Rose Scar------------------

September 23, 2003 Chapter 1: The Thief of Hearts

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Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.

Hi, this is the fine print, if your reading this you HAVE to review and tell me what you think, or else…I will find you…unless it's a flame them you can just get out right now.

Kagome/Yoko fic. This is my story —

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'Sleep.' A soothing voice coaxed in her mind.

'Why?'

'Sleep.' The voice said again more forcefully. It wasn't her voice why should she listen?

'I don't want to.'

'Sleep.' It said again, but more venomously like a snake.

'No! No.no.no.' She turned to her side to escape the voice. But it was everywhere. The darkness around her was no longer an ally. It curled around her. Across her neck and chest cutting off her air. Constricting around her till she couldn't move.

'Sleep.' The voice said, again angelic. Like it wasn't trying to squeeze the life out of her.

'No!' She struggled in the grasp that only got tighter. Tears leaked from her eyes as the dark wires dug in to her flesh. 'Why is this happening? Where am I?'

It got harder to form thought, her mind burned from the lack of air.

'Sleep.'

'Yes...sleep-' Why had she fought? She couldn't remember. She couldn't remember who she was. Or why she was here. But that didn't matter.

'Sleep.'

So calming like a mother's voice.

'Sleep.' What could it hurt?

The coils around her smoothed into a blanket and wrapped around her. Covering her eyes and pouring into her mouth and nose when she took a breath. A scent tickled her nose as the velvet darkness entered her body. A sweet sent, think and syrupy, curling around her senses. Numbing her.

But it touched a wrong nerve. Suddenly she sat up and sneezed, forcing the poison out. A floury powder whirred from her nose and mouth. Immediately she covered her face with her hands to keep it out.

It just floated around her then disintegrated into the darkness. Slowly she sat up, testing her strength. From her shoulder a white something floated onto her lap. Lightly she picked it up between her fingers. It was a flower. A beautiful white rose. She inspected it closely. Beautiful.

From the tip of the stem a droplet fell and landed on her thigh. A dark red tear slid down her leg. Blood? A beautiful flower that bleeds.

It wasn't the flower that bled it was her. She took the rose carefully with her other hand. A deep nick bled freely from her palm. She looked at the rose again. The stem was filled with razor sharp thorns. She hadn't even felt it bite her.

She dropped the rose when a black ink oozed from the thorn. Was it poison? She looked back at her palm. A slightly swollen pink circled the cut. The darkness shifted around her and the floor tipped. She wound up falling to her side, squashing the snowy flower beneath her.

When she opened her eyes again Kagome was laying on a futon in a small room. 'Was it a dream?' No the rose cut burned slightly and the squashed flower poked at her ribs from where she had fallen onto it. 'A spell then.' She remembered the voice telling her to sleep.

Inuyasha, Shippo, Sango and Miroku lay asleep around her. She stood up on shaky feet.

"Inuyasha."

He didn't stir. Strange he didn't usually sleep. "Miroku, Sango?" Neither roused, even Kirara lay dead to the world. She hobbled over to Inuyasha as quick as she could on still sleeping legs. She fell at his side and checked him over. He was alive. She looked around, everybody's chests rose with breath, they were just asleep.

She walked to each ripping the white weed off of them, but they neither stirred nor woke. They looked fine though, they would hopefully rise with the sun.

Kagome walked over and slid the thin door open. Outside their room a guard lay dead in sleep. She walked over and removed the white flower from his chest. She headed down the porch around the house.

She remembered now where she was. Earlier in the night they had come here for shelter. The keeper was overjoyed to have them. Especially Inuyasha. No seriously. Miroku didn't even have to spin his tale of a dark cloud.. He was reluctant before he noticed the strong hanyou. He had needed protection. Some costly treasure to protect from thieves. 'It would be no problem for a hanyou such as yourself' he had said.

But now Inuyasha lay in his dreams along with the rest of the house. Did a cleaver thief plan this? Was he here?

