AbhorsenSabriel87: Hello people! I'm back, but apparently this fic isn't very popular.
Kieira: Of course it is milady!
Sabriel: Outside of you OC's?
Kieira: Well, um...
Sabriel: Exactly. But now we get to figure out who exactly Nikki is in this one! --does sad happy dance as a short version of Lirael walks in (Note: If you have not read Lirael, e-mail me and I'll give you a description.)--
Kieira: Lady Kiora! --smiles--
New OC: --smiles-- Evening Kieira! How go the studies?
Kieira: Very well, Abhorsen-in-Waiting.
Sabriel: Hey Kiora!
Kiora: --looks at me with a blank look--
Sabriel: Oh, right, you don't know me as Sabriel. You know me as... --ninja poof of smoke and AS87 is now a girl with white hair and green eyes-- Everyone, meet me as Inara!
Kiora: Much better. I hate it when you look like my dead aunt.
Sabriel(aka Inara): Aw, shut up Kiora.
Kiora: If I must shut up, how shall I do the disclaimer you so desperately need so that you are not sued?
Inara:...Good point. Disclaimer!
Kiora: AbhorsenSabriel87 (aka Inara) does not own Lirael, Sabriel, or Inuyasha so please do not sue her or else your lawyers would be very much out of a job.
Inara: Nice. Now, reviewer responses and the polls, and then we move on to the fic!
Kiora and Kieira: --half-hearted-- Woot.
Inara: --sweat drop, goes back to original form as Sabriel with white hair and green eyes (e-mail me if you don't get it!)-- Question #1) The answer is sometime during chapter 5 or 6, I'm undecided on that for now.
Kiora: --glares at me-- Question #2) The answer is in this chapter.
Kieira: And Question #3) The line "Against my will I stand beside my own reflection" is in the song titled "Crawling" by Linkin Park.
Inara( now Sabriel ): --smiles and punches fist in the air-- Reviewers!
Kieira: ........
Kiora: Um, there are none...
Sabriel (oh, confusing...): What?! Now I know no one likes this fic! --sobs--
Kieira: --comforts her, sees that Sabriel has a new review-- You havetwo reviews!
Sabriel: --jumps up and reads them-- Woohoo! Responses coming right up!

LunarIce3 - Sweet! You just made Sesshi-boy go splat!
Kieira: Isn't that bad, milady?
Sabriel: ... A little. --hits LunarIce3 lightly with her signature rubber mallet-- There. I'm good. Anywho, thanks for reviewing both chappies! Woot! I have a new reviewer!

kitsune-kun - Thanks for reviewing! And by the way... HELL NO! She is so NOT related to Fox McCloud! Two different spellings and species! --shivers-- That was creepy...

Sabriel: That was so cool! A new reviewer! WOOOOOOOT!
Kiora: On to the fic while we calm her down! --trying miserably to restrain Sabriel--

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"Out of the frying pan, into der fire."
Swedish Chef

---"How is she?" The question was directed at an old medicine woman from Kagome as she walked out of the hut. The medicine woman looked much like Kaede, except that both of her eyes were amber like Inuyasha's and clearly usable, her white hair was in a beautiful braid down her back, and she was thinner and slightly taller than Kaede. The old woman looked at the miko, for she had seen the strange wanderer only once before but knew her well. "Her wounds have been treated," she replied, her voice young for such an old woman, "but I fear to remove the prayer beads from her right arm. Otherwise, all she needs is rest for a while." She paused for a moment, looking out on the fiery horizon painted by the sunset with a concerned look upon her face. Kagome quickly noticed this almost instantly.

---"What is it?" she asked. "Is there something else?" The medicine woman looked at the miko with uncertainty, then sighed and motioned her into the hut, walking ahead and holding open the grass door. Once Kagome had entered the house, she saw a fire blazing in the center, Nikki on the opposite side, once again almost stripped bare and covered in a thick blanket. Her wounds were rebound with fresh bandages and herbs, and she lay asleep, sleeping the calm way of the dead or exhausted. The elder woman walked over and knelt beside the sleeping woman, Kagome kneeling next to her. "A question, Lady Kagome," the medicine woman asked.

---"What Miss Kaerou?" Kagome replied, looking at the "doctor" in a very puzzled manner.

