Chapter 6: A knew incarnation and a new heart.
After that night by the lake Sesshomaru wanted to stay near Mei and besides she said it was good for Rin to be near someone her age and the fox kit would have to do. After coming to this conclusion he decided to join Inuyasha's group. He turned to watch Rin who was playing with Shippou and Kirara. "You can't catch me!" yelled the fox kit. " Slow down Shippou-kun," said the adorable child. They ran towards the trees and one minute they were in sight playing the next Sesshomaru heard, "Lord Sesshomaru help me!" Rin was in danger! He ran to her side and saw Mei protecting the children. Naraku's latest incarnation was standing on the other side of the field. It was thrice the size of Sesshomaru with sharp pointed teeth and beady little eyes in its fish like head. Although its body was human it wielded two gray bladed swords. "Shippou take Rin to the forest and hide again this is no place for children and besides if anything happens to my Ceirwy Fluffy will have my head!" nodding he picked up Rin in his arms (Cute!) and ran into the forest to hide.
Both warriors just stood there until the creature finally said, " My name's Mariknorum and I will defeat you half breed!" Feeling Sesshomaru's presence she sent the thought, 'cocky little bastard isn't he?' 'Indeed. Get rid of it.' 'Not yet I'm playing with it first I have a feeling about this one and it's a pretty good feeling to!' 'Fine but let me know when your done I'll be entertaining myself as well!' 'That idiot Naraku's still hanging around? Fool!' 'Yes but I'll take care of him!' Sesshomaru chuckles evilly in his head. Unlike Sesshomaru, Mei did her evil laugh out loud. Naraku, upon hearing that laugh from his little hiding smiled. Although he'd not anticipated that she was a hanyou but now it should be a good warm up for his new incarnation. "Well then lets get this party started!" She called playfully. 'Wow,' thought Naraku. 'She's so confident and well playful! I've got to have her on my side!' Unknown to him she knew perfectly well he was there. "So where's your creator?" She glanced harmlessly at Naraku's hiding place. Immediately the creature knew she knew he was there. "Your battle is with me!" It barked. "No! My battle is with whom ever MY master commands but seen as you attacked my Ceirwy I shall battle you!" Naraku was stunned! He couldn't tell who the Ceirwy was but he had a feeling that it was the girl meaning her master was… "Lord Sesshomaru! What a pleasant surprise!" Said the still recovering Naraku as Sesshomaru appeared in front of him. "Why did you attack the children?" Naraku was shocked. "I will not repeat myself!" Sesshomaru warned. "It wasn't me. It was Mariknorum, He…" "I don't care if that creature did it! Why were you near the children?" " Sesshomaru we were only passing threw." "Hey! Lord Sesshomaru!" yelled Mei as she jumped over the creature's head. "Why don't you try a little test…?" "Like?" " Oh I don't know say…find out if he's a demon puppet?" she said this with a malicious smile. "Ow!" she yelped as Marik's sword nicked her left arm. "Well that's not very friendly! I'm going to have to teach you some manners!" then out of nowhere she drew her sword and its blade slashed right arm. "Learned your lesson yet?" This was said tauntingly. With a battle cry it launched its self at her swinging its last sword, seen as the last one was knocked from his grip. Swiftly she sidestepped him and his sword collided and stuck in a large tree. Cursing he turned and saw her sheath her sword. Confused he just looked at her and she just shrugged saying, "I have honor and an enemy without a substantial weapon of some kind is considered defenseless. Besides I like to make things fun!" "It was Naraku who attacked the children and he holds my heart so I must follow his orders." He said quietly. "If I were to give you your heart back would you leave Naraku?" "Yes! I want to swim in the oceans and rivers! I hate fighting!" "Very well!" 'Fluffy.' 'Yes Mei?' 'Get rid of the puppet!' Marik saw Sesshomaru glance at Mei as she silently nodded. One minute Naraku was there the next the puppet was destroyed. She turned to him, "Try not to move. And please don't be afraid. By doing this we become cousins and so if either of us ever need help we can call on each other." He nodded. Mei closed her eyes and concentrated on the spirits within her. The spirit she chose was that of the water spirit. After explaining the situation she asked the spirit to grant her friend a water heart so that he might join in on the fun in the water. The spirit granted her request. Channeling the heart threw Mei the spirit gave Marik the heart. Slowly Mei stopped glowing blue and stepped back. She looked exhausted! She smiled at Marik who was listening to his heartbeat.
Waving goodbye after apologizing to the children for attacking them they, Sesshomaru, Mei, Rin and Shippou, all watched Marik swim off into the distance. "Why don't you two meet us back at the campsite?" asked Mei encouraging the children to run ahead and once they were out of sight she slowly started after them. About half way there she started to slow and finally Sesshomaru gave her his arm to lean on. That speeded up the process and finally when they got back she turned to Kagome and asked her to fetch the small leather chest from her pack. Kagome brought it to her and she pulled out a vial of red liquid that looked like blood and drank it quickly. Then passed out in sleep.
He had watched her and recognized that vial. She had used it before when he had nearly killed her during one of their regular sparring matches. This meant that she had nearly died giving him that new heart! He would not let her make the same mistake and end up killing herself!
When she woke up it was the middle of the night and she went to sit up and get a drink when a clawed hand handed her a cup of water, "Here." Nodding she sat up and drank it. "Why didn't you tell me?" he asked. "Tell you what?" She looked away guiltily. "That you were dying?" She looked away, "I'm strong enough. I knew I could make it," she whispered. "But what if you hadn't? What would I do with out you?" The last part mad her blush profusely and she kept her face away so he wouldn't notice. No one said anything but the last thing Sesshomaru remembered was falling asleep with Mei in his arms.