'Stupid!' She had walked out of the room forgetting even her arrows. With her luck the thief was still around. Hopefully Inuyasha will awake before she was in danger.

She turned the next corner and heard a loud crash, it was like thunder threw the ghost house. She peeked into the room. Guards lay on the porch illuminated by the light. Another crash came from the room. Awful loud for a burglar, was he trying to alert the whole house?

'Of-course you are the only one in the house who is awake.' Yes why bother with quiet when you've got the whole place enchanted like Aurora's Kingdom.

She snuck another peek inside. It was the lord's room. Like she was guessed he was after the treasure, and the lord looked real comfy tucked in bed a few feet away.

What should she do? She couldn't fight him, she sensed it was a youkai, a strong male. She decided on backing away slowly. There was nothing she could do. If anything she could blame it on Inuyasha for falling asleep.

She was practically out of the way when a glint caught her eyes. Her hand immediately shot up to her neck to grasp the chain that held the shikon,...that was laying to the right of the youkai! Sparkling all pretty.

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid! Of-course. Come steal a priceless treasure get a huge chunk of the sacred jewel as an added bounce. Stupid. She should have hidden it better. Not that he wouldn't have smelled it either way.

Some lords trinket she didn't care about but they had worked too hard to loose that big a chunk.

She leaned in again taking a look at the thief. He was too preoccupied with his search for the treasure. He threw another shelf from the dresser, the lord must have been smarter then he looked and hid his prize well. The discarded shelf hit the table knocking the shikon to the ground. It landed with a clang and bounced a bit before rolling to a stop less then two yards from her.

The youkai didn't notice. She took a moment to look at him. He didn't look that strong. But she knew only demon lords and high classes were able to sustain a human form.

But still the jewel called to her to get it. She was its protector, it was her duty. She fell stealthily to the floor and crawled quietly to the edge of the door. Another step and she would be in easy view if he turned around. Right now he was preoccupied and her best chance.

She crawled into the open without much of a plan as what to do if he turned. Right now it was just get to the jewel alive. She crawled slowly towards it, hugging to the floor like it wasn't white and her uniform wasn't green and she wouldn't stick out like a sore thumb either way.

She was halfway to the jewel when she realized she just might be able to do this after all. When she was arms length away she stretched herself. Maybe he was just really stupid.

Or really lucky. The moment the tips of her fingers brushed the jewel he turned around yelling in triumph. A cheep looking necklace in his hand.

This was a rather uncomfortable moment. She sprawling on the floor jewel within reach, him standing over, gold chain in mid frozen hands. She didn't move and neither did he. A look of amazement on his face.

She just stared up at him from her graceless state mouth semi agape. He looked like Inuyasha. He had who white ears on the top of his head. Long silver hair much silkier then Inuyasha's white though. His face also more elegant then Inuyasha's boyish charm. But he was more like Sesshoumaru. Cold golden eyes staring at her for a move. He wore a white suit, a color amazingly paler then his icy skin. He didn't look so tuff as hot.

'Bad Kagome! Did not just think that!' She guessed she would have to make the first move, so she did the only, stupidest, thing that came to mind. She picked up the jewel and got up. Brushing off invisible dust from her skirt and turning around. Rule number one. Never turn your back on the enemy. As soon as he deemed her no threat to him he clasped his hand around the nape of her neck and pushed her into the wall. He stood behind her so she couldn't see him, what he was thinking, was he going to kill her?

"Who are you?" His voice! It was his voice that had tried to kill her. It sent chills down her spine.

He slipped the gold collar into the front of him tunic and placed that hand on her shoulder.

"Well?" He asked, seductively? Kagome was too terrified to speak. His fingers brushed the sailor shirt away from her shoulder, exposing delicate skin. He smoothed a course finger over the skin, sending another chill threw her.

