just right. "That is you're life is mine... and you have to serve me." Marina ran back through hearing each word he spoke in her head and it trigger a question in her mind. "Speaking of old friends who is this Miyu?" "Miyu? What does she have to do with anything?" "Why so cool all the sudden when it comes to questions about people you've known in your past!" "You don't have any business asking woman so just drop it." "So is she you're woman." Koyasha jumped at her with a fierce look in his eyes and was just inches from her face. "I said drop it!" Koyasha seemed to grow even more agitated because Marina didn't even flinch, with him just inches from her, with one of his most intimidating expressions. "Fine you can have your secrets Koyasha, just don't expect to here any more of mine." "Fine, it's not like I care." Koyasha backed off with a huff and folded his arms sitting on the floor. "You don't care about much of anything do you Koyasha?" "Not when it comes to questions, and stupid irrelevant things."
Marina stood up and walked over to her closet, pulling out her night shirt. "Koyasha could you leave for a few minutes at least." "What, and let you try and escape again, not a chance." Marina's eyes narrowed and then an evil smile formed. "Then you don't mind if I..." "Don't mind if you what." Koyasha cocked his head to the side and whipped around quickly onto his knees staring unblinking at Marina, who stood with her shirt half unbuttoned at the bottom and slowly pulling her scarf loose in a seductive manner. "Now hold on just a minute!! You can't mean to..!" Marina blushed and made a coy expression, "But I thought you didn't care about irrelevant things." She walked closer to him batting her eyes and leaned just enough that he could see down her shirt as she started to undo the last buttons. "But I suppose you like to watch and make sure not the least part of me tries to escape." Koyasha fell back to the ground holding his upper body up on his now trembling arms. ("Come on get the hint already how far am I going to have to go with this joke before he leaves!") She reached to the side of her waist and unzipped her skirt letting it fall to the floor sliding down her legs walking out of its loop. Marina leaned down and got on all fours crawling between his spread open legs with her shirt hanging wide open, like Koyasha's mouth. She placed her hand on either side of his almost touching his hands. "What's the matter, don't you like me this way?", she said with a sad look in her eyes, her lips soft and pink in a pout, her pail skin so gentle looking in the sunlight from the window. Marina leaned in closer to his face her breasts just barely touching his chest that was beating so hard it could be heard over his panting breaths. Her warm breath touched Koyasha knocking him to the ground the rest of the way with a thump, he seized the moment and wriggled out from under her not saying a word just staring with a scared and shocked expression. With that he scrambled to his feet and jumped out the window. Marina fell to the ground with a loud gasp she didn't know whether to be thankful he'd ran off and laugh or cry because he didn't take advantage of the moment and make her look like the fool when she tried to escape him. She covered her face and found she was laughing and crying pulling back her tear soaked hands. ("Am I crazy what's wrong with me why did I do that!? But why didn't he want to... Is he that noble or does he really not like me at all....") She sat up and pulled her night shirt to her chest. "Stupid Koyasha." She held her chest and wondered if this was her hearts rhythm or his.
Koyasha sat three blocks away outside in a tree holding his chest gasping to get control of his breathing, he looked down between his legs a moment and pressed his legs together holding his knees tight together embarrassed by the results of her evil scheme to get rid of him. ("Was she insinuating what I think she was!? Did she really want to or was she just messing with me?") Koyasha let his body fall back against the tree trunk and began hitting the back of his head against it. ("Damn it, I must have looked so stupid to her. Maybe I should have stayed. If I go back now she'll just....hell with it what do I care about that anyway I'm only using her to get the jewel right? What do I care for someone like her who only believes in doing what's right and keeping promises? Although she's never truly tried to help my parents stop me so she can't be all corrupted with good.") He let his legs loose as he calmed down enough to no longer have any problems. He folded his hands behind his soar head and leaned comfortably against the tree sighing as he watched a cloud float high above hiding the sun, ("I suppose I should be thankful she's not cruel like Miyu always was. But even though I know having Miyu at my side was so long ago it feels like just yesterday. It seems stupid to compare the two when there nothing alike; Marina such a child in many ways but Miyu was always too grown up for me to stand. What do I care, right? Women are just trouble.") Koyasha closed his eyes and fell asleep in the warm sun. But found his sleep troubled with many images influenced by what happened just minutes ago.