---"Did you notice anything strange about the young woman?" the medicine woman continued. "Any markings, like tattoos or birthmarks?" Kagome blinked and looked at the ceiling, trying to remember. "Only two," she said slowly. "There was the kanji for darkness on her right wrist, and a really intricate cross on her spine between the shoulder blades. Why?"

---"Are you sure there was nothing else?"

---"If there was, I would've seen it," Kagome stated, now getting slightly impatient. "What do you have to say Kaerou?" The old woman named Kaerou bowed her head and flipped the blanket off of Nikki. Another kanji lay just above her navel; the kanji for earth. "This young lady is not all that she seems, Lady Kagome," she continued, picking up Nikki's left wrist gently and turned it so the Kagome could see the underside. Kagome cocked her head in confusion as she saw the mark; the kanji for light. "What does that have to do with anything?" she asked, confusion eminent in her voice.

---"That is not the only other mark I have found," Kaerou continued, placing Nikki's wrist back on the tatami mat. She motioned Kagome around to Nikki's feet and pointed at the insides of the ankles where two more kanji lay present; water and wind. "How could these have just appeared out of nowhere?" Kagome asked. "Is it because of that spell she tried to use on Inuyasha?" The old woman shook her head. "I do not know of that spell, but I can tell you this; these marks didn't just appear, they were always here."

---"But how is that possible? I didn't see them anywhere."

---"Those are not the last either." The old woman gently turned the unconscious girl onto her side, not even making the girl stir an inch. "Look here, Kagome." Kagome looked at the young girl's back, but didn't see anything out of the ordinary other than a few faded scars. She glanced down to her lower back and saw a very interesting mark; three silver dragons in a perfect circle, tails meeting in the center, wings barely touching on the outside. It was about the size of Kagome's palm, but she hadn't seen it on her when she first bandaged her, or the second time. Kagome glanced towards her neck and saw the cross, still between the shoulders, but also caught yet another kanji on the nape of her neck; fire. "What do they mean, Kaerou?" she asked. The elder woman lowered Nikki's right shoulder back to the mat and covered her up again. Surprisingly, through the whole process, she had remained asleep. Kaerou looked at Kagome blankly, then returned her golden stare to Nikki's sleeping form.

---"I do not know, Kagome," she replied, "but I think it'd be wise if you and your other companions watched over her tonight with me." Kagome nodded and muttered "sure" as she got up and went outside to tell the others.

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---Just before nightfall, the companions had regrouped in the large hut and had made themselves temporarily at home. Inuyasha sat but the window, looking out onto the rapidly disappearing sun, which now only remained a sliver on the horizon. Kagome and Sango sat talking next to the fire while Miroku once again told riddles and fables to Shippo and Kaerou cooked stew and noodles for dinner. It was a very relaxed setting, but something ominous hung over them, as if the unconscious and still unknown Nikki was a symbol of foreboding. Just as the sun was about to sink below the horizon, moments before nightfall, all conversation ceased as she stirred and opened her eyes. Kaerou moved into her line of vision and looked straight into her deep eyes. "Where am I?" Nikki asked, still sleepy from her bout earlier.

---"You are in my hut," Kaerou told her kindly. "Your companions are here as well." Suddenly, a flash of realization passed through Nikki's oceanic eyes and she quickly sat up. "How long have I been asleep?" she asked. Even though her voice was calm, everyone could sense urgency, and Inuyasha could almost smell her fear. "About half the day," Kaerou replied calmly, returning to the meal she was preparing. "It is nearly nightfall." As a look of shock passed her face, the young lady snatched up her things faster than anyone could see and bolted out of the hut. Inuyasha was up immediately, as were the others, and followed her outside as she ran towards the woods. Inuyasha caught up with her before she reached them and grabbed her tight to prevent her from escaping. Which was exactly what she was trying to do.

---"Let me go!" she yelled at him, trying to twist away from his strong grip, but he held fast. "No way," he replied, squeezing tighter as the others caught up. "Not until you tell me what's going on here!"

