Forsaken One

Consciousness came as a bitter pill, it slowly crept into his pain-racked body. He willed his eyes to open, but they refused to heed his call. Sesshoumaru continued this futile battle with his eyelids. Spending the last of his meager energy reserves in the pointless war. Again he slipped into the cold claws of unconsciousness.

He was ready, the next time he was slapped with the rude hand of awareness. Slowly his senses came to him. First, he allowed his keen ears to sweep the area.

'Purring', his mind scrambled.

Next, he focused on the heavy weight on his chest, 'What the hell!?'

Then he felt it, a massive rush of power slammed into his senses. The stinging clarity of purity passed over his body.

'Where am I?'

Finally, he bid his eyes to open and this time they listened. Through cloudy vision he saw a small mass atop his chest. He blinked several times bringing the hazy image into focus.

'A manticore! And a tiny one at that.' It lay there peacefully napping, purring deeply.

Sesshoumaru struggled to sit upright, bracing for the rush of pain that was bound to follow but none came. 'What? I know I was severely injured...'

The tiny manticore awoke with a start. It's vibrant eyes filled with unspoken joy, upon seeing him awake.

It was a small animal only the size of a cat, but rest assured this was no normal feline. From the crown of its head to its chest tumbled an elegant auburn mane. Leathery wings sprouted out of its sides a waxy membrane attached the slender wing bones to one another, each ending in a dull claw. The yellow fur that covered its neck met a dramatic end at the mid section of its body. Its hindquarters were covered in metallic interlocking scales, which formed an intimidated blanket of armor. It looked as though someone had jammed the front end of a lion and the rear of a dragon together. But the manticore's most distinguishing feature was its normally menacing scorpion tail, tipped with a venom-laden fang.

Typically one would flee from such a beast, but the animal now resting in his lap could only be considered adorable not threatening.

Sesshoumaru mused quietly to himself, 'I do believe one of the Guardians created the manticore race...we created so many creatures...'

Then a high-pitched voice forced it's way into his mind, 'Hi!' it screamed ecstatically.

He responded coldly (as his strength returned so did his elitist attitude), 'How dare you intrude, into this Sesshoumaru's mind!'

The tiny creature was shocked by the harsh remark. Crystal tears welled up in its eyes and it let out a very audible cry. The sound echoed in the small cottage room.

"Corsico," a feminine voice rang out. A young woman burst threw the door a look of terror plastered on her face.

She was small and delicately built. Ebony hair danced around her angelic face. Her brilliant cerulean eyes locked on the tiny creature. She gave off an odd aura. Every instinct in Sesshoumaru's body told him to fear this woman. Her presence reminded him of something.

'She's one of them...' his insides seethed with anger but his face remained still, callous to the rage that seared his veins.

'She's one of the Purifiers.' He could vividly remember the protracted wars between the Guardians and Purifiers. Each one of their twisted, malicious, faces were permanently embedded in his memory. But he had never laid eyes on this one. 'Surely she is one of them, this Sesshoumaru's senses never fail'

The woman was neither phased or aware of the war Sesshoumaru was waging in his mind.

"Corsico," She reprimanded the tiny creature, "Why in all the heavens were you crying?" the panic in her face was quickly fading into a warm smile.

The miniature beast sprang off Sesshoumaru's lap and darted straight up the woman's shoulders. She didn't seem to mind the tiny claws digging into her skin.

'A manticore and a Purifier?' Sesshoumaru was more than a little taken a back.

From his long years of experience with Purifiers he had never seen one so much as touch an "unclean" creature. Of course the world would never see the shock register on his face. He still sat there cold and unmoving.

She looked at her new guest for several moments and instantly knew what he was pondering.

'He must be so confused' she mused, allowing the smile on her face to grow, 'I've never seen on of the Punishers or.... oh, what do they call themselves? Oh yeah Guardians, I was told they were ruthless and disgusting, but he's absolutely gorgeous, ' she mentally reprimanded herself for such thoughts. 'Kikyo is going to kill me,' her warm demeanor faltered for a moment but she quickly turned back to the task at hand.

