*
Disclaimer: Wo mei yongyou InuYasha. Wo you Jennifer keshi wo mei you InuYasha.
*
Strange Interlude
Chapter TEN
*
The sun rose over the craggy tree-covered mountains. The shadow of night fled from the dense forests and another morning started in the feudal Land of the Rising Sun.
Sunlight fell upon a misshapen hole in the mountain face. Its light receded into the depths of the small pit and finally found its way to the floor of a cavern. The light continued and washed over the form of a curly, raven-haired girl.
Jennifer squinted her eyes at the sudden change in brightness and blinked wearily. She sat up and rubbed her eyes. Continuing to rub the sand from her eyes, she stood and wandered out of her room to the makeshift kitchen.
She prepared herself a simple meal of rice porridge and went outside to eat and enjoy the freshness of morning. Her feet dangling off the side of the rock, she gazed out upon the pristine wilderness. Everything was so beautiful; the sound and smell of the morning breeze, the occasional chirping of birds and the crinkle of leaves rubbing against each other.
{This isn't half-bad,} she thought to herself, {It's a simple existence, but at least I'm alive and I am able to enjoy this beautiful morning.}
She inhaled deeply. The air, fresh and crisp, filled her lungs. She exhaled.
{Today would be great day to take a walk in the woods,} she thought. {Oh, but I wouldn't be able to go. Sesshomaru is too protective---no, he's just heartless. He wouldn't understand. But he doesn't really need me...He--he wasn't serious last night anyway. Him want a hanyou son...with me?}
A slight blush came over Jennifer's face and she shook her head. A new look of confidence came over her.
{Who cares?! If I want to go hiking, then I'll go hiking! Sesshomaru isn't here anyway. He's usually gone until sundown, so I'll just have to be back by then.}
She walked to the edge of the sheer cliff and scanned the area below for a safe way down. The far left side had the shallowest incline and sloped gently into grass only some 50-odd feet below and ahead of her. She sat against the huge boulder that formed the outer wall of the cave and slid from her seat to standing position on the nearest protruding rock under her. She began to climb down the rock face, and when it was not as steep, Jennifer turned around and began to walk/slide down the rest of the way.
Momentum carried her the rest of the way. The tree line approached quickly. Only ten or so more feet to go. But it was almost too easy.
As if on cue, Jennifer suddenly crashed into something and fell backward to the ground. She looked up and saw Sesshomaru.
"Going somewhere?" he asked, sneering at her fearful appearance.
"What are you doing here? ---uh, I mean, today is such a beautiful day. I thought I would go for a walk in the woods..."
"You were going to leave without my knowledge?"
"Uh...well, I didn't think that you were here. I thought you wouldn't mind as long as I got back before you did," she said.
"You thought I wouldn't have noticed your leaving?" he asked.
"Well, no--I mean. That's not what I meant!" she answered.
"Then what do you mean?" he inquired. "Is it so horrible that you feel inclined to leave?"
"No of course not!" she said. "I wouldn't have anywhere to go--I just- --"
"You just wanted to leave the safety of the cave and travel blindly through the forest for any demon to find then," he charged.
"No," she fired back, "I just wanted to take a short walk. There would be no demons!"
"Perhaps now there are not, but the instant they smell you, worthless human, they will gather."
"There you go again, talking bad about humans! We are not a weak and worthless species. I can take care of myself, I'll have you know!"
Sesshomaru smiled to himself. She was mad. And he found it quite humorous when she got angry like that. Her eyebrows would knit together and she would make large hand motions to emphasize her points. Humans were not only weak, but also very amusing, he had decided. Maybe this human would have some worth yet.
Jennifer continued, "You think I'm the weakest thing on this earth! You think, because I'm human, I can't do anything right. Well, I do a lot of things! I cook my own food, and clean up that dank, nasty cave! I'm a Girl Scout so I know what to do. If there was trouble, I could always just pop out some Tae Kwon Do on whatever attacked me. I think I can survive one measly day in the forest!"
"Is that what you want then?" Sesshomaru questioned. "To spend a night in the forest by yourself? To prove your race and independence?"
Jennifer faltered. This was very different from anything Sesshomaru had ever said. She was surprised that she had spoken out as she did. She was also surprised that Sesshomaru didn't smack her or something for what she had said. She was so shocked and surprised that she wasn't sure what to say.