---"I can't tell you now," she whimpered. "Please let me go! Night approaches"

---"So what?" Nikki tried once more to escape as the last rays died out and twilight was set upon the land. He let her go almost at once and she stumbled away from him, but only a few steps. She turned around and gazed at them all, but with unfamiliar eyes; ice blue like the glacier mountains of the north. A slight smile crossed her face, but it was sad and apologetic as she spoke. "I'm sorry, but I couldn't tell you my secret," she whispered as her red locks transformed into silver ones, all but her bangs, which remained copper as ever. Her nails grew longer, small animalistic ears poked through her hair like Inuyasha's ears, and her eyes reflected the starlight from above like-

---"You're a cat demon!" Inuyasha shouted, placing his hand on Tetsusaiga. The newly transformed Nikki closed her eyes and nodded. "Yes, that I am Inuyasha, but like you I am only half."

---"Then, why did you change back now?" Kagome asked, completely confused. "She has a point," Miroku added. "I was under the impression that hanyous transformed on their given night, then returned to normal at sunrise."

---"That would be true, but mine is an unusual tale." Nikki flicked her hair back behind her shoulder and began to walk gracefully into the forest. "Wait a minute!" Shippo called out. "Aren't you going to tell us?" Nikki stopped for a moment and gazed back at the group. "I can perceive that my accompanying you any further would only result in more distrust among us," she said calmly. "I am no longer welcome or able to travel among you."

---"Who says?" Kagome asked, startling the female hanyou. "Just because you didn't tell us doesn't mean you lied to us. You're still welcome to travel with us." Agreement passed through all of the others but Inuyasha, who protested, "But she tried to kill me!"

---"Almost all of us have tried to kill you at one point or another Inuyasha," Miroku replied calmly, "and you still trust us, don't you?"

---"Barely" was the muttered reply, but none of his group really cared. Instead, they all walked back to the hut with their new companion, who now had Kirara perched upon her right shoulder. Once they returned to the hut, Kaerou had finished the dinner she was making and simply looked over the newly transformed Nikki with interest before serving up the food. As they ate, Kagome suggested to Nikki that she tell them her story. Nikki quickly agreed, happy to see that instead of being despised or mistrusted (other than by Inuyasha), she was able to stay with them and continue her journey among friends.

---"Well," she started, "I don't really know where to begin, but I guess I should start at where I came from first."

---"'A good story should always start at the beginning'," Miroku quoted, making Nikki smile and nod enthusiastically. "Of course," she replied. "That was an honored saying among my people, on both sides."

---"Who are... were your people?" Sango asked carefully. Other than a slightly sad smile, it didn't seem to affect their storyteller in any way and she answered just as mysteriously, "It depends on which side you speak of, but I'll tell you of both sides.

---"My mother's side is simple enough; she was the empress of a cat demon tribe to the far north, just a few miles from both the western shores and the glacier mountains. We lived in a forest that had protected us for many generations, so well, in fact, that few knew we even existed. I doubt even your father knew of us, Inuyasha, we were so discreet."

---"Feh," the other hanyou muttered. "Who cares if my ol' man knew or not?" Nikki simply shook her head, smiling, and continued her story.

---"My father's side, on the other hand," she continued in the same storyteller voice, which was very compelling in that exotic lit of hers, "was a clan of human from a land to the far west, across the ocean. It took them years to reach Japan."

---"Were they from China?" Kagome asked, but Nikki shook her head. "No," she replied, "they were from my homeland much further away. We called it the Emerald Isle, but I believe it is known to the rest of the world as Ireland."

---"That explains your accent," Sango said. "It seems so exotic compared to anyone else that we've met." Nikki laughed quietly, rolling like the sea, but calm as a breeze. "Thank you, Lady Sango," she replied, eyes twinkling like blue topaz. "That is one of the kindest things anyone has said about my language or culture. Now, if I may continue my tale of my father's people?" When a small, and slightly sheepish agreement went about the room, the Irish storyteller nodded and continued.

---"My father was the leader of his clan as well. His religion was that of the Celts, a warrior race of Ireland and its neighbor Scotland. We practiced magick in everything we did, and swordsmanship was second nature to us. His name was Pitte McCloude, and his family was not as safe as my mother's, mainly for the fact that a rival clan was hunting them, the McDaniels.

---"The McDaniels have hated the McCloudes for two thousand years, ever since we stole a legendary sword from them. The sword that I, in fact, carry on my waist."