Marina lay on her bed staring at the ceiling snuggling her sheet up close to her neck. "I hate my life. I don't understand my own actions or feelings, does it ever get easier." "Not really" Marina sat up surprised that she hadn't heard Mrs. Yamaki come in. "What seems to be the matter? Sorry I couldn't help but hear you." "I'm not sure myself Mrs. Yamaki." Mrs. Yamaki sat down at the edge of Marina's bed smiling. "That was some program you had on earlier I could here it all the way in the kitchen." "Oh that, sorry I guess the TV was too loud." "That's ok I'm sure it had something to do with bringing up these confused feelings. That is what they are right?" Mrs. Yamaki looked worried afraid she'd said something wrong. Marina smiled "I guess you're right but I don't understand." Mrs. Yamaki patted Marina's foot comfortingly, "Well tell me a little about it and maybe I can help." "This is going to sound bad since I know exchange students can't date but I have these two boys that like me, and well I think I like them too, one of them I just met; the other I knew from a long time ago and he just recently came back into my life and well... I guess I just sound silly." Mrs. Yamaki smiled and shook her head, "No it's very hard to understand things dealing with your own heart. Tell me what this new boy is like." "Well he's very aggressive, but he has a soft side too that is it's only there if you're really looking but it's evident all the time... He tries to be mean to me but always ends up being nice instead." Mrs. Yamaki nodded smiling still, "And the other one what is he like Marina- chan." "Well he always looked after me when I was small and he was my best friend but he had to go away and I never thought I'd see him again, but then he showed up again and he... well he said he was in love with me!" Marina's face was distraught and utterly confused staring down at her trembling hands. "So what you're saying is you've always seen him as a friend and nothing more." "Well I always admired him when I was little ... you know puppy love." The first boy sounds like he's not a very nice person I personally don't think nice girls should be around boys like that. But it sounds like this friendship has blossomed into more than just that, for you're friend at least, maybe you should see how it would work." Marina smiled sadly, "I kind of thought that would be what you would say." Mrs. Yamaki patted her hand apologetically. "But you go where your heart leads you and I'm sure it won't steer you wrong." "Thank you Mrs. Yamaki but I'm very tired..." "I'm going don't worry, have a good sleep." Mrs. Yamaki got up and left smiling as she closed the door. ("Poor girl she probably won't live to be even twenty...I hope she can find happiness for what life she has to live. Even if it's with someone that doesn't act like normal people as long as she's happy that's what's important.") Marina lie back on her pillow and felt her heart race every time she thought about what she'd done to Koyasha, laughing sometimes remembering his face and how scared he looked.
Koyasha's eyes opened rubbing the sleep from them. He stared off into the dim light as the sun began to set. "She'll be looking at the sun pretty soon, I wonder if she's still acting strangely?" He jumped across several roof tops till he reached her house He peeked in the window watching as she stretched out and sat up dazed. Koyasha ducked down as Marina walked over to the window and opened it back up looking out across to the horizon. Her eyes glazed over as her complete attention turned to the setting sun. Koyasha watched curiously as something in her eyes acted like a mirror and for a moment he swore he could see the gates of heaven glistening in them. He waved his hand in front of her face making sure she was oblivious to his presents and hopped up into her room. His eyes stared down at her shadow as the clear shadow of her wings shown in the fading light. He looked over at her back and her wings were no where to be seen only the shadow hinted at her hidden form. Her face saddened and she did something very unexpected she turned away from the setting sun. Koyasha stared in surprise forgetting to hide from view. He stepped back as she approached him with a still glassy look in her eyes, "Is this all the heaven on earth I'll know?" She snuggled up against Koyasha's chest and laid her head against him. Koyasha's eyes softened and his arms wrapped around her. "Stupid woman you have no idea what you're doing do you?" He cocked his head to the side and stared into her glossy eyes that showed no emotion but part of him could swear a small smile formed on her lips for a brief instance. ("I thought I'd decided she didn't matter to me.") He held her tighter as the last of the sun disappeared into a brilliance of pinks and purples; her eyes closed peacefully drifting off to sleep in his arms. "Stupid girl....sleep well, I'll be taking you with me in the morning." Koyasha laid her out on the bed gazing down at her kindly before his hardened expression returned and he leaped out the window. Marina's eyes opened as she heard a knock at hear door. "Marina are you awake?" She rubbed her eyes and looked at her hand in surprise several of Koyasha's hairs were twiddled around her fingers. "Yes come in please." "I hope I didn't wake you." "No I was waking up anyway." Mrs. Yamaki smiled apologetically and closed the door behind her as she came in. "I called you're school and family and the first flight they could get was tonight." "Tonight!" "Well that is if you want to leave that soon you can catch another flight next week." "No this is perfect. I'll pack up right now!" Mrs. Yamaki watched wide eyed as Marina flew back and fourth pulling out clothes and packing them in her suit cases. "Do you need any help?" "No I'm fine if you could just let my family know I'll take the evening flight." Mrs. Yamaki laughed lightly closing the door.