"Well," she finally spoke, "yeah. I guess."
"Then it is settled. You may travel into the forest and camp there for one night. If you return tomorrow physically and mentally whole, then I will retract all of my previous insults to humans."
"Deal," Jennifer nodded confidently
"But." Sesshomaru looked deep within her eyes, "You must spend the next 24 hours completely without my interference, and if under any circumstance this pact is violated, I will think even less of you than the lowliest of humans."
Jennifer stared at him strangely and slowly nodded. He was acting very weird. Before he hardly even talked to her, but now they were actually having a real, not forced, conversation.
{He seems so strangely out of character. He must've grown a heart too, because he would never have conceded to the demands of a human.}
Sesshomaru, as if he heard her thoughts, smirked, and then took off in a flash of white light. She blocked the blinding effects of Sesshomaru's energy by holding her arm up over her face. Once the light had gone, Jennifer could once again accurately perceive the world.
She gazed up the mountainside and sighed, "I'm going to need a few things."
She then began her climb back up the steep face to the high plateau that she called "home."
***
Jennifer had been walking for a couple of hours now. She was thoroughly enjoying herself. The flora, fauna, and the atmosphere of the forest were all so beautiful. They had an almost relaxing effect on Jennifer. She found a small brook and followed it to a clearing. It looked like the perfect place to set up camp and spend the night.
She set down the pack she had made from some animal pelt against a tree and looked more closely at her new campsite. Off to the right, away from the little stream she had followed to the clearing, was a patch of land that was without grass and looked relatively dry. She would use that spot to build a fire.
Jennifer then set out to find firewood. A short search later, she returned to camp and began to work on the fire. She placed three good- sized logs into the shape of a letter 'A'. She then grabbed some of the thinner sticks she had found and laid them in the middle of the 'A' leaning against the logs. Next she put in the tender (the dry grass and pine needles) and covered that with a few more sticks so it would be easier to catch.
She laid the rest of her wood in neat little piles and instinctively reached into her pocket for a matchbook. Of course there was none. She groaned. This was going to be harder than she thought.
At first she tried rubbing two sticks together, but it didn't work. Don't ever let anyone tell you this works, because it doesn't. Jennifer then remembered reading about a boy who was lost in the wilderness who used flint to create fire. She immediately set out to see if she could find some.
It took longer than she had expected but she had found a few and within minutes, upon her return to camp, produced a fire.
That night, as she covered herself in blankets she had packed and gazed into the fire, she felt fully confident that she would win the "bet" she had made with Sesshomaru. He might treat her better and actually trust her.
She turned onto her back and looked up at the stars. They were brighter and more pronounced than in the city where she lived. There, light pollution covered the night sky leaving only the brightest stars for viewing. But here Jennifer could see every star she could have imagined. The blue-black blanket that was the sky was littered with stars of all sizes and brightness. The view was breath taking.
She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. She exhaled and quickly entered a blissful sleep.
***
She was at the campsite. The fire had gone out, so she tried to relight it. But every time she managed to get a spark going, the wind would pick up and blow it out. It was as if someone was toying with her.
Out of frustration she reached into her pocket and pulled out her trusty blue lighter and flicked it on.
{What? How did I get this? I didn't think I brought anything with me from the present...} she thought.
"Go..." a voice whispered. It was so quiet that Jennifer wasn't sure she had heard it. Only when the voice called a second time, was she sure it was real and not just her imagination.
The wind blew in circles around as it continued to call out to her. The flame on the lighter danced in the air with the wind, and as the wind increased in strength, the flame increased in size and ferocity.
She couldn't remove her thumb from the button, so the flame continued to grow and swirl until it engulfed her entire hand.
"YOU HAVE INVADED THE SACRED REALM OF THE SHADOW DEMON!"
The fireball burned at her skin and Jennifer was about to collapse from the pain. Then, it suddenly leapt from her hand onto the dirt in front of her. The wind continued to blow furiously. Jennifer stared down at the black and red charred flesh that was her hand. She fell to her knees in a whimper and stared at the dancing fireball in front of her.