---"Humph, doesn't look too special," Inuyasha muttered, but instead of angering Nikki, it made her smile at the dog demon and say in a purring voice, "Yes, but you know first hand that my sword is not all that it seems, Inuyasha."

---"What, you mean it can kill you?" Nikki only rolled her eyes and continued with her story.

---"I guess you could say that my story really starts with this sword and its creation. This sword was created over twenty-five hundred years ago by a great sword smith for a legendary hero named Kane McDaniel. But the sword smith had the power of prophesy, and knew that a short while after he gave the sword to the hero that it would become corrupt by his greed and inner evil, which Kane's family had kept suppressed for generations. This sword he named Desdemona, which in our language means 'of the Devil'. It proved to be a fitting name for the sword, for true to her maker's words, twenty years later, the 'hero' turned to the path of evil and became an evil warlock. He destroyed villages for simple profit and went to work for our sworn enemies, the Catholics, to destroy our people. He kept his sword in safe keeping for almost five hundred years, but then-"

---"Wait a sec, hold up," Inuyasha interrupted, snapping everyone out of the half-demon's storyteller haze. "He kept the sword safe for five hundred years? I thought you said he was human." Nikki gave him an annoyed look and rolled her eyes. "I was getting to that," she said, a trace of ice in her normally warm voice. "The sword's power are thus; it can cut through any material, except when it is evenly matched; it can call upon elemental forces to give its most powerful technique; and the blade itself can be lit on fire." She paused and smiled at the group mysteriously, drawing everyone in closer so they could hear the rest. "But the power for immortality was our own, only enhanced by the sword's powress. A sorcerer had blessed his family when the sword was created, and so that power was infused with the sword. The sword smith who created this sword, however, placed another spell on the sword saying that if someone were to steal the sword and cleanse it of its evil, that the sword would belong to his family and all of its powers would belong to them."

---"Let me guess," Miroku said, placing a hand on his chin in thought. "Your ancestor stole the sword and purified it?" Nikki nodded enthusiastically, smiling brightly. "Yes that's right!" she exclaimed. "Excellent work, Lord Miroku!" Everyone but Miroku, who beamed at the compliment, rolled their eyes and waited for the story to continue. "As I was saying," Nikki continued, "my grandfather stole the sword and purified it. His name was Mavrik McCloude, and he was but a simple rouge when he heard of the sword and its powers. But, only three days after he stole the sword, Kane came to him to ask for the sword back... Well, 'ask' is too nice a word, for 'demand' would be much more fitting. My grandfather, of course, refused, and Kane cut him through the heart and left him for dead. Fortunately, the sword had already given him the power of immortality, so he recovered by the next day, but during that time, Kane had decapitated his mother and sisters."

---"Wouldn't they be okay though?" Shippo asked, startling everyone with the knowledge that he was still awake. "I thought it gave them immortality, and that means they can't be killed, right?" Nikki shook her head solemnly. "The only flaw in the blessing," she replied. "Decapitation is the only way to kill an immortal of our society, otherwise they will heal from any wound or sickness, even poison or mortal injuries, and he knew this. He just didn't realize that his family didn't have the sword, but that it had been put in safekeeping. For almost five hundred years, my grandfather guarded it well, but fifteen hundred years ago, he met my grandmother and bore a child; a son, my father, Pitte McCloud. He also had two sisters and another brother over the years, but only he and his brother had been given immortality, because another flaw is that is only passed through the men."

---"Why?" Sango and Kagome asked at the same time. Nikki smiled and shrugged. "That is not clear," she said. "It could be perhaps that the woman could make their own spells to live longer, or that we are said to be protected by the Goddesses more, but no one really knows for sure. All I really know is that for the females of our clan to be given the immortality by the sword, very strict conditions must apply."

---"Do you apply to these conditions, Lady Nikki?" Miroku asked. Nikki shook her head, her silver and copper hair shining in the firelight. "Not I," she continued. "My reason is my demon heritage, which I am getting to.

---"My father was given the sword when he reached the age of five hundred, as he was the oldest, and the heir to almost anything his father possessed. Four hundred and fifty years later, he was walking alone on our northern shores when he found my mother, half-drowned and nearly dead on the beach. He knew that she was a fabled demon of the far lands, or here I guess, but he had been brought up to respect women and help where help is needed."

