Lone Wolf
I stand alone…
By Crystal Arrow
Disclaimer- You will notice that there are a lot of original characters in this story, along with the characters from Inuyasha. Please get it through your thick skull that I don't own any of the Inuyasha characters, but all of the original characters, which I am hoping you're able to discern on your own.
Chapter Eight: A Place to Call Home
"I need not your kindness, but to be on my way."
"Then you lie, for it plain as day in your eyes you desire it."
"I don't know what you mea…" Aiko was cut short as the tiny miko somehow managed the knock her unconscious, she fell to the ground with a soft thud, her world closing in around her.
The world around her was blurry and unfocused. Her eyes were slowly opening to reveal the surroundings about her, but the unbearable pain in her head prevented her from focusing on anything. "Ugh…." Aiko groaned. "Fuck, my head hurts like hell!"
"What foul language for a young lady, even a yokai one, to use." A kindly old voice sounded from within the room she was in.
Aiko slowly forced her eyes to open revealing herself to be in a small shack, freshly built. The thatch used to construct it still smelled fresh and not quite dead yet. A small fire burned in the center of the hut providing what little light there was within. She herself was laid upon a straw bed and covered by the tattered remains of a blanket. She tried to rise, and had almost lifted her torso from the ground when the same voice commanded, "Down, child." She found herself lying back down against her own body's will. She felt some force holding her down against the straw. Once the force seemed to dissipate, she tried to rise again, only to lie back down when the voice called out, "Stay down."
What in the hell is going on? Aiko thought. Once again, she felt the force fade, but this time it took longer. Once gone, she slowly lifted her right arm to her face. Aiko let the back of her wrist rest against her brow, which felt warm to her own touch and relaxed her. The warmth that felt from herself reminded her what it felt like to touch something living, reminded her of her own mother's warm touch and loving smile when she felt as helpless as she did now, and of the hugs she once shared with her father after a game, and playful wrestling with her friend Kai, though she didn't know if she could still call her a friend after the pain she endured. The warmth was gone, replaced by cold night air, no one to warm her, only her own arms encircled her in her cold and lonely nights in a desperate attempt to find comfort in herself, and her playful games with her lost friend had long since been replaced by battles to stay independent and unclaimed by sadistic male demons, and sometimes, just to stay alive. Aiko had had not comfort in months; any villages she had visited had chased her away, no matter what form she was in, for they sensed the strangeness in her, and only wanted her gone… or dead. She could feel an all to familiar feeling wash over her, loneliness, and the want for love and understanding. She could also feel the all too familiar burning in her eyes as tears threatened to fall. She lowered her arm so that it covered her eyes. "Why am I here?" Aiko whispered with all the control she had to keep her voice steady.
The same elderly voice answered. "You are here so that we may take care of ye."
Lies, it has to be all lies! "Don't lie to me…" Aiko growled. All of the distrust and hurt the demon felt was expressed through that sound.
"Child, we wish to repay you for saving our village. We…"
"I SAID DON'T LIE TO ME!" Damn it. Why… am I letting go like this?……I can't let this get to me, but the hurt is too much, I want to go! "Humans…" What's this? "don't have that kind of compassion!" Aiko spit venomously. Am I crying?……why?
"Child I can see you are hurt inside." The elderly voice still responded calmly and without fear.
"YOU KNOW NOTHING!"
"My child…"
Aiko gasped, the kind of desperate gasp of someone on the verge of breaking down, trying desperately to hold on to their pride, trying desperately not to cry. Her voice was quiet now. "If you knew anything…why would you do this to me?" she asked this as her other arm rose to take hold of a necklace foreign to her that lie around her neck. Aiko knew what it was, her mother, being a miko, had some of them around the house, and had shown her how to make them. She had also seen one around the neck of the inu hanyou she had seen upon just arriving in the feudal era. It was a subduing necklace.
The voice was silent for a moment, then started again softly. "We had to be sure you did not attack us upon awakening."
"Attack you?"
"Child…"
"Please…" Aiko begged, her voice was weak now; she didn't have the strength to be in the hopeless situation she had gotten herself into. She had found all people to be the same. They hated demons, just as demons hated humans, and killed them any chance they got. Every time before when she had let her soft heart get the better of her, the villagers showed no gratitude, even when they said they did. They betrayed her, shunned her, turned her away and tried to kill her. I'm such a fool. "Please… let me go…"
"Child, hear me out." The owner of the elderly voice finally rose from here place across the fire that hid her. It was the old miko that had knocked Aiko unconscious earlier. She knelt down beside Aiko, her face weary. The demon girl did not respond at all, she simply remained still, breathing shallow and eyes cover by her arm. The old miko reached forth a small hand and touched Aiko's arm. She flinched visibly as the contact. The miko drew back quickly. This child…holds a great deal of pain within. But, will she let me heal her? "Would you please stay at the village, if not just for a few days so that I may treat your wounds?"
The demon looked at the old woman from underneath the shadow of her own arm. Oh how she wanted to trust the woman, but past experiences did not tell her that was wise. "Who says I'm wounded?" Aiko knew that was a lie, it was probably obvious, especially to a skilled miko, that Aiko's breathing wasn't quite normal, and even with demon healing speed, internal wounds took longer to heal.
Flash back…"Do not mock me, human!" The ogre closed the distance in a charge in which he picked Aiko up and then slammed her into a tree. As he removed his hand, Aiko fell to the ground, winded. " Now give me the jewel!"
Aiko stood slowly, gasping for air. She could feel a few crushed ribs, and she could taste the bit of blood in her throat, some of the broken ribs had pierced her lungs. Guess I took the mocking a bit too far.
End Flash back…
Now that she thought about, Aiko could still taste a bit of her own blood in the back of her throat, something was prevented the wounds from healing completely.
"Child, do not take me for a fool, I know very well you were wounded when the ogre struck you against the tree." Yeah, she knows. "Let me treat you're wounds."
"And what's to say you won't kill me instead?" Aiko spat.
The old miko was greatly taken aback by that. Could someone have really told this girl they would help, then tried killing her instead? Despicable! "Child, I do not believe in killing every demon that comes my way, not all demons are evil. The people of this village have come to know this lesson well, and we appreciate the help of any demon that may take the time to aid us."
"sure…."
"What is your name child?"
"And you care why?"
"I have already said, I care to make sure you are well, and I can see you do not approve of being called child."
"…it's Aiko…."
"Well then, Aiko, how about a deal." The miko declared.
"What?"
"Stay for one day, Aiko, and if you still wish to leave, then I will let you go, but if you find us to be as I have said, I would be glad to have you stay with us."
Aiko was silent for a moment. "Do you mean, stay here permanently?"
"Yes, Child." I knew she wanted it.
"Well, then, be prepared to see me gone tomorrow." Aiko stated with false confidence. Tomorrow, I leave; I can't let myself be hurt again.
"Of course, Aiko." The miko finished with a knowing smile. Tomorrow, I'll give this girl a home; I won't let her be hurt again.
Author's note:
I wrote, now you review, write, review, write, review, get the picture?
Crystal Arrow