A final gust came from behind her; hitting her full force in the back, knocking her hair over her eyes, and striking the flame into...she couldn't tell. After tossing her head back to remove the hair from her face she watched, burned hand clasped, the fiery figure dive into the dirt. A great shake rumbled through the earth as it did.
The apparent demon sprang from the ripe earth in an explosion of dirt and ash. When her vision cleared, a horrible-looking creature of ash and flame greeted her. Its body was black and undefined; like a great black shadow with two, red, flaming eyes. It smiled maliciously.
Jennifer was scared out of her mind. This awful beast was what nightmares were made of. What would it do to her, she wondered. She felt like lying down and pretending this all was not happening; that this demon was not real; that none of this was real. She really wished she could just wake up from this awful dream and get back to life. Her thoughts flew to her future and to Sesshomaru.
The shadow demon opened its mouth and let out a high-pitched scream. Jennifer covered her ears, grimacing in pain from the sound and her disabled right hand. The breath of the fire coming off and from the demon's body licked at her face as she stared up in horror at the ash- covered entity.
"What are you?" she asked in a panicked whisper.
"I?" the demon motioned to himself with his hand. He laughed.
"I am your worst fear, the Shadow Demon. Once a season I come to the surface world from the pits of hell to this holy spot. You, human scum, have violated my holy resting place, and now must die for your intrusion!"
He let out another bloodcurdling scream. Jennifer grasped the sides of her head and squinted through the smoke and ash that seemed to slosh off the demon's body.
Jennifer then tried to crawl away, before the 'shadow demon' could do whatever he was about to do. The ash and smoke that filled the air blurred Jennifer's vision and burned the back of her throat. She coughed on the vile air and covered her mouth and nose with her shirt as she frantically looked for some exit.
The demon took in a deep breath causing a huge gust of wind like Miroku's Wind Tunnel to appear. He exhaled a burst of flame to Jennifer's left and right. The flame caught on the dry grass and wood she had collected the night before and spread wildly, forming a circle of flame all around her.
{Why is it,} she thought, {that I'm always in fires? In the first fire Kenji was there to save me, but now...there's no one.}
"Somebody help me!" she whimpered.
The glowing red eyes of the demon stared laughingly at her. With a small flick of its finger the circle of fire grew smaller and Jennifer grew more afraid.
***
It was dusk and Sesshomaru was waiting at the cave for Jaken, who was returning from a "business" trip.
He arrived a few minutes later on the two-headed Ah-Un, "Oh, Sesshomaru- sama! I have news."
"Good Jaken," he responded, "I should like to hear it."
Jaken jumped off of the carrier demon and quickly glanced around him. Something seemed...missing.
"Yes Jaken, the news."
"Oh! Forgive me, milord. Uh, as you know, I went to check on your sword order with Totosai and he still has yet to forge it."
"How bothersome."
"Indeed, milord, but when I told him that Lord Sesshomaru will not be patient as thus, he quickly assured me that in seven months time your sword would be finished."
"Hmm. That Totosai. He really knows how to try one's patience. Seven months. That is a long time, for killing InuYasha is a forefront priority."
Sesshomaru suddenly turned and sniffed to air. He thought for a second that he could smell the girl. He passed it off as only his imagination. Why would he care about that human anyway? He should be happy she was out of his hair for the day.
{It is best not to think about it,} he concluded.
A sudden realization hit the wondering Jaken, "Oh, Sesshomaru-sama, where is that human girl? Have you finally rid of her?"
Sesshomaru did not answer. He had just decided to not bother himself with the subject, so why did he bring it up?!
Jaken ignored his master's silence, and continued as if he had, "That's good. That nasty human was starting to annoy me. I don't see how you were able to tolerate as long as you did; she was stinking up the place. It's a good thing she's gone.
Sesshomaru thought. Part of him agreed with Jaken. He despised humans, so getting rid of one human woman shouldn't have any effect on him. But...
There was always a 'but'.
But this human was different.
Earlier, when he thought he had smelled her, he felt a tinge of nervousness and worry. But that was impossible. Great and powerful youkai do not display/have feelings, especially not towards humans. Unless...
His father did.
Sesshomaru was immediately filled with anger at the thought and turned to look at the vast expanse of forest that was his own. She could have been anywhere down there. He told himself he didn't care.