He ran his hand all the way to her wrist then crossed her hand over her lower back. He pressed her further into the wall. 'What was he doing?' He brushed his nose to the sensitive skin on the back of her shoulder.

"You smell nice."

She felt a draft as he pulled away. She slid down the wall to her knees without his support. A light feeling in her stomach and lower. She heard his retreating steps. He was out the door and walking away.

She closed her eyes and clanged her fists, her eyebrow twitching suddenly. She jumped up and ran to the door. "You jerk!" She yelled out fuming, her fists tightened at her sides.

The youkai turned around smiling sheepishly then with a wolf's grin, showing his fangs, he raised his left hand, the Tama sparkled in his fingers. He turned around and started walking away.

"Inuyasha!" She yelled but it was to deaf ears. She ran out after him but thought better of it. Instead she returned to her room and got her bow. Then she ran out into the night. Which way did he go? Right? She turned and ran into the dark forest.

'Where was he?' He couldn't have gone too far and his cloths should stick out like a neon sign in the black. But she could barely see where she was going much less some silver youkai.

As she ran past a tree when a pink glow caught her eyes. It was tiny and off in the distance, but it was the jewel. Of-course, the fact she could sense the jewel had slipped her mind completely. She changed her course for the light. She ran but didn't get any closer. He was too fast.

Instead she stopped and notched an arrow. She took a breath and let it go with the arrow. The arrow turned a light shade of blue as it flew to hit the target, right above the jewel. It stopped moving and dropped to the ground.

She took the chance and ran towards the light of the jewel. She got to clearing but the jewel wasn't there. She looked but it wasn't on the floor. She couldn't see the demon either. Had he gotten away?

She sensed for the jewel. It was right above her in the tree. She backed away and turned to look. He was on a high branch. Was he hiding? He didn't move.

So she notched another arrow and let it fly up to the target. He jumped down thought, before it hit him, in stead it shattered the branch he had perched on.

He sat kneeling at the foot of the tree now. She could see his silhouette in the darkness, he jewel clanged in his right hand, which was pressed over his left shoulder. He didn't move. Another arrow notched she took a step forward. She could hear his breath, it was slightly ragged, he wasn't growling, it was almost pained.

Now she could see his eyes, golden ice glaring at her from the night. The moon lightened the scene slightly and now she could see him. His white tunic was drenched red. The arrow she had shot earlier was imbedded in his shoulder.

She sucked in a breath her eyes widened slightly. She was sorry she had shot it as she had. It was deep, the sharp tip showing in the back.

She took another step forward her bow and arrow pointed away from his. Now he growled.

"Witch." He snarled. "How did you know where I was?"

Her mouth opened but no words cam e out. Her eyes glued to the heavily bleeding wound on his shoulder. He saw her gaze. "The jewel take it, its worthless."

He let go of his shoulder and threw it to her. But didn't make to catch it, it flew past her and clanged against the tree. Her eyes stayed on his shoulder a bit longer then she turned to collect the jewel. The moment she turned he shot up and turned to make a run for it but at his move she instinctively raised her bow and shot. At the last minute she was able to turn it away from his heart so it dug into the dirt by his feet. The reflex was fast enough to save him but at the angle the string snapped at her cheek. She bit her tongue to silence the scream.

When she looked back up at him he was kneeling, glaring at her, her arrow just centimeters from his foot, imbedded deeply. It glowed a light blue then faded into a normal arrow.

"A miko's arrow, no wonder." His hand still holding his wounded limb. He looked up at her no pain or fear in his eyes. "You surprise me. Well finish it. Do it wench!"

She took a step forward and he winced involuntarily. So she lowered her bow.

"Don't look at me like that. I don't want your pity human!" He growled again and made to pounce at her, but she didn't back down.

When she was at his side she kneeled down and brought her hand on top of his. "Let me help you."

"No thanks." But he didn't pull away from her touch. That was a good sign right?

"Your hurt."

