Authoress here.

Soooo...a new story, eh? I haven't written one lately, and as of right now, I haven't even decided which anime/manga to base it off of.

I'm good. Well, we'll see what happens.

START CHAPTER

"I'm sorry, Kameko. He's gone." The young healer leaned back on her heels, looking dismayed. The old man who had been severely wounded by the sword of a demon lay before her, his eyes open and blank, fixated on the ceiling.

His wife laid her forehead on his collarbone and wept.

Placing her hand on the elderly woman's back, the healer attempted to comfort her to no avail. When the sobs increased, the healer drew back and exited the hut, unable to provide anything to say that could ease the pain.

She wandered towards the nearby well and sank down beside it, placing a hand to her forehead. Her skin was tanned, making it apparent that she was not solidly a healer. During times of peace, she worked on farm harvesting crops. She moved with the work and had no real home to return to. Being skilled in the ways of healing to a certain extent, she had overstayed her welcome in a small town to try and save a man on the brink of death. In other small towns, she was driven out by suspicious people who did not seem to understand healing magic and feared anything new and unusual. She had become a wanted fugitive in some towns, and a revered doctor in others. She had no where to go, so she meandered from place to place.

She had been staying with the family of the old man, Ronin, for a short time before the incident had occurred. Ronin, a former warrior, had been like a father to her. He had taught her some long-forgotten battle magic that he had used in his youth to combat demons and humans alike. Some, she had not mastered before his death.

If only he hadn't been trying to find an herb that she had wanted to cure a small child of a cold. If it hadn't been for a wandering healer, he would have been alive.

Unable to lift the burden of guilt or confront the grieving older woman, the young healer took the nearest path that lead away from the village. She wasn't quite sure why, but when she heard a shrill voice cry out her name as she fled, she only left faster.

It was a long time before she stopped running. By the time she did, tears already flowed freely from her eyes. She put her hands over her face, crouched close to the ground with the rain hitting her back, and cried.

Not even the sound of footsteps approaching could cause her to look up. At that point, she thought that everyone she tried to help wound up worse than they had already been. She was not concerned with her own safety anymore, so she didn't even bother to look up at the person standing before her. She could tell that it was a demon just by the magical, powerful aura that surrounded him.

She waited for him to speak first so she could tell what kind of tone he had in his voice when he first addressed her. That would allow her to figure out his motives.

"A human," said the demon coolly. "I wasn't expecting Inuyasha to let another into the woods here after what would have happened if he hadn't been here."

After a pause, "What is your name, girl?"

The healer looked up at the demon before her. She could tell by the scrapes on his face and hands that he had recently been in a fight. He smelled like blood.

"If you're here to kill me, get it over with," she said bitterly, lowering her eyes to a mud puddle a few feet from when she was.

"I asked you a question," he replied, his voice the same tone as before. He didn't seem angry, but he was dangerous to her nonetheless. Just hearing him speak made her value her life more.

"It's none of your concern who I am." She took the chance to look at him again. His eyes were amber-colored, and his hair was white.

She was suddenly self-conscious about her light brown hair and hazel eyes. Finally, she said quietly, "I'm Akina. Don't bother to wonder if you know me from somewhere. I can tell you ahead of time that you don't."

"That isn't my concern."

"Who are you?"

"Before I introduce myself, I think you had better sit somewhere sheltered from the rain," he replied. He didn't appear concerned, but his voice wasn't cold either. She couldn't predict his thoughts.

Taking another chance, Akina arose and moved to sit under a tree. The demon followed at a distance, watching her.

"You're just a healer," he accused as she sat down.

"What were you expecting?" she replied.

He appraised her carefully. "Not someone like you. If you'll excuse me, I'll be going."

As he turned to walk away, Akina found that she was angry. Seizing a rock, she infused it with magic and lobbed it at the tall demon.

It hit him on the shoulder. He clearly hadn't been expecting it. He stopped walking to glance over his shoulder at her, one eyebrow raised. "What was that for?"

Akina stood up and stepped into the rain again, not caring that she was starting to feel a bit dizzy. "You never told me who you are."

"It doesn't matter," he said simply.

"I'll tell this Inuyasha guy where you are!" she cried as he faced forward again.

When he didn't stop walking away, she grabbed another rock to throw. Predicting her move, he turned around in time to catch the stone and crush it in his clawed hand. "You have some nerve to throw things at me, child."

"If you'd tell me who you are, maybe I'd think twice before doing it again!" she snarled, stooping down to grab another rock.