A slight breeze came up from the trees. Sesshomaru let it wash over him. He inhaled the cool, night air and...Wait! There was that smell again. It was her all right. And...He could hardly smell it, but there was a slight stench of fear about her. Though, he thought, she feared many things and didn't automatically constitute this instance as an emergency, he...there was something else in the air that made him worry. He could smell demon.
Sesshomaru quickly jumped off the cliff and sped swiftly toward the smell, leaving Jaken, still talking on the rock.
***
There was fire all around her. Jennifer stood to see if she could jump the shrinking ring of fire to safer ground and fresher air, but every time she got close enough, the flames seemed to leap higher, preventing her attempt.
"Please! Somebody help me!" she screamed. Maybe someone would hear and come save her.
{Huh! Yeah, right. If it didn't work the first time, it won't work now,} she thought.
The shadow demon, who had watched and laughed at her practically the whole time through, spoke, "There is no one, so stop trying. You will pay for your crime and rot in hell a charred corpse!"
Jennifer fell to the ground crying and coughing, {why does this keep happening? I don't want to die!}
"Why doesn't everything just stop?!" she shouted, her smoke and tear- drenched eyes tightly shut.
The evil laughter abruptly ended. The crackling and popping of the fire ceased. Everything fell quiet. Jennifer strained her ears and still heard nothing.
Was it over?
Jennifer opened her eyes. It was night and her head hurt badly. Her eyes adjusted to the lack of light and saw a looming figure over her.
It frightened her. What now? Until she saw the yellow eyes and glistening silver hair, did she realize it was Sesshomaru.
"Wha--? Sesshomaru?"
"Sh!" Sesshomaru said. He was knelt over her body and peeled something off of her exposed belly.
He held between thumb and forefinger a thick slug. Jennifer let out a small 'eep' and backed away. Sesshomaru eyed her strangely, then a green gas came from his fingers and he killed the insect.
"What was that?" Jennifer yelped.
"Those," spoke Sesshomaru, pointing to a dozen or so dead slug carcasses next to her, "were Dream-Eater Insects. They are a type of demon who attack their prey while they sleep, causing nightmares of that person's worst fear and sucking their soul."
"Was I in trouble? Would I have died?" she asked.
"Yes. If you had them on you much longer, you would have."
"Oh. Then, thank you..."
{Wow,} Jennifer thought, {Sesshomaru is actually being half-way decent.}
"But why did you choose to sleep in their nesting grounds in the first place, you stupid human?"
{Ugh. Never mind...}
"Tch!" she scoffed, "Like I know what a Dream-Eater Slug-thing nest looks like!"
Sesshomaru stood, "That is what is to be expected from a worthless mortal. That is pathetic. You cannot even defend yourself from the lowliest of demons."
"Uh!" Jennifer opened her mouth in protest. She couldn't believe the words coming out of Sesshomaru's mouth. She would expect this kind of verbal abuse from InuYasha, but from Sesshomaru?
But he was right. She couldn't last one night, like she promised. She was nothing but a pathetic human.
Sesshomaru continued, "I should never have let you go anyway. A mere human, like you, can do nothing!"
"I-I guess you're right..." Jennifer said, defeated.
Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow, {What happened to her sarcasm and air of defiance. Oh well, her measly human spirit is broken. She'll be easier to train, now.}
"You will have things to work on when you get to the cave. Come."
He jumped into the air and ascended through the trees, no doubt to the cave. Jennifer felt her body become light and found that she was floating in the air after the white-haired youkai. She had no control over her body and decided to enjoy the ride while she could. The wind blew through her hair, and she felt better than she had all night.
{That would be kind of cool,} she thought, {if I could learn how to fly...}
~!@#$%^&*()_+~!@#$%^&*()_+~!@#$%^&*()_+~!@#$%^&*()_+~!@#$%^&*()_+
A/N: Yay!
Finally!
Sorry for the huge delay! Sadly, this might have to become a habit. Again, I apologize. I'll be in the air tomorrow.to CHINA!
Whoo!
*one pair of hands clap*
*sigh*
Check out my other fics (if you haven't already) to occupy your time. I get back in three weeks and will tell you all about it, I'm sure.
Thanks to all my reviewers. Sorry, too rushed to name you all.
Please review.
