Wounded

The flames danced in rhythmic harmony as the animals sang their night song. The two demons sat in silence, watching the fire with distant eyes. The day had been exhausting. They had encountered another battalion of Naraku's demons. They had been in greater numbers this time. It had taken them a little over an hour to kill them all, though many escaped. They were probably getting close to Naraku if they kept running into his demons everywhere they turned. Silence ran through the clearing as thunder roared in the distance. The animals ceased their song and fled for shelter from the oncoming rain.

"Should we find shelter?"

SesshoMaru looked skyward.

"In about an hour."

The silence returned to the clearing as the demons continued to watch the flames dance. The scent of burning wood filled Karappo's nose and she coughed to get it out. That was one thing she didn't like about having a super powerful nose, ever smell was amplified. Another boom of thunder stirred her from her thoughts as she looked to the east, where the storm was coming from.

"Where is Rin?"

"What?"

"Rin, the little human girl you travel with, where is she?"

"Back at my palace with Jaken. I always leave her there when I hunt down Inuyasha or Naraku."

"He's not dead."

"Who isn't dead?"

"Inuyasha, he isn't dead."

"What do you mean? There was no way he could have survived your poison."

"Sango gave him the antidote. He's alive."

Both stared at the fire once again, both wondering what they would do next.

"Why do you hate Inuyasha? From what I had seen, you had seemed to care about him."

"I did, I loved him."

"What happened?"

"I'd rather not talk about it."

Karappo pulled her knees close to her chest, placed her arms upon them and rested her head on her arms. She sighed heavily as she remembered what had happened. It still hurt to think about it. She had given him everything and then he threw back in her face. That jerk didn't deserve to survive but he did. She felt her eyes start to water but quickly wiped the tears away before SesshoMaru could see them. Unbeknownst to her, he did see them.

"I still feel the pain when I think about it. It hurt so much. I had given him my most precious gift and he just went off and fucked a clay pot. I had given him everything, everything I fucking had. And he threw it all back at my face. He tore me apart, left me with nothing. I couldn't take the pain. I pulled out a knife and cut my arm. I did it many more times. Each time, writing on the black walls, of my room, with my blood. Finally, I had had enough. I put that blade to my wrists and slit them open. I threw the blood everywhere until I collapsed on to the black floor. As I was blacking out, my mother came in and saved me. When if first woken up, I thought the last four years of my life had been a dream. But then I saw the bandages on my wrists. I didn't want to believe it but I know it was true."

Karappo pulled up the sleeves of her shirt and fishnet top to reveal large, long, peach colored scars upon her wrists. SesshoMaru moved over to her and looked at her wrists as she continued.

"I had tried killing myself many times after that but each time ended in failure. That's when I discovered dark magic and witch craft. I practiced every spell and curse I found. Then I found a spell to make you into demon. That's when I captured a shadow panther. I transferred its soul into my body. It filled up other half of my soul since Kikyo took half of it and took it to hell with her. No matter what I do, I still feel the same pain that caused these scars. I just want to die."

Karappo finally broke down. Her tears poured like silent rain as she heaved staggered breaths. She sat there crying with SesshoMaru dumbstruck next to her. He didn't know what to do. This had never happened with Rin. He knew humans did this when they felt extreme pain or sadness. He also knew that some demons did too when they lost their family or mate. He didn't know if he should comfort her or let her cry herself to sleep. His answer soon came for him when she wrapped her arms around him and buried her face into his neck.

SesshoMaru placed his hand upon Karappo's back and began to gently rub it. He could hear her begin to calm down. As he did this, memories of his mother returned to him. He remembered that she used to hold and stroke him in a similar way when he was upset. He remembered how she would whisper to him as she stroked his back. He could smell that she had stopped crying and was merely breathing heavily. He continued to stroke her back until her breathing had calmed. It was then that he realized that she had fallen asleep. He gently removed her arms and lifted her up with his tail and arm as he turned and began to search for shelter from the storm.

As SesshoMaru walked, he felt Karappo shift in his arms. He looked down to see that she had scooted herself closer to him. He gave a smirk at her unconscious action. He soon found a small but suitable cave. He laid her down gently on a patch of vegetation as he gathered wood and started a fire. As he sat, watching the flames, he thought through what she had told him. He did feel some sympathy for her. She had given up her most prized treasure, the one she meant to give to her husband, to that stupid hanyou and he didn't even show her anything in return. That is a pain he couldn't even imagine feeling. He looked to her sleeping form. She looked so peaceful, like her life was perfect. But he knew it wasn't perfect. It was far from perfect. But he hoped that he could make it perfect for her. With that, he too, fell asleep.

Naraku had listened to Karappo's story with much interest. He had no idea that she had tried to commit suicide or that she was no longer innocent. That ruined part of his plan but he could kill the mutt for it later. All that mattered to him now was putting his plan, for capturing her and making her his, into motion. He sent Kanna away as he went back to reviewing his plan. It was perfect. Flawless to a tee. He laughed in delight as he waited for dawn. By noon the next day, she would be his.