"What's so funny dear?" "Oh nothing, Marina's going to be going home for a few weeks." Mr. Yamaki looked at her surprised. "So soon the school years barely started." "Well with all that's happened I think she'd just feel more comfortable if she went back home for a while to be with her family." "Mmm... That' does make sense. It's going to feel empty around here with her gone." Mr. Yamaki hugged his wife nodding. "Like you said it will only be for a week or two." "I know but it doesn't make it any easier." "Come on lets make the arrangements, that is if you haven't already." Mrs. Yamaki shook her head and walked away to find her paper with Marina's family's phone number.
Marina packed up the last of her clothes and school books smiling as she sat down back on the bed. "This is so great I get to go back home for a while, and I don't have to worry about Koyasha or Aniss for a whole two weeks!" Marina looked over into her closet and noticed her clothing from the feudal era still stacked on an open shelf. Her eyes grew sad a moment as she stood up and walked over to them picking them up and holding them close to her. She studied the cut Hakima pants; "These really need to be hemmed before I try and wear them again. I suppose I can take them with me on the plain for something to do on the long flight." she looked at the hair tie that was still wrapped on her hand with a solemn look on her face. "I should leave Koyasha some kind of note, after all I did promise to help him but if I do Aniss could find it instead. I wonder what I should do? What's something Koyasha would look at and not Aniss?" Her lips formed a large grin as she opened her desk drawer and pulled out her small felt journal and began to write.
Mr. Yamaki knocked on the door a short time after she'd closed her journal and put it on her desk out in the open where Koyasha would be sure to notice it.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^**^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^ InuYasha Beyond the Skin Chapter 13 'Uncertain Feelings'
Marina felt an impending dread come over her mind, would Koyasha break with his promise not to let out that he was a demon...well at least part demon? The older men lightly laughed at Mr. Umezu's childish comment. "Believing such fairy tails is really out of date Umezu-san." Marina could feel her hair rising up, growing irritated by Professor Takenaka's narrow mindedness. She found her own self preparing to raise her voice in protest but found a quick jerk on her wrist and began to head away from the group of men. Her eye's blinked in surprise and followed up the arm to the face of her kidnaper. "What ignorance, I don't know why you stay in a place like this. At least in our time humans have some respect for demons, even if they've never seen a demon for themselves." Marina yanked her hand away from Koyasha's grasp and planted her feet in protest. "What do you mean 'our' time?! In case you can't remember I woke you up in this time, which means this is our time not back in the..." Marina bit down on her lip and turned around to gaze at the group of men staring in much bewilderment. "That is I mean...uh..."Marina laughed nervously unable to think of any reasonable explanation. Professor Takenaka leaned in close to Mr. Umezu, "Are those two well you know...all there?" Mr. Umezu scratched his head nervously. "They are a bit curious at times I admit." Tsukasa walked up behind Marina and taped her shoulder, "What's the matter?" "Oh it's nothing I've just been having, temporary delusional fits were I act as though I lived in the past and Koyasha was trapped in a permanent sleep and I woke him up." Marina laughed nervously elbowing Koyasha. "Isn't that right Koyasha? He just likes to kid me about it so he goes along with the delusions." Marina closed her eyes and continued laughing nervously turning away from Tsukasa, she stopped as a very familiar voice from her past whispered in her ear, "Now are you sure that's the truth, lying really doesn't become you." Marina's eyes snapped open and she looked all around but the only people even close to her were Koyasha and Tsukasa. ("But that's impossible I know it was him!") Marina's face turned very pale and she felt her legs go numb and soon found herself lying on the ground staring up at a crowd that surrounded her. ("Oh great, I just had to faint didn't I!") Her eyes went dizzy and she closed them quickly to keep from feeling sick. "We have a room in the back we can take her to" Mr. Umezu nodded to professor Takenaka and started to lean down to pick her up but Tsukasa already had her in arms and started to follow professor Takenaka, closely followed by an agitated Koyasha. "I didn't think you'd resort to hanging out with a demon after I left." Her eyes shot open and just caught Tsukasa's finishing the sentence. ("But that's impossible! He was called back to... It just can't be Aniss!") Her heart stopped as she noticed his eye's glaze over with a light purple tint and go back to a deep brown.