~jenn/Trinity-33
*
Disclaimer: Wo mei yongyou InuYasha. Wo you Jennifer keshi wo mei you InuYasha.
*
Strange Interlude
Chapter TEN
*
The sun rose over the craggy tree-covered mountains. The shadow of night fled from the dense forests and another morning started in the feudal Land of the Rising Sun.
Sunlight fell upon a misshapen hole in the mountain face. Its light receded into the depths of the small pit and finally found its way to the floor of a cavern. The light continued and washed over the form of a curly, raven-haired girl.
Jennifer squinted her eyes at the sudden change in brightness and blinked wearily. She sat up and rubbed her eyes. Continuing to rub the sand from her eyes, she stood and wandered out of her room to the makeshift kitchen.
She prepared herself a simple meal of rice porridge and went outside to eat and enjoy the freshness of morning. Her feet dangling off the side of the rock, she gazed out upon the pristine wilderness. Everything was so beautiful; the sound and smell of the morning breeze, the occasional chirping of birds and the crinkle of leaves rubbing against each other.
{This isn't half-bad,} she thought to herself, {It's a simple existence, but at least I'm alive and I am able to enjoy this beautiful morning.}
She inhaled deeply. The air, fresh and crisp, filled her lungs. She exhaled.
{Today would be great day to take a walk in the woods,} she thought. {Oh, but I wouldn't be able to go. Sesshomaru is too protective---no, he's just heartless. He wouldn't understand. But he doesn't really need me...He--he wasn't serious last night anyway. Him want a hanyou son...with me?}
A slight blush came over Jennifer's face and she shook her head. A new look of confidence came over her.
{Who cares?! If I want to go hiking, then I'll go hiking! Sesshomaru isn't here anyway. He's usually gone until sundown, so I'll just have to be back by then.}
She walked to the edge of the sheer cliff and scanned the area below for a safe way down. The far left side had the shallowest incline and sloped gently into grass only some 50-odd feet below and ahead of her. She sat against the huge boulder that formed the outer wall of the cave and slid from her seat to standing position on the nearest protruding rock under her. She began to climb down the rock face, and when it was not as steep, Jennifer turned around and began to walk/slide down the rest of the way.
Momentum carried her the rest of the way. The tree line approached quickly. Only ten or so more feet to go. But it was almost too easy.
As if on cue, Jennifer suddenly crashed into something and fell backward to the ground. She looked up and saw Sesshomaru.
"Going somewhere?" he asked, sneering at her fearful appearance.
"What are you doing here? ---uh, I mean, today is such a beautiful day. I thought I would go for a walk in the woods..."
"You were going to leave without my knowledge?"
"Uh...well, I didn't think that you were here. I thought you wouldn't mind as long as I got back before you did," she said.
"You thought I wouldn't have noticed your leaving?" he asked.
"Well, no--I mean. That's not what I meant!" she answered.
"Then what do you mean?" he inquired. "Is it so horrible that you feel inclined to leave?"
"No of course not!" she said. "I wouldn't have anywhere to go--I just- --"
"You just wanted to leave the safety of the cave and travel blindly through the forest for any demon to find then," he charged.
"No," she fired back, "I just wanted to take a short walk. There would be no demons!"
"Perhaps now there are not, but the instant they smell you, worthless human, they will gather."
"There you go again, talking bad about humans! We are not a weak and worthless species. I can take care of myself, I'll have you know!"
Sesshomaru smiled to himself. She was mad. And he found it quite humorous when she got angry like that. Her eyebrows would knit together and she would make large hand motions to emphasize her points. Humans were not only weak, but also very amusing, he had decided. Maybe this human would have some worth yet.
Jennifer continued, "You think I'm the weakest thing on this earth! You think, because I'm human, I can't do anything right. Well, I do a lot of things! I cook my own food, and clean up that dank, nasty cave! I'm a Girl Scout so I know what to do. If there was trouble, I could always just pop out some Tae Kwon Do on whatever attacked me. I think I can survive one measly day in the forest!"
"Is that what you want then?" Sesshomaru questioned. "To spend a night in the forest by yourself? To prove your race and independence?"
Jennifer faltered. This was very different from anything Sesshomaru had ever said. She was surprised that she had spoken out as she did. She was also surprised that Sesshomaru didn't smack her or something for what she had said. She was so shocked and surprised that she wasn't sure what to say.