"Hello!" she attempted to engage her patient, "My name is Kagome, What's yours?"

She waited patiently waited for a response and when none came she was not perturbed. She continued, "You where really banged up, your lucky I found you, you were bleeding to death"

'Insolent fool, doesn't she relies what I am? There is something very wrong here.' "This Guardian did not require a hell angel's help" the bitter words slithered out of Sesshoumaru's mouth.

But the girl in front of him only widened her smile as she retorted, "Great so you can talk, well, I'll go get you something to eat."

She turned to walk out the door when he called, "Wench, I now your kind well, why don't you just create food, I have seen Purifiers do it before."

Kagome's posture slipped, "Because I can't" she whispered before exiting the room.

'Can't?' Sesshoumaru's mind raced 'three, three Purifiers...only three were in the wars.... but there are four Guardians.... is she the fourth? If she truly can not use magic then that would explain why she wasn't in the wars...but why?'

His mind was set; he was not one for puzzles and unknowns. Many questions would have to be answered and he was not one to beat around the bush.

But first he needed to inspect his wounds. Painful memories resurface as he thought of the injuries he had sustained. He look down expecting to find enormous lacerations, bruises and more than one broken bone. He was pleasantly surprised to find none, in fact his skin was flawless and his body was covered in a smooth linen nightshirt.

"No magic.... liar" He roar as she floated back into the room, "How dare you try to deceive me."

Kagome sighed and stroked Corsico's velvet mane, trying to collect her thoughts, "I did not deceive you. I only have one form of magic...and I'm sure you can tell what it is."

'She seems to be telling the truth' "Where are the others?" he questioned.

The life in her eyes flickered and her gaze fell to the floor, "They have forsaken me...many an era ago..." She snapped back into her normal warm disposition. "Hey, how are you feeling? And how did you end up like that?"

Sesshoumaru completely ignored her questions, "Why have you been forsaken, wench?"

Choosing to play the same game Kagome picked up the tray of food and pushed it toward Sesshoumaru.

She chimed, "Well, you eat up I'll be back in a bit." Kagome heard a disgusted growl as she walked out the door.

'No not again' she cringed, 'No please!'

The dark presence inside her disregarded her pathetic pleas. She desperately clutched her chest as her form slumped to the floor. Her vision faded in and out. A hauntingly familiar image filled her mind.

All was a terrifying shade of red and there she stood hovering as though some sadistic puppeteer had tied strings to her arms. The image became blurred. Before her broken form stood and unidentifiable shadow it's sharpened staff raised dangerously above her. With all the grace of a swan the blade fell on her. A blinding burst of light consumed the image.

Sesshoumaru had heard her labored breathing and graceless fall to the floor. Not that he cared, 'Clumsy creature, I hope you fall on an axe.'

He understood his situation as much as he hated to think about it he owed her. She had saved his life. His sense of honor did not allow him to be indebted to anyone especially a Purifier.

A tiny blur shot into the room and slammed into his hard chest. 'It's that'

But again his thoughts were interrupted ' Help Help please help!' the creature whined 'It's back its hurting her again'

Sesshoumaru backhanded the tiny manticore. The creature went careening into the opposite wall. Shaking its battered head in confusion the little beast scampered into the closest corner. It stayed there, its head covered with a tiny paw, whimpering it squeaked, 'Why...why did she help you...you're a devil,' then the animal collapsed into a shuddering heap.

Those words sunk into Sesshoumaru's cold heart, they stirred something. He could feel the waves of terror rolling off the woman that lay in the hall. He lifted his magnificent frame off the bed.

Slowly he flexed his clawed fingers listening as each snapped into their respective places. His body felt completely rejuvenated.

'Apparently she was a good healer' he sneered.

Regardless of whether she had saved him or not. His hatred for her kind ran deeper than any sense of pride ever could. Within three strides he loomed over her convulsion form His claws glowed dimly in the fading evening light.

"Your eternity ends now hell angel."
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"God this is awful" Shippo pouted as he looked over his now diminutive form.