The group entered into a dark room with a small bed, by the looks of the room the historians stayed in this room many nights doing research. Tsukasa laid Marina down on the bed and stepped back. "Thank you Tsukasa, and thank you very much Professor Takenaka." "It's no trouble Umezu-san I'm only disappointed I couldn't ask her more questions." Professor Takenaka walked over to the door and opened it back up, "We can continue with our conversation out here so we don't disturb her." Tsukasa stepped up quickly cutting off Mr. Umezu's reply to the professor, "I'd be happy to stay with her until she feels better." Koyasha felt his face heat up as Mr. Umezu motion for him to go out of the room, "That's very kind of you Tsukasa we'll be waiting for you." Koyasha glared at Tsukasa as he left with the other two men. "Don't worry Koyasha I'll give you three time to get the assignment done." Koyasha ignored him walking past both the professor and Mr. Umezu. ("How did Tsukasa know I was a demon, I never said anything to him and I know that woman didn't have a chance to. I'm beginning to think he's hiding something from me in order to get closer to her.")
Tsukasa blinked a few times in the darkness before his eyes adjusted. "Now we're alone to talk, you can stop pretending to be asleep now." Marina sat up holding her head, that felt like it was about to spin right off her neck. Marina caught the color of his eyes and hair change drastically; even in the faint light it was obvious. Marina forgot her head and stared at him speechless. "Come now you didn't think I'd stay gone forever." "This is impossible you can't be here." She felt her eye's pulsate and begin to fill with tears. Tsukasa knelt down touching her head lightly lifting back her bangs that hid her eyes with her head lowered. "Why are you crying, I didn't leave so long ago." Marina slapped away his hand and her face filled with anger. "That's easy for you to say Aniss, you don't age! Time for you just stands still!" "It's almost strange to hear my name again. I've posed as this human for so long it feels like I have aged, I feel this human body dieing all around me." Marina wiped her eyes and stood up falling right back down to the bed and lay back down. Aniss leaned over placing his hands on either side of her. "You don't have to fight me I'd give up heaven itself to be with you." Marina couldn't believe her ears and stared up speechless as Aniss leaned in closer his lips growing closer to her by the seconds which felt like minutes. He couldn't, this wasn't happening first Koyasha, then Mushiro, and now! ("No!") Her hands flew up seconds too late the door was wide open with a familiar figures shadow cast on the wall. Koyasha's hair rose as he saw Aniss's lips separate from hers and his true features visible, ("How dare he touch her!") An evil wind rose up around Koyasha, which could only have been his aura, making his hair whip violently. Aniss's eyes narrowed and a massive cross shaped sword sprouted from his hand. "It's been a while since I killed a demon, although I admit half demons are really no challenge." Marina shot up from the bed and threw herself between the two. "Stop this right now! This isn't the time or the place for fighting!" "Boastful bastard, I'll rip you're heart out!" Koyasha's eye's glowed a blood red with pupil markings on his face, his fangs and claws had doubled in size, and his whole air gave off that he intended to kill Aniss or even Marina if she tried to stop him. "Koyasha stop please." She said as calmly as she could trying not to bring on the fight. "Move Marina you don't have to protect this pathetic excuse of a being I'll make short work of him." "Aniss that's enough!!" Marina pulled her backpack off and threw it in Aniss's face knocking him off balance and onto the floor. Koyasha just caught a faint image of her wings as the wind from a strong flap sent him hurling to the ground. "You two are so immature!" She screamed slamming the door behind her as she stomped off. She stepped off into a corner breathing a sigh of relief, "What just happened, how could he come back after so long." She slumped down to the ground cradling into a fetal position. "I'm going back, at least in the past my feelings are not so confused." Marina gathered up her strength and headed for the exit, "Who cares about this time, I want to just disappear from existence anyway." "Marina-chan wait up!" Marina swirled around to see Yuka and Riico running over. "Where are you going Marina-chan, what happened to..?" "I don't want to talk about it!" Yuka and Riico traded worried glances, "What did they do?" "You mean besides trying to get into an all out fight!" Riico and Yuka stopped, "Is Tsukasa-san ok?!" "I don't know and I don't care!" She shouted running out the exit door. "Was it just me Yuka or did you see tears in her eyes?" Yuka nodded in reply, "This means one thing, we're only going to find out what happened if we interrogate Ko-Yasha." "I agree lets find him this is way more important than a crummy report....besides we're almost done anyway!"