"Well," she finally spoke, "yeah. I guess."
"Then it is settled. You may travel into the forest and camp there for one night. If you return tomorrow physically and mentally whole, then I will retract all of my previous insults to humans."
"Deal," Jennifer nodded confidently
"But." Sesshomaru looked deep within her eyes, "You must spend the next 24 hours completely without my interference, and if under any circumstance this pact is violated, I will think even less of you than the lowliest of humans."
Jennifer stared at him strangely and slowly nodded. He was acting very weird. Before he hardly even talked to her, but now they were actually having a real, not forced, conversation.
{He seems so strangely out of character. He must've grown a heart too, because he would never have conceded to the demands of a human.}
Sesshomaru, as if he heard her thoughts, smirked, and then took off in a flash of white light. She blocked the blinding effects of Sesshomaru's energy by holding her arm up over her face. Once the light had gone, Jennifer could once again accurately perceive the world.
She gazed up the mountainside and sighed, "I'm going to need a few things."
She then began her climb back up the steep face to the high plateau that she called "home."
***
Jennifer had been walking for a couple of hours now. She was thoroughly enjoying herself. The flora, fauna, and the atmosphere of the forest were all so beautiful. They had an almost relaxing effect on Jennifer. She found a small brook and followed it to a clearing. It looked like the perfect place to set up camp and spend the night.
She set down the pack she had made from some animal pelt against a tree and looked more closely at her new campsite. Off to the right, away from the little stream she had followed to the clearing, was a patch of land that was without grass and looked relatively dry. She would use that spot to build a fire.
Jennifer then set out to find firewood. A short search later, she returned to camp and began to work on the fire. She placed three good- sized logs into the shape of a letter 'A'. She then grabbed some of the thinner sticks she had found and laid them in the middle of the 'A' leaning against the logs. Next she put in the tender (the dry grass and pine needles) and covered that with a few more sticks so it would be easier to catch.
She laid the rest of her wood in neat little piles and instinctively reached into her pocket for a matchbook. Of course there was none. She groaned. This was going to be harder than she thought.
At first she tried rubbing two sticks together, but it didn't work. Don't ever let anyone tell you this works, because it doesn't. Jennifer then remembered reading about a boy who was lost in the wilderness who used flint to create fire. She immediately set out to see if she could find some.
It took longer than she had expected but she had found a few and within minutes, upon her return to camp, produced a fire.
That night, as she covered herself in blankets she had packed and gazed into the fire, she felt fully confident that she would win the "bet" she had made with Sesshomaru. He might treat her better and actually trust her.
She turned onto her back and looked up at the stars. They were brighter and more pronounced than in the city where she lived. There, light pollution covered the night sky leaving only the brightest stars for viewing. But here Jennifer could see every star she could have imagined. The blue-black blanket that was the sky was littered with stars of all sizes and brightness. The view was breath taking.
She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. She exhaled and quickly entered a blissful sleep.
***
She was at the campsite. The fire had gone out, so she tried to relight it. But every time she managed to get a spark going, the wind would pick up and blow it out. It was as if someone was toying with her.
Out of frustration she reached into her pocket and pulled out her trusty blue lighter and flicked it on.
{What? How did I get this? I didn't think I brought anything with me from the present...} she thought.
"Go..." a voice whispered. It was so quiet that Jennifer wasn't sure she had heard it. Only when the voice called a second time, was she sure it was real and not just her imagination.
The wind blew in circles around as it continued to call out to her. The flame on the lighter danced in the air with the wind, and as the wind increased in strength, the flame increased in size and ferocity.
She couldn't remove her thumb from the button, so the flame continued to grow and swirl until it engulfed her entire hand.
"YOU HAVE INVADED THE SACRED REALM OF THE SHADOW DEMON!"
The fireball burned at her skin and Jennifer was about to collapse from the pain. Then, it suddenly leapt from her hand onto the dirt in front of her. The wind continued to blow furiously. Jennifer stared down at the black and red charred flesh that was her hand. She fell to her knees in a whimper and stared at the dancing fireball in front of her.
