Final fantasy 7

Inuyasha drummed his fingertips against his knee. Kagome had insisted on stopping so that she could bathe. Sango was along with her, and Shippo had joined them, while Miroku sneaked peaks at them. Inuyasha sat behind a large boulder, waiting impatiently. He knew it wouldn't be long before the girls noticed Miroku, and then the yelling would begin. It was then that they could continue collecting the Sacred Jewel Shards.

And then he heard it, though it did not come form Kagome nor Sango. It was further away then that, and more of a surprised yell than anything. Drawing Tetsiaga as he rose quickly to his feet, he headed towards the woods. He could smell fear. He came to a halt as someone came stumbling out of the trees, falling back.

It was a young woman, seemingly twenty or so, with beautiful, long brown hair drawn back into a braid with a large, pink bow. She wore a tight, spaghetti-strapped, pink dress that buttoned down the front, and was just an inch longer than too short. Her large, green eyes went wider as she fell, and began to scramble backwards, looking up at the demon hovering over her.

The demon wore the clothing of a samurai; the wide, gray pants, and the black over shirt tucked into the belt. His face was long, and his hair drawn back in a ponytail with locks on either side. There were long fangs pointing out from the upper lip. His large hands had long claws that flashed in the sun. His ears pointed out as he tilted his head as he smiled craftily at the girl.

"Hey now," he said, still smirking, "You put up quite a chase. But now--"

"Hold it!" snarled Inuyasha, brandishing his sword. "Leave her alone!"

The demon looked up at him in surprised, not sure what to make of this statement. He then stepped forward, but the others had joined him, brandishing their own weapons.

"Mind you own business half-demon! This doesn't concern you, any of you!"

He turned back to the girl, but she had seemed to have disappeared. There was a quiet, awkward moment in which they looked for any sign of her. She then peered out from around Inuyasha. Inuyasha jumped a little at her sudden appearance. How had she suddenly got there!

"What the!"

He became suddenly alert as he noticed the demon fleeing. Beginning to pursue him, Inuyasha came to a sudden halt, and instead sheathed the Tetsiaga. He turned back to the others. His eyes then went wide as he blushed at the notice of her beauty. Miroku seemed to notice it also, and clasped her hands in his.

"My dear, you must be very frightened. But do not worry. We're here to protect you. By the way, what is your name, and would you do me the honor of bearing my children?"

"Uh, my name is Aerith…"

"Aerith, such a beautiful name for a beautiful woman. Why don't you and me spend the night together?"

"Don't listen to him, Aerith," snapped Kagome. "Miroku's a perv. Just stick with me and Sango." Shippo poked her gently from where he was on Kagome's shoulder.

"Um, why was that demon after you?"

"Would it be alright if we eat?"

They sat in the grass in the shade of a tree, eating some ramen that Kagome had brought form home. It was a peaceful day; the sun bright, and the birds chirping away happily.

"So why was that demon after you?" inquired Shippo. Aerith sighed heavily and closed her eyes, lowering her noodles.

"His name is Kazuhito. He works for the son of a demon lord, Sesshomaru." Inuyasha jumped to his feet suddenly in anger, catching Aerith by surprise. The others either gasped, or didn't know what to say.

"Sesshomaru!" said Kagome suddenly. "But, why is he after you?"

"What's going on?" demanded Inuyasha. "How do you know him?"

"Inuyasha, settle down," said Sango calmly. "Let her speak. Aerith, what could he possibly want with you?"

"Well, you see…" She cut off, not sure what to say. she bit her lower lip, and adverted her eyes as she spoke in a low tone. "I and Sesshomaru were once together…as a couple, as lovers." This time everyone let out a loud gasp.

"What!" roared Inuyasha. Aerith flinched.

"But, how, why?" said an amazed, confused Shippo. "He's a jerk! He's evil!"

"He's not bad if you get to know him," she replied haughtily, blushing deeply.

"Yeah, right," snorted Inuyasha. "Try having him as a brother!"

"It's true," snapped Aerith, rising angrily to her feet. "But there had been a strange woman visiting the castle of late, so here I am."

"Who has been visiting," said Kagome calmly.

"A priestess named Kikyo," she replied, turning to look at her. "I fear to know what it is that he is doing."

Sesshomaru, lord of the western days that were given to him after his father had died, paid little attention to the food that was laid out before him. his chin rested upon his fist, his face straight, as stared across the table at Kikyo. He couldn't understand why Inuyasha like her so. True, she was beautiful, and had a great body, but so did Aerith. He wasn't sure why, but he like Aerith's cheerfulness, but he couldn't tell her that. He was surprised to discover that she had run away.

"So you agree to my terms?" He realized he had been spacing out.

"Repeat them," he commanded.

"I'll kill Inuyasha for you if you allow me to use your sword to bring me back with it, along with Inuyasha. I will make him fight for you, loyal to you. do we have a deal?"

"Yes, except that I'm coming with you. I do not trust you."

"Very well," she said with a curt nod. "Then you can retrieve your woman. What do you see in her, that you do not see in me?"

"Something you will never understand."

That night the group slept beneath the stars, hands on weapons. Inuyasha remained awake, staring at Aerith in curiosity in the moonlight. What about her did Sesshomaru like? Inuyasha couldn't understand what it was. She seemed bossy and impudent. He then became aware of her mumbling something in her sleep. But as he leaned closer, she sat bolt upright, hitting him in the face with her arm. He tried to muffle the groans as he glared at her.

"Hey, watch it!" he snarled through his teeth.

"I'm sorry," said Aerith suddenly, placing her hands to her mouth. Inuyasha became calm as he saw the worried look that passed over her face.

"It's alright, I suppose," he mumbled.