Koyasha rubbed his head and looked over at Aniss who had taken the liberty of returning his sword to his arm and disguising his hair and eyes again. "Interesting how we all have our little secrets, eh son of Inu-Yasha." "How do you know my father?" Koyasha's eyes narrowed again wanting to rip out Aniss's throat to shut him up. "I don't have the time to deal with you right now someone more important needs me." "Don't even think of touching her again! She swore to help me, and not even you can stop her from keeping her promise. If you even remotely know her that should be obvious." "She made a promise to a creature like you! That's impossible, how dare you speak such blasphemy against her good name!" A slight grin formed on Koyasha's lips ("So she's what triggers his temper. This could prove useful in the future, but right now that woman's getting away.") Koyasha stuck his tong out at Aniss and took off out the door after Marina. Aniss's eyes narrowed, "Ignorant demon you don't know the first thing about her." Koyasha sniffed the air and headed towards the exit only to be headed off by Riico and Yuka. "What did you do Koyasha!?" Riico pushed Koyasha backwards "I don't think I've ever seen Marina so mad!" "I didn't ask for your opinion woman, Move!" "Oh no you don't Koyasha!" Riico and Yuka locked arms and plastered themselves against the exit. "Now tell us what happened." Koyasha's eyes glowed fiercely, "I'm not in the mood." Riico and Yuka jumped apart frightened by his vicious glare. Koyasha walked passed flinging open the door. "Maybe this wasn't such a good idea Riico." "I'm getting that vibe too."
Marina stared up at the clouds as she waited for the bus to stop. "The sky is still beautiful. Why am I bound to a human's reality, why shouldn't I stretch my wings and fly?" "Because you know as well as me what would happen if you did." Marina tasted a bitter note hit her lips hearing Aniss's voice again. "Humans would freak out in a mass hysteria and hunt you down for experiments to try to prove you were some freak of nature and not what you truly are at all." Marina turned to see Aniss in his human form as Tsukasa, "I don't have anything to say to you Aniss, and what I would isn't worth saying." Aniss looked surprised and stepped back from her. "This must be the human side of you that feels this way." Marina turned away from him and stepped onto the bus not bothering to look back. Aniss stood hurt and unable to comprehend why she was acting the way she was. "I don't understand, has the demon boy made you so bitter or was it my absence. Perhaps kissing her after such a long time for a human was to fast, I never had before...but then again she was only a small child and to her I've always been a teenager. For a human it wouldn't have been right to do that." Many passers-by stopped and began to stare at Aniss rambling to himself staring at the bus fading from view. Sweat rolled down his for-head and he ran off in embarrassment, "I have to make a habit of not talking out loud, I forget humans react strangely." Marina stared out the window with a hundred memories with each man running in her head at a mind numbing speed. ("Aniss has always looked out for me and I've cared about him since I was a child. Koyasha acts hateful to me but his heart is one with my own...but that's not his fault it's only because of this cursed jewel. I'll find a way to free us...but you may not want to be with me anymore if you have the whole jewel. But why did Aniss kiss me~! I can't stand this I've got to get away from everyone!") Then it hit her there was one place she could go that Koyasha couldn't follow and Aniss would have to be reassigned to go. A small smile pierced her lips as she exited the bus; yes this was perfect she'd do it.
"Where has that stupid woman ran off to this time?"Koyasha caught the faint scent of her and took off. "You can't hide from me my nose will catch you every time woman."