"No kidding, how'd that happen."

She winced at his remark. 'Oh yeah.' She touched his hand and pulled it away from the wound. He chuckled lightly as her face paled when she was the look. She looked up at him. His eyes judging her. "Some miko."

He turned away from her. She looked back down. "Its...Its really deep I'd have to push it all the way threw to get it out."

"Then do it." He stated like it wasn't him.

"Alright then!" She yelled exasperated. 'What a jerk.' She put her hand on the arrow, but she couldn't do it. She hung her head, yea, some miko. Pathetic.

She was about to pull her hand back when she felt his long fingers wrap around her hand, mindful of his sharp claws. He fisted his hand over her and pushed the arrow till it pierced his back. She cried out in pain for him, he remained silent but she knew it hurt.

"There now break it off. You can do that at least?"

He turned around so she had a good look at the gore, where the arrow escaped threw the back of his shoulder. She paled even more but placed both hands on the arrow tip. She had done this at least she could help him now.

She took the arrow by the tip and the other hand around the branch. Then tightened her fist and snapped the wood. She opened her eyes and looked. She still had to pull it out the front. The look on his face threw his pain she knew he was enjoying her inexperience. She held her head high and pulled it out before her mind could fight her.

It surprised him too. He fell forward onto his right hand, his eyes wide. "Bitch!"

He composed himself quickly and sat back up. He brushed the tips of his fingers over the wound clearing off the blood. The actual cut was very small. She brushed her fingers over it too, leaving a white streak where her fingers touched, but it didn't heal. 'Oh well, it was worth a try.'

He didn't pay attention though, his gaze was on her hand. She looked at her right hand. Thick blood leaked between her fingers. He picked up her hand and unfisted it. The arrowhead lay on her palm, sharp edges imbedded into her skin. She sniffled a sob and pulled her hand away. The arrow didn't come out, it was deep she'd have to pull it out. Just now she felt the pain sink in.

"Stupid girl, can't you do anything right?" He pulled her hand forward, no too gently onto his lap with his right hand. She clanged her hand into a ball again. He forcefully unlocked her fingers and held it open. "Stop that! You'll get it in even deeper."

She relaxed slightly and let him hold her hand. Could she trust him? Before she could decide he pulled the sharp rock out. She jumped surprised and pulled her hand back, cradling in to her chest.

Irritated he reached for her hand but she turned her side. "Let me see." Reluctantly she extended her hand into his waiting one. He held tight this time incase she tried to pull away again. He pulled her palm up to his face, and checked it. He smoothed his thumb over it, getting the blood out of the way. "Just a scratch."

She humped but winced when he did it again roughly over the burnt swell of the rose cut. But he didn't let up. She tried to pull away but he held fast. "Let me-"

"you got cut by my blossom."

"Yes."

"It marked you mine."

"What...I'm-" He threw her hand away from himself like it was the poison. "You should be dead."

She got up and brushed herself off. She extended her good hand to him, to help him up. "Come on. You have to return that necklace you stole-"

"No."

"What?! You have to." She grabbed his right hand and tried to pull him up.

His left, injured, hand shot forward like it wasn't hurt. It grabbed the arrow at his feet and swung it at her. If she hadn't stepped back it would have sliced her throat. But he did it slowly, she knew he wouldn't kill her.

"Keep your jewel but I'm keeping my prize." He pointed the arrow at her.

He turned and walked away but turned around thinking something. His eyes cold again. "I let you live now. But I will kill you next time. Don't doubt it."

She shivered, he was serious. He turned back around and walked. His tail flow in the wind. She never noticed it before, it was white and...fluffy?...cute! It was like Shippo's. He was a Kitsune.

"Who are you?" She asked before she could think better of it.

He didn't turn. He wouldn't answer. She got up and walked over to the jewel, laying dejected by the tree.

"Yoko Kurama." The wind whispered-

-with his voice. Rime Stone-----------------------