First Encounters

She loved being out in the sunshine with the warmth caressing her bronzed skin. The blossoms from the old tree were falling around her it was so beautiful. It was late in the afternoon and the sun would be leaving to let the night take over.

:ring, ring: "Uhhh.. the phone." (sigh) "I was hoping for a quite night."

She opened the door to the house she had called home for a year and a half now and went to the table just in the hall way.

"Hello!" trying to sound happy that she had to be disturbed.

She listened intently to the other voice on the other line that she knew oh so well. He had treated her when she had been broken and brought her to his family. It was the only family she had known for quite awhile now since she had moved to this country. She trusted this man and his family like no other even if they were not bound by blood.

"Yes Sota, I understand." She said trying not to sound to depressed.

He knew she loved his sister. They had bonded and she had tried to help but the health of his sister was steadily declining.

"I will, I'll see you soon goodbye." She breathed a sigh of sadness as tears welled up.

Sota had called to tell her Kagome was getting worse. She had been put in a home 5 months ago due to her ailing heart and she was getting to old to take care of herself. Kagome had 2 children from her marriage a boy and girl. They were a bit older then she and both were married with young children of their own.

Ariel grabbed her keys to the car and rushed out the door. As she drove to the home Kagome now resided in, she thought of the stories she use to tell her. She never believed them but loved listening anyways. She smiled a little as her eyes watered. All of Kagome's talk of adventure, love, heartbreak and a demon with silver hair. Ariel smiled a bigger smile at the last while shaking her head "demons" :humph:

When she reached her destination she went pass the check in desk to the room where Kagome now stayed. The people at the desk would understand and besides they knew her because she had come so often for visits before. When she got to the door she could hear Sota speaking as she opened the door. He was kneeling next to the comfy chair Kagome would sit in and look out the window. Her hair was gray with a hint of black and she always kept it pulled back in a bun style. Her eyes used to be the color of chocolate, but with age the had turned to a sad muted brown with a gray overcast. Ariel moved around to the front of her so she could see her. Kagome's eyes weren't as sharp as they use to be and a lot of her senses were used to smell the person who was nearing. Kagome smiled and Ariel kneeled down as Kagome placed a hand upon her cheek.

"Such a beautiful and strong woman, but I still do not see a boyfriend!" Ariel giggled and shook her head.

Kagome always did this to her it was a ritual to her. She knew why she didn't have a man in her life, but still prodded at the idea.

"I have no need for one right now besides why would I waste myself on petty things such as a man." she said raising her thin eyebrows.

"Umm Hmm." Sota clearing his throat at this statement.

"Sorry Sota, except you." She said with a doe like look and a crooked smile.

"Yes I see, Ariel can you stay with Kagome for a couple of hours? I need to step into the hospital and then pick up some new meds for Kagome, her children were here all morning and won't be back tonight." He asked her knowing he could trust her to watch his sister.

"Oh course Sota, you know I love sitting with Kagome."

Just then Kagome spoke up with her eyes wide " but Sota I don't want medicine. I just want to see him one last time!"

Kagome was upset and frustrated and Ariel could hear this in her voice, but wasn't sure what she was talking about. Sota stood up and kissed his sister on the forehead. Kagome grunted at the dismissal it irritated her when he didn't listen to her.

"I'll be back soon." He nodded to Ariel and left.

Ariel sat with Kagome who kept repeating herself.

"All he has to do is call to him." She said a little out of breath. Ariel tried to calm her by placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Why won't Sota go and get him?"

Ariel finally asked "Get who Kagome? Who do you want to see?"

"Him!" She was getting anxious

"I still don't know who him is Kagome, Tell me and maybe I can get this person for you." Hoping this would calm Kagome down a little.

Kagome had tears in her eyes now "The well! I just want to see him one last time. You need to open the well!"

Ariel thought to herself the well? But the well had been boarded up for years. Sota said it was dangerous for anyone to be in there and he had closed it off.

"who is "he" Kagome?" Ariel asked again. Kagome was quite for awhile and Ariel thought her ranting was done. A few moments later Kagome whispered "Inuyasha." Ariel had thought back to Kagome's stories. She's just not thinking right is all Ariel thought.

Soon Kagome fell asleep and shortly after Sota showed up. Ariel hugged and said her goodbyes quietly so as not to wake Kagome. It had gotten dark when she returned and as she was walking past the old tree, she turned her head to the direction of where the old well was. This place use to be a shrine when Kagome and Sota were growing up. Ariel stopped for a moment and then resumed her pace to the door of the house only to be stopped by a sound coming from the direction of the well. Her mind going over today's events and Kagome's stories

"I just want to see him one last time!" rang in her head.

Ariel was curious, but the stories couldn't be true or could they? She shook her head and went inside only to return outside with a crowbar in hand. Dammit what was she thinking! Sota had boarded up the doors for a reason and now she was going to tear them down. Sota had did his job well, but she was a strong woman for her size. All the training she has accomplished would pay off.

Sweat started to bead on her brow. " Damn how many boards and nails did Sota have to use!" She cursed him for being a man.