A final gust came from behind her; hitting her full force in the back, knocking her hair over her eyes, and striking the flame into...she couldn't tell. After tossing her head back to remove the hair from her face she watched, burned hand clasped, the fiery figure dive into the dirt. A great shake rumbled through the earth as it did.
The apparent demon sprang from the ripe earth in an explosion of dirt and ash. When her vision cleared, a horrible-looking creature of ash and flame greeted her. Its body was black and undefined; like a great black shadow with two, red, flaming eyes. It smiled maliciously.
Jennifer was scared out of her mind. This awful beast was what nightmares were made of. What would it do to her, she wondered. She felt like lying down and pretending this all was not happening; that this demon was not real; that none of this was real. She really wished she could just wake up from this awful dream and get back to life. Her thoughts flew to her future and to Sesshomaru.
The shadow demon opened its mouth and let out a high-pitched scream. Jennifer covered her ears, grimacing in pain from the sound and her disabled right hand. The breath of the fire coming off and from the demon's body licked at her face as she stared up in horror at the ash- covered entity.
"What are you?" she asked in a panicked whisper.
"I?" the demon motioned to himself with his hand. He laughed.
"I am your worst fear, the Shadow Demon. Once a season I come to the surface world from the pits of hell to this holy spot. You, human scum, have violated my holy resting place, and now must die for your intrusion!"
He let out another bloodcurdling scream. Jennifer grasped the sides of her head and squinted through the smoke and ash that seemed to slosh off the demon's body.
Jennifer then tried to crawl away, before the 'shadow demon' could do whatever he was about to do. The ash and smoke that filled the air blurred Jennifer's vision and burned the back of her throat. She coughed on the vile air and covered her mouth and nose with her shirt as she frantically looked for some exit.
The demon took in a deep breath causing a huge gust of wind like Miroku's Wind Tunnel to appear. He exhaled a burst of flame to Jennifer's left and right. The flame caught on the dry grass and wood she had collected the night before and spread wildly, forming a circle of flame all around her.
{Why is it,} she thought, {that I'm always in fires? In the first fire Kenji was there to save me, but now...there's no one.}
"Somebody help me!" she whimpered.
The glowing red eyes of the demon stared laughingly at her. With a small flick of its finger the circle of fire grew smaller and Jennifer grew more afraid.
***
It was dusk and Sesshomaru was waiting at the cave for Jaken, who was returning from a "business" trip.
He arrived a few minutes later on the two-headed Ah-Un, "Oh, Sesshomaru- sama! I have news."
"Good Jaken," he responded, "I should like to hear it."
Jaken jumped off of the carrier demon and quickly glanced around him. Something seemed...missing.
"Yes Jaken, the news."
"Oh! Forgive me, milord. Uh, as you know, I went to check on your sword order with Totosai and he still has yet to forge it."
"How bothersome."
"Indeed, milord, but when I told him that Lord Sesshomaru will not be patient as thus, he quickly assured me that in seven months time your sword would be finished."
"Hmm. That Totosai. He really knows how to try one's patience. Seven months. That is a long time, for killing InuYasha is a forefront priority."
Sesshomaru suddenly turned and sniffed to air. He thought for a second that he could smell the girl. He passed it off as only his imagination. Why would he care about that human anyway? He should be happy she was out of his hair for the day.
{It is best not to think about it,} he concluded.
A sudden realization hit the wondering Jaken, "Oh, Sesshomaru-sama, where is that human girl? Have you finally rid of her?"
Sesshomaru did not answer. He had just decided to not bother himself with the subject, so why did he bring it up?!
Jaken ignored his master's silence, and continued as if he had, "That's good. That nasty human was starting to annoy me. I don't see how you were able to tolerate as long as you did; she was stinking up the place. It's a good thing she's gone.
Sesshomaru thought. Part of him agreed with Jaken. He despised humans, so getting rid of one human woman shouldn't have any effect on him. But...
There was always a 'but'.
But this human was different.
Earlier, when he thought he had smelled her, he felt a tinge of nervousness and worry. But that was impossible. Great and powerful youkai do not display/have feelings, especially not towards humans. Unless...
His father did.
Sesshomaru was immediately filled with anger at the thought and turned to look at the vast expanse of forest that was his own. She could have been anywhere down there. He told himself he didn't care.