Marina walked up to her host family's house struggling every so often to catch her breath. Frequently longing to feel the wind under her wings as she stared up at the sky. She opened the door and to her surprise Mrs. Yamaki was in the kitchen cooking. "Oh you're home awfully early, did something happen at school?" "I didn't feel like I could handle the whole day so I came home while I still felt up to it. I hope you're not mad a me." "No of coarse not Marina-chan, I understand you've been through a lot in the last week. You just do what you can for now." "Thank you I think I'll go lay down for now unless you need some help." "No I'm fine, just get some rest." "Oh Mrs. Yamaki I've been thinking of taking a short break from school and visiting home for a few weeks, do you think that would be ok with you and Mr. Yamaki, that is if the school o.k.s it." Mrs. Yamaki stared over at her some what speechless. "I'm sure it would be ok, considering what you've been through I'm sure the school would give you a break, I'll call them here once I'm done and see about it." "That's a lot of trouble I could do it myself Mrs. Yamaki." Mrs. Yamaki smiled and shook her head. "Just get some rest I'll take care of it, I hope you feel better." "Thank you Mrs. Yamaki." Marina walked down the hallway and opened the door to her room and stared wide eyed at Koyasha who was standing in front of her window, "You didn't think I was going to just let you run off and break you're promise." Marina felt her face heat up seeing him standing there with the wind blowing through his hair. Even though he could be so evil sometimes he just looked too handsome when he was being forceful. Marina snapped back to her senses remembering she was supposed to be mad at him, but what was going through his mind did he even care that Aniss had kissed her; should she even mention it or that she didn't want Aniss to, he'd caught her off guard. Koyasha sat down on the window sill looking very solemn staring out at the sky. "So who is he?" Marina walked in and sat down on the bed. "A friend from a long time ago." "Could have fooled me." Koyasha said with a sarcastic tone glancing at her. "Look I honestly never expected to see him again. It was a surprise to see him after so long." Koyasha jumped off out of the window hitting the floor with a thud. "So you kiss all your old friends after you see them again." "I didn't know he was going to do that ok! And what business is it of yours anyway Koyasha!" Koyasha shut his mouth and clenched his fist. Then whirled back around with an arrogant cover-up smile to keep from showing his anger and frustration. "I wouldn't care only I have to make sure there isn't something keeping you from coming back with me. Like some stupid, ignorant boy that thinks you're his woman." Marina's lips tightened but her face fell to sadness "I don't belong to anyone." "Oh yes you do you're mine." Marina's face light up like a red Christmas tree. Koyasha realized what he had said and the way it had come out and became too flustered to cover up just right. "That is you're life is mine... and you have to serve me." Marina ran back through hearing each word he spoke in her head and it trigger a question in her mind. "Speaking of old friends who is this Miyu?" "Miyu? What does she have to do with anything?" "Why so cool all the sudden when it comes to questions about people you've known in your past!" "You don't have any business asking woman so just drop it." "So is she you're woman." Koyasha jumped at her with a fierce look in his eyes and was just inches from her face. "I said drop it!" Koyasha seemed to grow even more agitated because Marina didn't even flinch, with him just inches from her, with one of his most intimidating expressions. "Fine you can have your secrets Koyasha, just don't expect to here any more of mine." "Fine, it's not like I care." Koyasha backed off with a huff and folded his arms sitting on the floor. "You don't care about much of anything do you Koyasha?" "Not when it comes to questions, and stupid irrelevant things."
Marina stood up and walked over to her closet, pulling out her night shirt. "Koyasha could you leave for a few minutes at least." "What, and let you try and escape again, not a chance." Marina's eyes narrowed and then an evil smile formed. "Then you don't mind if I..." "Don't mind if you what." Koyasha cocked his head to the side and whipped around quickly onto his knees staring unblinking at Marina, who stood with her shirt half unbuttoned at the bottom and slowly pulling her scarf loose in a seductive manner. "Now hold on just a minute!! You can't mean to..!" Marina blushed and made a coy expression, "But I thought you didn't care about irrelevant things." She walked closer to him batting her eyes and leaned just enough that he could see down her shirt as she started to undo the last buttons. "But I suppose you like to watch and make sure not the least part of me tries to escape." Koyasha fell back to the ground holding his upper body up on his now trembling arms. ("Come on get the hint already how far am I going to have to go with this joke before he leaves!") She reached to the side of her waist and unzipped her skirt letting it fall to the floor sliding down her legs walking out of its loop. Marina leaned down and got on all fours crawling between his spread open legs with her shirt hanging wide open, like Koyasha's mouth. She placed her hand on either side of his almost touching his hands. "What's the matter, don't you like me this way?", she said with a sad look in her eyes, her lips soft and pink in a pout, her pail skin so gentle looking in the sunlight from the window. Marina leaned in closer to his face her breasts just barely touching his chest that was beating so hard it could be heard over his panting breaths. Her warm breath touched Koyasha knocking him to the ground the rest of the way with a thump, he seized the moment and wriggled out from under her not saying a word just staring with a scared and shocked expression. With that he scrambled to his feet and jumped out the window. Marina fell to the ground with a loud gasp she didn't know whether to be thankful he'd ran off and laugh or cry because he didn't take advantage of the moment and make her look like the fool when she tried to escape him. She covered her face and found she was laughing and crying pulling back her tear soaked hands. ("Am I crazy what's wrong with me why did I do that!? But why didn't he want to... Is he that noble or does he really not like me at all....") She sat up and pulled her night shirt to her chest. "Stupid Koyasha." She held her chest and wondered if this was her hearts rhythm or his.