Was it really that dangerous? Finally the last board was tore away and she opened the door. She took a deep breath and exhaled letting her frustration melt away. This place is just old she thought, it didn't look dangerous. The moonlight played within the dark corners of the building to give some light inside. She made her way inside being very careful least one of the boards she stood on gave way making her fall. She made her way down the stairs which were creaking from her weight all the while. She felt like she was in one of those horror movies now and all she needed was something to jump out at her. All of a sudden a few birds flew past her head hitting her upright arms as she tried to cover her head fearing it may had been bats after her instead.

" AAAhhh.." she said as she hunched over trying to take cover. When they were gone she stood up straight with her heart still pounding in her chest.

"Damn birds scared the shit out of me." she scowled.

She realized she had made it to the center of the room and what look like a well that was half boarded up and half falling apart. There were stones from the well lying ion the ground. She pushed some of her long hair behind her ears and leaned over the side a little. I t was dark, very dark!

"Humph! Dangerous whatever!" She rolled her eyes.

What was Sota so worried about? She stood up straight and fixed the little blue heart that hung around her neck and placed a hand on the edge of the wall surrounding the well. Unfortunately she had placed to much pressure on and it gave way. She stumbled hitting her head and falling into the darkness of the well. With eyes closed she waiting for the ground to come up and meet her or plummet into a icy cold death trap, she just knew it either way it would cause more pain in her now aching head. It was taking to long for her to hit the ground as she started to think about opening her eyes she could see a light from behind her eyelids. She quickly opened them, but she just found herself sitting on the bottom of the well floor.

"How strange." with a confused look on her face.

She felt the knob on her head it had a little blood, but wasn't bad as the headache she was feeling it was ringing through her ears.

"uugghh… guess I'm going to have to take something for this killer headache." squinting her eyes, "Stupid well!"

She stood up and wavered a little, she hated feeling this helpless. She felt around to find something to help her out of the well.

"hmmm.. Vines I don't remember seeing any vine. Oh well I might as well use them to my advantage." She test one to make sure it was secure and started her way up.

Taking her what seemed forever the way she was feeling.

"It's about time." She was out of breath.

She really thought she wasn't ever getting to the top! It was still dark out she looked up at the sky not noticing her surroundings.

"I don't remember the stars being so bright tonight it's beautiful." staring in awe.

Ariel was so ready to get back to the house so she threw her leg over the rest of the way so she could stand on solid ground again. A frown came over her face as she looked at her surroundings. This isn't right she thought what the hell is going on?

"Where the hell am I?"

There were stairs, no door way, no building! Just trees and grass and…

"Where you are should not concern you, it should be about who? has found you." "MMMM… a tasty snack you might be but definitely not a meal. Oh well you will have to do until I find better." It laugh harshly.

Ariel turned her head toward the voice and found a large lizard looking monster with glowing yellow eyes.

"What the fk are you?" astonished to see what was before her eyes.

"I am a demon you worthless human!"

"You shall come over here and let me eat you." it snarled.

"Like hell I am you ugly fk." she could feel the panic coming, but she couldn't let it grab hold or she wouldn't be able to use the skills she was taught. Get a grip Ariel she said to herself no need to be scared it will just fade away saying this to herself as she touched the wound on her head.

"Then I shall kill you slowly!" He was on her fast, but she was faster probably because of her small compact body.

She dodged his fist coming down on her. "Talk about slow maybe if your fat ass lost a few pounds you'd speed up your ugly ass a little bit!"

She dodged his moves as she tried to look for any weapons she could against it, but the only thing she saw was around the belt of that thing. Damn she thought she'd have to get close, way to close to get them. It's tail whipped her off her feet, but she bounced back with a flip.

"you're a fast flighty human aren't you?" it was enjoying it's rumble with her. "No matter you will be in my belly soon enough!"

She had grabbed a thick stick from the ground and took the stance to defend herself. She was not going down without a fight!

"The only thing your eating is this stick!" With that she took him off guard and hit him square in the head. She had hit him so hard the stick had broke. Damn her only weapon!

The lizard man turned it's head back to look at her, with eyes glowing a hot orange red. Shit it was pissed now!

"You will die for that bitch!"

She ran, She ran as fast as she could. She didn't know where or how far back that thing was from her until she felt this presence closing in. Ariel's instinct to over and she slid dodging a blow and as fast as she had did this she was up and going in a different direction. That same presence was felt again and as if knowing what her assailant was going to do, she spin kicked as he appeared in front of her catching him in the mouth. While he was stunned she tried to get close so she could grab the daggers on his belt. They weren't her katana's, but they would have to do. She hit with the palm of her hand in the spot where she knew a human was vulnerable just below the rib cage, but this thing was no human and it was taller then one. She kicked at it's knee to hopefully bring it down.

"Almost there!" She said.

She almost had them but it had slammed her back so far that she hit a tree about 20 ft away. She thought to herself great now her back hurt now. It was coming for her, she gathered herself up and ducked out of the way before it's fist met with head. Splinters sprayed out from the tree and hit in the cheek making it bleed. She ran, she knew she couldn't win it was just to damn big! She wasn't thinking about what was in front of her.

