The Elf with Green Eyes

When Kagome awoke, she stared at the ceiling for a moment, groggily... she sat up and looked around... and immediately wished she hadnt... Her head was killing her. She suddenly thought of her grandfather, and the menagerie of maladies he attributed to her in order to cover for her frequent absences from school... She quickly forced herself to concentrate on her present situation, and her eyes took in the room. It was a nice room, really... not too big, not too small. She was sitting on a rather comfy bed, and the bandages on her stomach seemed fresh...

'Wait... bandages... wha? And where are my clothes?'

She was wearing a robe over the bandages, and as she looked, the robe and bandages were all that covered her... She tried to think back to why she would be bandaged, but at that moment, a black cloaked figure walked in, carrying some soup.

"Oh, good... you've awakened... how are you feeling?"

Kagome was startled, and tried to gather her robe around her body.

"What? Who are you? Where are my clothes? Why am I bandaged?"

"Easy, easy... so many questions... That bump on your head must be worse than I had thought. My name... is Malhavoc"

At this, the man set down the soup on a nearby table, then reached up and slid off the hood of his cloak, revealing a rather handsome man with black hair down to his shoulders. His piercing green eyes locked on hers, and at this moment, he was sowing the seeds of his plan...

with the sudden lock on her gaze, he was casting one of his favorite spells, Modify Memory on the young girl.

"You, my dear, have been under my care for the past few days. You are in my castle, and the reason for the bandages is that you were wounded several days ago, quite badly... Seems that demon you travel with-"

"Inuyasha?" She interjected

"Yes... it seems he flew into one of his full demon rages and attacked you... almost killed you... Luckily, i was nearby, heard your scream, and rescued you. You were already wounded when i got there, and i had to bandage you up so you wouldnt die... Your outfit, I'm afraid, was in tatters, and i had to remove what little was left in order to bandage you properly. You are quite the lucky girl, dear. I wasn't sure if your were going to make it."

All the while, as he spoke, he was tailoring Kagome's memories, editing them to reflect what he had just described, in vivid detail. She could remember the feeling of Inuyasha's claws...

"NO!"

Mal leaned over and hugged her gently "Now now my dear. Your safe here... I wont let anything happen to you"

Kagome believed every word of it... After all, her memories of Inu's eyes as he turned full demon, the fear she felt... they seemed so vivid, so real... if you can't trust your own memories, what can you believe?

She felt she could trust this man...

'he really is quite handsome... what, with his long black hair, and those intense green eyes, and those long, pointed ears... wait.. what? Pointed?'

"You... you're not human!" she exclaimed. He chuckled softly at this.

"You're absolutely right. I'm not."

"A demon, then?"

He smiled..."No... I am an Elf... I, like you, am not from this world."

She looked startled... "H-How did you know that?"

He smiled and winked... "Why, you talk in your sleep, my dear... You really should work on that."

She smiled softly at this, as Inuyasha had told her that often...

"Soup? You gotta get your strength back."

Meanwhile

"DAMMIT!" Inuyasha punched the wall of Kaede's hut. "It's been three days! I'll bet it was that Bastard Naraku! He's probably laughing his head off at me, somewhere... DAMN!" He punched it again.

"Inuyasha, calm down!" Miroku stood up. "All we know is that Kagome is gone, and that it seems Sesshoumaru is involved. Don't do anything rash. We need to find out where she is without destroying the nearby counryside."

Inu whirled on the monk "What was that!"

Miroku put his hands up, trying to defuse the situation. "It's just that... whenever Kagome gets kidnapped, you tend to let your anger take over... and vent it in ways that could be considered... hazardous to others..."

Inuyasha glared at him, his claws twitching, and Miroku sweatdropped.

The demon stomped outside, leaping into a nearby tree to sulk... Miroku looked at Sango. "I wish Kagome was here. She's better at dealing with him..."

Sango smiled "Yes, and the fact that he's hopelessly in love with her helps, though he'd never admit it"

The monk chuckled. "And the fact that she can 'Sit!' him doesn't hurt..."

The two laughed at this, then engaged in a bit of conversation.

Back at the castle

"How are you feeling, Kagome?" Malhavoc walked into the bath area of the castle, where Kagome was soaking. She saw him and smiled.

Normally she would freak out if a man entered the baths while she was in, but there was something about him that made her feel at ease. She couldn't quite place it, though... "The Bath is great, Malhavoc!"

"Please... call me Mal, or Mally." He smiled at her, and she realized what it was... that smile! and those eyes! She found herself completely relaxed around him... "Alright... Mally it is then"

She stepped out of the Bath, and Mal handed her a towel to dry off and cover herself up.

"You've done quite the job of healing me, Mally... it feels as if I was never wounded at all!"

He smiled at this, noting the irony of her words... "Why thank you. It wouldn't do to have a lovely young lady like yourself die, when i could save you."

Mal stopped and thought...

'Am I Flirting with her? Hmm... how odd... No matter. 'Tis all for the jewel.'

..and Kagome blushed at the compliment.

"Kagome... I've heard rumors that you can sense the Sacred Jewel Shards. I didn't believe them but I'm curious all the same."

She blinked... "H-How did you know?"

"The villagers spoke of a raven-haired beauty wearing strange clothes and traveling with demons. The clothes I found you in could definately be considered odd by the people of this realm, and the First part is definately true..."

Kagome blushed even redder, and the Elf's heart raced

'Why does her blushing excite me so? Could it be that, in toying with her emotions, I've left my own wide open? I mean, she is attractive, and kinda sweet, and...NO!'

Mal shook his head... "What's wrong, Mally?" Kagome put her hand gently on Malhavocs arm.

"N-Nothing... I just needed to clear my head... That's all... Thank you for the concern. I... I need to go for a walk..."

Kagome looped her arm through the crook of his elbow, and he blushed slightly,

"No... I just need some time to gather my thoughts... Y-You should get some rest." With that, Mal seperated from Kagome, walking out of the baths. Kagome just stood there in her towel, confused...

Whats Happening To Malhavoc? Find out in Part 6!