---"So he brought her back and healed her up?" Shippo chirped, a smile on his face as he waited anxiously for the rest of the story. Nikki nodded, smiling as if remembering a pleasant memory. "Yes, that he did," she added. "It took him the better of a year to do so, but eventually, she had recovered completely. Over that year, you could easily guess, my father fell in love with her. It was no wonder why; she was undoubtedly the most beautiful person he'd ever seen, and she was so kind to him when she talked to him over the final two months of her recovery." Nikki reached over to her kimono and dug through it, then pulled a scroll out of a hidden lining. Unlike the rest of her kimono, the scroll had no trace of blood upon it, and she handed it carefully over to Sango, who was in the center of the group. "This is a painting of her that I managed to salvage from my village. The man with her is my father." Sango unrolled the scroll and everyone crowded around to get a good look.

---A man and woman sat side by side in garden in the picture. The woman had the unmistakably pointed ears of a demon, and a slender black cat's tail sat in her lap. Her face made her seem a goddess, for it was smooth and cream colored. with high cheekbones, almond shaped eyes, and a sloping jaw. Her eyes were oceanic blue, like Nikki's in her human form, and were only accented by the beautiful dark blue kimono she wore, with emerald green dragons twining through the fabric. She bore a four-pointed star on her forehead, which was shadowed by softly curled raven's hair that flowed over her shoulders in a gentle cascade. The man beside her was taller and more muscular, but he was as slender as she, and his face, although strong, had no trace of hardness. His hair was a vibrant red, as if his head grew fire instead of hair, and his eyes were each a different color, the left being ice blue, the right emerald green. His skin was also cream colored, but slightly darker and more weather-beaten that his companion's. He wore black garments in the winter setting, and silver circle of dragons, identical to the tattoo on Nikki's back, hung around both their necks in a pendent. Nikki's sword was strapped across his back, and a bow and quiver of arrows draped across the young demon's. Snow gently fell around the two, but they remained untouched by the soft white ice. Sango handed the parchment back as Kagome said, "They seem so right for each other."

---Nikki nodded and placed the parchment back in its safe spot, smiling sadly. "Yes, they were," agreed. "But only after a couple years together, the McDaniels found out where my father's family was hiding and nearly killed all of us. My father ended up killing him for good, but they later found out that he had three sons, all of whom were carrying his blessing of immortality, for once it touches a family, the spell can't be lifted unless you find out the proper counter charm, which none of our enemies ever have."

---"Do you know the counter charm?" Kaerou asked, as interested as everyone else in the story. Nikki shook her head. "It is in our most powerful book of spells, and that was stolen around the time I left to find Naraku. May I now continue my tale?" Once everyone had nodded or agreed in one way or another, she nodded and continued.

---"My father didn't want to put his family in any more danger, and my mother saw how distressed he was over it and offered to shelter them here in Japan among her clan. Seeing as how it was his only option, agreed, and for almost ten years she led his family to hers here. When they got here, my mother was told that her father had recently passed away and that she was to be their leader because she was the only heir to the throne. During the first months of her rule, she and my father announced their marriage. That was about six hundred and forty years ago. Forty years later, I was born." She sighed and rubbed her neck as if it were stiff.

---"That was a really cool story!" Shippo said excitedly. Nikki smiled and rubbed his head. "Just wait," she said. "It's not quite done yet."

---"What?!" Inuyasha groaned. "You've been talking nonstop for almost an hour, and you're still not done?!" Nikki gave him yet another annoyed look and sighed. "A good story takes time to tell, Inuyasha," she said. "And Mother said I was impatient." Shaking her head, Nikki once more continued her story.

---"One hundred and fifty years ago, by brother and sister were born, but unlike me, they were not hanyous. No, my sister is a full-blooded human, and her twin bother is a full-blooded cat demon. For some reason, their genetics were incompatible, but they look exactly alike, other than my brother has a tail and pointed ears. They both have my father's copper hair, as I do in my human form, and the emerald green eyes of my grandfather. They're inseparable, and probably the most capable sorcerers of our combined clans. We lived together happily until about fifty years ago."