"Aw poor you, well at least you'll be able to talk, unlike some of us." Kirara purred.

The two tiny creatures scowled at each other. Where once had stood a proud demon and fire cat was now a mere pup and kitten. Both stood examining their disguises.

"Are you sure this is the only way to get to them..." Shippo whined, "I'm a freak'en midget!"

"Well, at least your in character...would you like some cheese with that wine? And we've already been over this." Kirara retorted, "We have to guide the Protectors without Naraku taking notice."

"I know, I know, well I guess we better go find them," the tiny fox mumbled.

"Oh, and remember I'm going to be talking to you telepathically so don't you dare block me out!" The kitten commanded.

Shippo's large eye softened, "Do you think this work...they've been fighting for so long..."

Kirara smacked the child with a tiny paw, "Come on we haven't got time for 'Pessimists on Parade' lets get going."

Shippo broke into a large grin "Right, let do this!" The two tiny creatures trotted off into the world, their destination ...the Protectors.

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'Disgusting' Sesshoumaru thought as he watched her convulsion form.

He grabbed her arm, which consisted of little more that skin on bone. But it was not this that shocked Sesshoumaru, 'She doesn't feel like a Purifier...no...she has an aura of a Guardian'

Before he had time to consider the ramifications of his discovery, a presences on the edge of his senses caught his attention.

'Not her' Sesshoumaru cursed 'and she's not alone.'

Only one thought came to his mind...flee. Grabbing the girl in front of him Sesshoumaru preceded to bolt outside. He did not notice the tiny girl in his arms had stopped shaking mere moments after he held her.

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Kagome's vision shifted fierce red to a bleak white. Some enraged beast was charging at here. This creature constantly stalked her dreams and occasioned her waking hours. She could feel its hot breath graze her skin as it let out a deafening roar. Its form of shrouded in an oppressive light and only it's malevolent crimson eyes penetrated the veil.

'I can't take this anymore!' she cried desperately 'Take me please!'

She felt a numbing cold begin to seep through her body, the cold oblivion seemed promising compared to the pain that racked her body. Then a foreign presences denigrated her mind, unlike its predecessor this feeling was warm and comforting. It quickly dispelled the dark images and broke the numbness. Kagome welcomed this new being and for the first occasion since the beginning of time she drifted into a peaceful sleep.

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Sesshoumaru was hastily making his way out of the cottage when he heard an immense growl behind him.

Turning to face the sound he thought 'Not him again will this pathetic beast give me no rest?'.

Behind him stood a very angry manticore. All of its previous harmlessness had vanished before him stood a horse size beast. Spines shot erratically out if its sides parting the thick mat of fur that covered it'd body. Its once tiny tail, now dangled dangerously, a large drop of lethal venom dripping from its sharpened tip. Unshaken by the angered animal Sesshoumaru contemplated

'Ah so this its true size.... it's still small for a...'. Again the creature interrupted his thoughts

'Release her now!' it bellowed into his mind.

"I have no time for you, you pathetic..." Before Sesshoumaru could continue his slew of verbal reprimands another voice emerged.

"Guardian" A powerful voice spat, malice dripped from every syllable.

'No, not her' Sesshoumaru froze The woman that stood before him had a striking resemblance to the girl in his arms but the similarities ended there.

She was beautiful, a perverse kind of beauty. Her cold dead eyes were lock on Sesshoumaru; the lifeless spheres were colored a rotten brown. Charcoal hair wrapped as a serpent around her thin form framing her body in bleak black.

This was one of the most powerful creatures on God's creation the leader of the Purifiers and she was hell bent on getting Sesshoumaru.

"It has taken me eras to find you, with your limited magic power you have proven hard locate. You are the last Guardian. Oh, but fear not you will not hold that station for much longer." Sesshoumaru's voice refused to answer, as he stood frozen in front of the devilish woman. "Well let us get on with it I have a surprise for you." She gracefully stepped aside revealing a crumpled figure.

Sesshoumaru gasped, "Inuyasha"