Koyasha sat three blocks away outside in a tree holding his chest gasping to get control of his breathing, he looked down between his legs a moment and pressed his legs together holding his knees tight together embarrassed by the results of her evil scheme to get rid of him. ("Was she insinuating what I think she was!? Did she really want to or was she just messing with me?") Koyasha let his body fall back against the tree trunk and began hitting the back of his head against it. ("Damn it, I must have looked so stupid to her. Maybe I should have stayed. If I go back now she'll just....hell with it what do I care about that anyway I'm only using her to get the jewel right? What do I care for someone like her who only believes in doing what's right and keeping promises? Although she's never truly tried to help my parents stop me so she can't be all corrupted with good.") He let his legs loose as he calmed down enough to no longer have any problems. He folded his hands behind his soar head and leaned comfortably against the tree sighing as he watched a cloud float high above hiding the sun, ("I suppose I should be thankful she's not cruel like Miyu always was. But even though I know having Miyu at my side was so long ago it feels like just yesterday. It seems stupid to compare the two when there nothing alike; Marina such a child in many ways but Miyu was always too grown up for me to stand. What do I care, right? Women are just trouble.") Koyasha closed his eyes and fell asleep in the warm sun. But found his sleep troubled with many images influenced by what happened just minutes ago.
Marina lay on her bed staring at the ceiling snuggling her sheet up close to her neck. "I hate my life. I don't understand my own actions or feelings, does it ever get easier." "Not really" Marina sat up surprised that she hadn't heard Mrs. Yamaki come in. "What seems to be the matter? Sorry I couldn't help but hear you." "I'm not sure myself Mrs. Yamaki." Mrs. Yamaki sat down at the edge of Marina's bed smiling. "That was some program you had on earlier I could here it all the way in the kitchen." "Oh that, sorry I guess the TV was too loud." "That's ok I'm sure it had something to do with bringing up these confused feelings. That is what they are right?" Mrs. Yamaki looked worried afraid she'd said something wrong. Marina smiled "I guess you're right but I don't understand." Mrs. Yamaki patted Marina's foot comfortingly, "Well tell me a little about it and maybe I can help." "This is going to sound bad since I know exchange students can't date but I have these two boys that like me, and well I think I like them too, one of them I just met; the other I knew from a long time ago and he just recently came back into my life and well... I guess I just sound silly." Mrs. Yamaki smiled and shook her head, "No it's very hard to understand things dealing with your own heart. Tell me what this new boy is like." "Well he's very aggressive, but he has a soft side too that is it's only there if you're really looking but it's evident all the time... He tries to be mean to me but always ends up being nice instead." Mrs. Yamaki nodded smiling still, "And the other one what is he like Marina- chan." "Well he always looked after me when I was small and he was my best friend but he had to go away and I never thought I'd see him again, but then he showed up again and he... well he said he was in love with me!" Marina's face was distraught and utterly confused staring down at her trembling hands. "So what you're saying is you've always seen him as a friend and nothing more." "Well I always admired him when I was little ... you know puppy love." The first boy sounds like he's not a very nice person I personally don't think nice girls should be around boys like that. But it sounds like this friendship has blossomed into more than just that, for you're friend at least, maybe you should see how it would work." Marina smiled sadly, "I kind of thought that would be what you would say." Mrs. Yamaki patted her hand apologetically. "But you go where your heart leads you and I'm sure it won't steer you wrong." "Thank you Mrs. Yamaki but I'm very tired..." "I'm going don't worry, have a good sleep." Mrs. Yamaki got up and left smiling as she closed the door. ("Poor girl she probably won't live to be even twenty...I hope she can find happiness for what life she has to live. Even if it's with someone that doesn't act like normal people as long as she's happy that's what's important.") Marina lie back on her pillow and felt her heart race every time she thought about what she'd done to Koyasha, laughing sometimes remembering his face and how scared he looked.