The demon moved without her even seeing him, and was suddenly inches away with a firm grip on her wrist.

Letting out an uncharacteristic yelp, Akina pushed hard against his chest with the flat palm of her free hand. He remained where he was, proving through actions how much stronger he was.

"Does the name Sesshomaru sound familiar?" he asked quietly, locking his eyes on hers.

She swallowed hard and nodded. In every village she had been to, at least one person had mentioned a demon named Sesshomaru. In small snippets of conversation, she could tell that people were generally afraid of him.

"Keep in mind who I am the next time you feel the need to throw something at me," he continued, not releasing her hand.

It was then that Akina noticed it through the eyes of a healer: Sesshomaru was not in the best condition. If an opponent were to find him now, he would surely be defeated.

"You're hurt," she observed brazenly. "You couldn't hold your own against another demon right now."

"What makes you say that?"

Akina was feeling surer of herself now. "You have two broken ribs, and another one that's cracked."

Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed a bit, but he didn't offer any negative remarks. He was waiting for her to say something. When she didn't, he said quietly, "Are you offering help or making commentary?"

Akina thought a moment, aware that Sesshomaru hadn't moved any further away. "That depends."

She took a small step back. Sesshomaru did not relinquish the grip on her wrist completely, but did ever so slightly. The pain from his ribs was not something he wasn't able to deal with, but it was getting to be a bit irritating.

He hesitated a moment. "I suppose you want some form of payment in return?"

She relaxed her previously tensed arm a bit. "Just one thing."

"Yes?"

"I'd like you to help me get out of this forest," she said coyly, lowering her eyes to the ground. "I'm lost."

He nearly smiled. It was so human, what she had said. Being lost, being tired, crying. All human characteristics. Finally letting go of her arm, he shrugged off the shoulders of his outfit so he displayed a bare chest.

Akina flushed. She hadn't really expected him to do that, although it was a prerequisite for healing that she had to place her palms flat on bare skin. He sat down leaned up against a tree, watching her. Would she be professional about this or not?

Rubbing her hands together, Akina crouched and placed them lightly against Sesshomaru's chest. It was only when her hands started to glow violet that she noticed he had a sword sitting beside him. She jerked away, the glow fading and the throbbing remaining in his chest.

"Is something the matter, girl?"

"You asked my name, so use it. I just wasn't really expecting you to have a sword, that's all."

Putting her hands on his torso once more, Akina closed her eyes. In her mind, she could see the broken ribs. Using her healing power, she pushed the ribs back into place. Mending them was another issue that would take much more energy.

Sesshomaru wasn't paying close attention to what she was doing until he felt her body crumple onto his legs. It was then that he took the time to look at her.

She seemed fairly young, even from a demon's point of view, eighteen or nineteen at the very most. Her magical aura was dangerously weak, and she had passed out due to that alone. Tapping deeper into her subconscious, he realized that she had almost used some of her life energy by accident in order to help mend his broken bones.

"Fool," he muttered, using a clawed hand to sweep her hair away from her lightly tanned face.

"Lord Sesshomaru! Lord Sesshomaru!"

Looking to his left, Sesshomaru could see his impish servant Jaken ambling hurriedly through the trees, holding the fire-spouting staff disproportionate to his own height.

"Lord Sesshomaru! What happened? I was concerned, My Lord!" he cried. Suddenly seeing Akina, he let out a scream. "A human? What's going on, Lord Sesshomaru?"

Sesshomaru did not reply right away. He looked at her face for a moment before he replied. "Nothing, Jaken. This human girl is a healer. She was mending my ribs, that is all."

"Are you bringing her with us?"

Remembering his promise with a sigh of remorse, Sesshomaru said, "I have no choice. I promised her."

What is the value of a promise? Sesshomaru wondered as he pulled his shirt back on and lifted Akina in his arms. I could have easily broken it and left her here for Inuyasha to find. But also, I cannot touch the Tetsuiga. Only a human can. Perhaps it would be best to keep her at my side.

It won't take much to earn her trust, but just in case, I think I should walk in circles for a few days so I have more time to convince her. She could wield the Tetsuiga for me.

"But Lord Sesshomaru!" Jaken began to protest.

"Silence," Sesshomaru said firmly. "A promise is a promise. I intend to uphold this one."

END CHAPTER

So what did you think? I decided I wanted to write a new story after watching some puppies die on TV. Sad, isn't it? But that's where I got the idea of being a healer.

Candy cane...Yum.

Authoress out.