Devil Inside
Author's Note: How many times has this happened to you? The one you love gets drugged or possessed and tries desperately to kill you? Well, if you're in "Inuyasha," it happens ALL THE TIME!
Disclaimer: Inuyasha and all related characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi, yadda yadda yadda.
As the huge orange summer sun disappeared behind the mountains farthest to the west, and dark blues and purples began to take it's place, a monk with black hair and eyes the same color as the evening sky looked up and sighed.
"What's wrong, Houshi-sama?" The girl next to him asked, and took his hand in hers. She had long dark brown hair that fell well past her waist and was secured by white ribbon. Her hand was covered in a glove that met his gloved right hand and he smiled.
"Just the same old thing," he answered, looking down at the girl. His smile was both sad and loving.
The girl, Sango, lowered her head and stared at the ground for a few moments.
"Me, too," was all she finally said.
The two stood in silence, enjoying the view and each other's company, when suddenly Sango whirled around to face the woods behind them.
"I heard footsteps," she said, "Very faint. Soft. As if whatever is making them must not weigh very much."
The monk, Miroku, was always impressed by Sango's warrior instincts and knew to trust them.
"Do you suppose it's a threat?" He asked her.
Before she could answer, a small figure emerged from the woods and collapsed onto the soft ground. Sango and Miroku ran towards the figure, and saw by the full moonlight that it was a girl. Even smaller than Sango, who was quite petite, the girl looked to be no more than 12 years old. However, Miroku immediately sensed something unusual about her.
"Excuse me, miss, are you all right?" He asked, helping the girl to her feet. He decided it was best to be cordial rather than suspicious for the time being. He did, however, shoot Sango a look that said 'be careful.'
"No, sir, I am not all right," the girl said, looking up. She barely reached Sango's shoulders, and had hair that shone red under the moonlight. Her large eyes were the color of new summer leaves, and her skin was as pale as Death.
"Are you injured?" Sango asked, forcing herself to react normally. Like Miroku, she sensed something strange about the girl. Unfortunately, Sango was one of the worst liars Miroku had ever met, and he heard the note of suspicion in her voice. He only hoped the strange girl hadn't heard it.
"No, I am not injured. Not physically, anyway. I am, however, starving. I haven't had a meal in over three days."
"Please, then," Miroku said with a smile, "Come join us and our friends for dinner." As he spoke, he reached down with his gloved hand and stroked the girl's tiny bottom.
Normally, Sango would have either scolded him or hit him, but she knew he was just trying to keep up appearances. The strange aura the girl was giving off was like a blanket, suffocating them. She only hoped Inuyasha, Kagome, and Shippo would notice it too. But with Kagome's power, it would be hard for her to ignore a feeling so strong.
The girl slapped Miroku's hand away and said, "Would you like to keep that hand?"
Without missing a beat, Miroku smiled and said, "Not always."
As they started back into the woods to rejoin their campsite, the strange red-haired girl faltered and fell again.
"Sango, you go on ahead and prepare the others for our…guest. I'll help her back to camp at her own pace."
Sango hesitated for a moment, then nodded and ran ahead.
As Miroku kneeled down and leaned towards the girl to grasp her shoulders and haul her to her feet again, the girl grabbed onto him with a vice like strength and smiled into his shoulder.
"Finally," she said, "we're alone."