A slight breeze came up from the trees. Sesshomaru let it wash over him. He inhaled the cool, night air and...Wait! There was that smell again. It was her all right. And...He could hardly smell it, but there was a slight stench of fear about her. Though, he thought, she feared many things and didn't automatically constitute this instance as an emergency, he...there was something else in the air that made him worry. He could smell demon.
Sesshomaru quickly jumped off the cliff and sped swiftly toward the smell, leaving Jaken, still talking on the rock.
***
There was fire all around her. Jennifer stood to see if she could jump the shrinking ring of fire to safer ground and fresher air, but every time she got close enough, the flames seemed to leap higher, preventing her attempt.
"Please! Somebody help me!" she screamed. Maybe someone would hear and come save her.
{Huh! Yeah, right. If it didn't work the first time, it won't work now,} she thought.
The shadow demon, who had watched and laughed at her practically the whole time through, spoke, "There is no one, so stop trying. You will pay for your crime and rot in hell a charred corpse!"
Jennifer fell to the ground crying and coughing, {why does this keep happening? I don't want to die!}
"Why doesn't everything just stop?!" she shouted, her smoke and tear- drenched eyes tightly shut.
The evil laughter abruptly ended. The crackling and popping of the fire ceased. Everything fell quiet. Jennifer strained her ears and still heard nothing.
Was it over?
Jennifer opened her eyes. It was night and her head hurt badly. Her eyes adjusted to the lack of light and saw a looming figure over her.
It frightened her. What now? Until she saw the yellow eyes and glistening silver hair, did she realize it was Sesshomaru.
"Wha--? Sesshomaru?"
"Sh!" Sesshomaru said. He was knelt over her body and peeled something off of her exposed belly.
He held between thumb and forefinger a thick slug. Jennifer let out a small 'eep' and backed away. Sesshomaru eyed her strangely, then a green gas came from his fingers and he killed the insect.
"What was that?" Jennifer yelped.
"Those," spoke Sesshomaru, pointing to a dozen or so dead slug carcasses next to her, "were Dream-Eater Insects. They are a type of demon who attack their prey while they sleep, causing nightmares of that person's worst fear and sucking their soul."
"Was I in trouble? Would I have died?" she asked.
"Yes. If you had them on you much longer, you would have."
"Oh. Then, thank you..."
{Wow,} Jennifer thought, {Sesshomaru is actually being half-way decent.}
"But why did you choose to sleep in their nesting grounds in the first place, you stupid human?"
{Ugh. Never mind...}
"Tch!" she scoffed, "Like I know what a Dream-Eater Slug-thing nest looks like!"
Sesshomaru stood, "That is what is to be expected from a worthless mortal. That is pathetic. You cannot even defend yourself from the lowliest of demons."
"Uh!" Jennifer opened her mouth in protest. She couldn't believe the words coming out of Sesshomaru's mouth. She would expect this kind of verbal abuse from InuYasha, but from Sesshomaru?
But he was right. She couldn't last one night, like she promised. She was nothing but a pathetic human.
Sesshomaru continued, "I should never have let you go anyway. A mere human, like you, can do nothing!"
"I-I guess you're right..." Jennifer said, defeated.
Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow, {What happened to her sarcasm and air of defiance. Oh well, her measly human spirit is broken. She'll be easier to train, now.}
"You will have things to work on when you get to the cave. Come."
He jumped into the air and ascended through the trees, no doubt to the cave. Jennifer felt her body become light and found that she was floating in the air after the white-haired youkai. She had no control over her body and decided to enjoy the ride while she could. The wind blew through her hair, and she felt better than she had all night.
{That would be kind of cool,} she thought, {if I could learn how to fly...}
~!@#$%^&*()_+~!@#$%^&*()_+~!@#$%^&*()_+~!@#$%^&*()_+~!@#$%^&*()_+
A/N: Yay!
Finally!
Sorry for the huge delay! Sadly, this might have to become a habit. Again, I apologize. I'll be in the air tomorrow.to CHINA!
Whoo!
*one pair of hands clap*
*sigh*
Check out my other fics (if you haven't already) to occupy your time. I get back in three weeks and will tell you all about it, I'm sure.
Thanks to all my reviewers. Sorry, too rushed to name you all.
Please review.
~jenn/Trinity-33
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