"What were you doing?"

"Oh, I, I couldn't sleep. You were muttering in your sleep. Bad dream?" His voice seemed unwilling, and almost uncaring. He folded his arms in his sleeves, and turned away, his eyes shifting to glance at her.

"Yeah," said Aerith with a soft sigh. "It's all dark, and it's like all hope faded with the light. Then, there's my home, deserted and in ruins. But then it's filled with people, yelling and running as fire spread everywhere. Sometimes, I can still feel the heat, prickling against my skin. And then darkness. No sound, and no sign of life."

"Hey, I got something to show you."

Helping her to her feet, Inuyasha lifted Aerith gently and held her close with one arm as he jumped up into the tree's upper branches that they had been sleeping under. They stopped on one of the upper braches, right near the top. He set her down gently next to him, supporting her back with his hand. He heard her gasp, and Inuyasha smiled.

The night sky was alight with stars, like swarms of fireflies. The moon shown beautifully before them, seemingly larger than ever before, its soft glow radiating against their skin, making them stand out like specters. As she looked at Inuyasha as the moonlight fell upon them, and she nearly fell out of the tree. His hair was raven black, and fangs no longer poked out over his top lip. His ears had become normal, like a human's, and instead of claws he had short nails.

"Inuyasha! Is the you!"

"Yes," he replied softly, bowing his head, and then tilting it a little to look at her. "Because I am half-demon, every full moon I become human."

Aerith held up her hand as if to silence him, and pointed towards the ground where two undistinguishable figures prowled the ground. One was taller than the other, but they did not appear to be friendly.

"Who are they?" whispered Aerith.

"My human eyes can't make them out," said Inuyasha softly, squinting in the darkness. The moon didn't cast its light upon the two figures. "But I bet that that is Sesshomaru and Kikyo."

She looked at him curiously, almost frighteningly. And yet, though his focus was on that of the two people bellow. So was intent the look in his eyes, the pain and the loathing that dwelt in them, that she dared not break the silence.

"Kikyo…"

"Are you alright Inuyasha?" she asked softly. This seemed to snap him out of his trance as he turned sharply to look at her.

"Yeah, I wonder what they are doing…"

"Probably looking for us by the way it seems. Should we surprise them?"

Inuyasha nearly fell from the tree and into the darkness, as Aerith suddenly held a long, metal rod. He was a little surprised at this, but seemed to recover fast.

"Does you sword become its true form when you are human?"

"Indeed it does. Shall we?"

Aerith nodded, and they leaped down at the same time, the wind blowing their hair up and back, whistling past their faces as the nippy air cut at their eyes and face. Inuyasha landed gracefully, catching Aerith as she came down beside him. Sesshomaru turned gracefully to look at them, blank faced, as the dead priestess turned sharply to face them.

"Ah, so there you are, Aerith," said the lord son, taking an elegant step forward. Aerith tightened her grip on her rod, and he came to a sudden stop.

"Hello, Inuyasha," said Kikyo slowly.

"Kikyo!" snapped the young demon. "What are you doing with…him!"

"Helping me of course," he replied amusingly. "What is the matter, brother? Afraid to kill your love?"

"Kill!" snapped Inuyasha. "But, Kikyo, you're yourself is already dead!"

"Not anymore," sneered Kikyo. "Thanks to Tetsiaga's twin, I'm not." Aerith's face became hard as she burned cold, merciless fury into the priestess.

"Sesshomaru, you didn't!"

"I am afraid I did, my love."

He stepped forward. Inuyasha moved in response to stand in front of the young woman. His eyes darted to his sleeping friends. Why were they still asleep? Sesshomaru followed his gaze.

"Your friends have been doused with sleeping powder, dear brother. If I were you, Inuyasha, I would move aside. Kikyo just may put an arrow in you."

"Go to hell! Just leave us alone! And stay the fuck away from Aerith!"

"Touchy, touchy…" he said teasingly.

Withdrawing Tetsiaga as it became its true form, he smiled wickedly. He lashed out quickly with a slight roar, before going flying back to the side. Sesshomaru seized Aerith by the forearms, making her drop her rod.

"Let me go!" she spat, trying to free herself from his sturdy grip.

"Aerith, what happened to us?"

"Too many secrets…" There were tears in her voice, and her voice was weak.

Sighing heavily, he looked at Kikyo, who was aiming an arrow at Inuyasha's heart. His young brother was growling fiercely, sprawled on the ground, watching them with malice and loathing in her eyes. He let Aerith go, and she promptly backed away unsteadily.

"Kikyo, leave him be. The deal is off."

"What?" she snapped, her brow narrowing, not relaxing her firm grip on the bow.

"You heard me. say good bye!"

he suddenly turned, lashing out at her. Her eyes went wide, and her arms slacked in surprise as his claws came into contact with the shoulder that had killed her once before. dark blood flowed down from the wound, staining her clothes, and ground around her. She stared at her bloody hand, and then at Sesshomaru in disbelief and horror. Snarling suddenly, she ran off, and disappeared into the woods before anyone could say anything. Sesshomaru turned to Inuyasha, and pulled him to his feet. Inuyasha pushed him away, and Sesshomaru looked at him for a moment before turning back to Aerith.

"There is only two things that I ever his from you. one was my true feelings, and the other one…" He went suddenly quiet, and turned to look at the moon. Aerith let out a little gulp as she watched him.

His face was so calm, but there was anguish and hurt there, like the shadow of something long past. She wasn't all too sure what to make of him then, but she knew that he was not what he seemed to be.

"What is it?" she asked quietly. Inuyasha was unsure of what to say or do.

"You were not my only love…" he said slowly. "I had one before you. she gave me something I should have kept…"

FIN