Koyasha's eyes opened rubbing the sleep from them. He stared off into the dim light as the sun began to set. "She'll be looking at the sun pretty soon, I wonder if she's still acting strangely?" He jumped across several roof tops till he reached her house He peeked in the window watching as she stretched out and sat up dazed. Koyasha ducked down as Marina walked over to the window and opened it back up looking out across to the horizon. Her eyes glazed over as her complete attention turned to the setting sun. Koyasha watched curiously as something in her eyes acted like a mirror and for a moment he swore he could see the gates of heaven glistening in them. He waved his hand in front of her face making sure she was oblivious to his presents and hopped up into her room. His eyes stared down at her shadow as the clear shadow of her wings shown in the fading light. He looked over at her back and her wings were no where to be seen only the shadow hinted at her hidden form. Her face saddened and she did something very unexpected she turned away from the setting sun. Koyasha stared in surprise forgetting to hide from view. He stepped back as she approached him with a still glassy look in her eyes, "Is this all the heaven on earth I'll know?" She snuggled up against Koyasha's chest and laid her head against him. Koyasha's eyes softened and his arms wrapped around her. "Stupid woman you have no idea what you're doing do you?" He cocked his head to the side and stared into her glossy eyes that showed no emotion but part of him could swear a small smile formed on her lips for a brief instance. ("I thought I'd decided she didn't matter to me.") He held her tighter as the last of the sun disappeared into a brilliance of pinks and purples; her eyes closed peacefully drifting off to sleep in his arms. "Stupid girl....sleep well, I'll be taking you with me in the morning." Koyasha laid her out on the bed gazing down at her kindly before his hardened expression returned and he leaped out the window. Marina's eyes opened as she heard a knock at hear door. "Marina are you awake?" She rubbed her eyes and looked at her hand in surprise several of Koyasha's hairs were twiddled around her fingers. "Yes come in please." "I hope I didn't wake you." "No I was waking up anyway." Mrs. Yamaki smiled apologetically and closed the door behind her as she came in. "I called you're school and family and the first flight they could get was tonight." "Tonight!" "Well that is if you want to leave that soon you can catch another flight next week." "No this is perfect. I'll pack up right now!" Mrs. Yamaki watched wide eyed as Marina flew back and fourth pulling out clothes and packing them in her suit cases. "Do you need any help?" "No I'm fine if you could just let my family know I'll take the evening flight." Mrs. Yamaki laughed lightly closing the door.
"What's so funny dear?" "Oh nothing, Marina's going to be going home for a few weeks." Mr. Yamaki looked at her surprised. "So soon the school years barely started." "Well with all that's happened I think she'd just feel more comfortable if she went back home for a while to be with her family." "Mmm... That' does make sense. It's going to feel empty around here with her gone." Mr. Yamaki hugged his wife nodding. "Like you said it will only be for a week or two." "I know but it doesn't make it any easier." "Come on lets make the arrangements, that is if you haven't already." Mrs. Yamaki shook her head and walked away to find her paper with Marina's family's phone number.
Marina packed up the last of her clothes and school books smiling as she sat down back on the bed. "This is so great I get to go back home for a while, and I don't have to worry about Koyasha or Aniss for a whole two weeks!" Marina looked over into her closet and noticed her clothing from the feudal era still stacked on an open shelf. Her eyes grew sad a moment as she stood up and walked over to them picking them up and holding them close to her. She studied the cut Hakima pants; "These really need to be hemmed before I try and wear them again. I suppose I can take them with me on the plain for something to do on the long flight." she looked at the hair tie that was still wrapped on her hand with a solemn look on her face. "I should leave Koyasha some kind of note, after all I did promise to help him but if I do Aniss could find it instead. I wonder what I should do? What's something Koyasha would look at and not Aniss?" Her lips formed a large grin as she opened her desk drawer and pulled out her small felt journal and began to write.
Mr. Yamaki knocked on the door a short time after she'd closed her journal and put it on her desk out in the open where Koyasha would be sure to notice it.