"Shit!" She had almost fell off a pretty high cliff, She could hear the water below, Then that feeling again, she turned around so fast she lost her foot hold and started to fall as the fist came to her face but not touching it's mark. She let out a scream as she fell the rest of the way.

"Inuyasha what is wrong with you tonight?" The not so small now fox asked.

He could see something was agitating his friend. Inuyasha paced back and forth stopping only for a time rubbing his brow. There was some kind of conflict going on in his friend.

"Come sit down and eat the food I've made." Inuyasha growled at the fox with his disproval. "Well fine! I'll eat it all I don't know why I even bother to ask you always eat everything before I can."

Shippo grabbed a fish on a stick and began to eat. Inuyasha continued his pacing not paying attention, Suddenly the night air brought a scent of a female, it had a hint of those oriental lilies that only grew in the gardens of royalties. It smelled good, but something else he sniffed the night air again realizing there was danger! Another demon was in his forest! He took off like lighting.

"Inuyasha were are you going!" Shippo said as he dropped his fish and started to run after him. "Something has to be very wrong."

Inuyasha ran in the direction of the scents. Then he heard it, a female scream of panic.

"You bastard! Not in my forest you don't." Growling his disproval.

She closed her eyes waiting for the last moment when she would die. She couldn't muster another scream the descent took her breath away. She felt a arm go around her waist the arm was warm and smooth. She opened her eyes and realized she was heading back the way she had just left. That thing would be there!

"No, no let me go!" Squirming in his grasp.

"Stop moving girl you're safe." he told her

She stop squirming in the man grasp. They soon landed back on the ground a few feet from the edge she just fell from.

"Thank you for returning my meal to me. I thought I would have to find another." The lizard said while licking its lips.

Inuyasha let Ariel's waist go and turned with sword drawn.

"Demons like you give others a bad name. You won't be eating anything but my sword!"

Ariel was still facing the other way so she turned around to she who her savior had been. She found herself staring at the back of a tall, masculine, silver haired man. :humph: a man with a cocky mouth it figures.

"I can handle this myself I don't need a man to save me!" she said trying to sound confident.

"Whoa… I just saved your ass!" Scowling and shaking his head. What nerve she had talking to him like that. Who did she think she was?

"I can save myself. I don't need no stinking man to help me!" She said.

He couldn't believe he was having this conversation. She had now moved up just past him. His mouth was a gaped, what did she think she was doing? Was she stupid! Next thing he knew she was running at a alarming speed toward the other demon. She wasn't meaning to… he thought "Dammit!" He took off for the same target. The lizard wasn't concerned with the humans attack, but with the other demon coming on top of him.

The lizard turned to avoid the slashing sword Inuyasha was striking with. It gave Ariel the perfect chance to slid her body close in to retrieve the daggers he held on his waist. Inuyasha saw the girl slid her small frame in between the arms of the beast. What was the girl looking for a death wish? He saw the glint of something she was grabbing. The other demon had avoided Inuyasha's first attack, so he came in for another. The lizard grabbed his sword in mid strike, but not paying attention to the girl.

Ariel with daggers in hand turned under the lizards arm and round to the backside of him plunging her weapons into his sides up to the hilt.

"AAAHHHH… bitch I'm going to kill you!" it said.

He may had thought that but he forgot his second foe that was on him. Inuyasha slashed the final blow and the demon was gone. Now it was just him and her standing there looking at each other. OMG not other one when is this going to end? When am I going to wake up? she thought. Inuyasha eyes widened when he realized he was staring into those eyes. She took off running so fast. She couldn't stick around and get eaten by another demon!

"Wait! Wait stupid stop running!" He ran after her knowing this would be his only chance.

She was getting tired, how much longer could she go on. She didn't know where to go except back to the well.

She could see it come into view and she fell.

"UUUNNHH…" She rolled herself onto her back so as not to leave herself helpless when defending herself.

He came up on her fast and stopped about 10ft away.

He was harsh sounding "I said to wait didn't I!"

Realizing how he sounded he softened a little. "Hey your not hurt are you?"

He knew she was but thought better to ask she seemed scared, but didn't have the scent that was weird. He stepped closer and closer. She just kept staring at him unable to do anything but back up. He walked faster "Hey didn't I say stop." She was looking him over trying to find something to use on him. What can I do? She screamed in her mind. She saw his dog like ears on top of his silver mane and could only think of one thing.

"SIT BOY!"

His eyes widened as his body went to meet the ground. Groaning in the hollow dirt that was now his resting place for the time being, she gathered herself up still watching him. She couldn't believe that it worked!

A panting fox came up beside the dog "Inuyasha what happened?" Shippo then turned to the other figure and looked at her. Her vision began to get blurry dd..did he say Inuyasha! She felt as if she couldn't breath and passed out. Shippo just stood there looking from groaning Inuyasha to the beautiful girl who now laid on the ground.

Sorry for any mistakes I made in the story I try to go over them before I summit this is the new chapter 1 with hopefully all the corrections made. Thanks for reading

sacredwhitewolf