---"Is that when Naraku attacked your village?" Inuyasha asked, this time genuinely interested. Nikki shook her head. "No," she answered, "but it was my first run-in with the ass." She motioned to her right arm and the prayer beads twined around the upper arm. "My reason for having these is his doing. He caught me on one of my transforming days, for unlike you Inuyasha, I naturally transform into a full demon on certain moons as well as a human. I was in my full demonic form, and he caught me off guard as I walked back from a meeting with the fabled priestess Kikyo, for I had come to her for advice on a problem of mine. I was heading back north when he challenged me to a battle. I accepted, but little did I know that he was much stronger than I, and I had not yet been given my father's sword. In the end, I lost, and he saw me transform back into my hanyou form at sunset. He also saw this mark of darkness on my wrist and cursed me so that the darkness and desire for blood in my demon heritage would be place within my arm and would take over my consciousness and make me become a savage monster." Nikki lowered her eyes to the fire and shook her head.

---"All I remember," she continued, "was immense pain in both my head and arm, and a deep red haze. Then I blacked out. When I came to, I was in my village with these prayer beads around my arm and an arrow wound in my right shoulder. My father told me that my mother had found me coming back to the village not myself and that she had to wound me and knock me unconscious for fear that I would slay her and my village. They managed to find a containment charm to keep it in place, but the curse was too far gone for a counter charm to work without killing me. So, over the next fifty years, I trained with Desdemona and made sure never to take off my beads unless it was a time of crisis"

---"So, Naraku attacked your village just recently then?" Sango asked. Nikki nodded. "I was on my way back from trading with a nearby human village, our herbs, vegetables, and minor weapons for their silk, books, and furs. I had also managed to get some gold as well, but that altogether is another story," she added hastily, a slight blush rising to her face. "Anyway, the silk was for new clothes, as we were about to celebrate one of our 'holidays' as you may call them, but they are sacred rituals among my father's people, and over the six hundred years they stayed with my mother's clan, the whole village adopted the customs.

---"When I returned to my village, all I saw was bloodshed. Not a single person in the village was alive except my closest friend, who died right after telling me that a demon by the name of Naraku had come, bringing thousands of demons with him and attacked, killing everyone but my littler siblings, whom he took captive. Why, I do no know. All I know is that I must find and kill that bastard before he can harm any others the way he harmed me." Tears once again dropped from her eyes silently, but she casually wiped them away and smiled at her companions. "I trust you shall accept my help?" Agreement quickly passed around the room until Kaerou hushed them all.

---"It is late," the old woman said sternly. "I want all of you to get some sleep now, for I will not have you leave unrested. No matter how fast you may heal," she added, smiling softly at Nikki, who nodded.

---"Oh," Nikki said suddenly, blushing slightly. "I almost forgot something. 'Nikki' is only a shortening of my real name. My birth name is Nekoakurei McCloude, as can be explained by my ears."

---"Okay," Kaerou said sternly, "no more talking. Time to give an old woman her rest!" Laughter traveled around the room and soon all was quiet in the small village where our heroes lay sleeping.

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Sabriel: Okay, I'm finally done with this chapter.
Kiora: --is gone--
Kieira: Milady, Lady Kiora has returned to her own fan fiction.
Sabriel: --sighs-- Ah well. I guess I can find someone- --older woman walks in, has shoulder length black hair and hazel eyes, slightly shorter than me-- Mom?!
Sabriel's Mom(aka FeralCat): Hello! I'm back from North Carolina!
Sabriel: --sweat drop-- So I see. Everyone, meet my mom, aka FeralCat. She's...well, my mom.
FeralCat: --smiles-- Yes I am, and I'm here to make sure you did your homework.
Sabriel: --eye twitch-- Yes Mom, I did.
FeralCat: Good. Now, onto these delightful polls.
Kieira: Of course, Lady FeralCat! --smiles--
Sabriel: --sweat drop-- Whatever. Question#1) What little goodie is in store for you next chapter? Question #2) How do you think Nikki got that "extra gold"? --laughs insanely-- And Question #3) Why is my hair white when my mom's hair is black?
FeralCat: Good question. --suspicious look--
Sabriel: --sweat drop-- Uh, I gotta go. R&R people! Don't forget the polls! No new chappie without answers! --runs off--