Thinking

"Talking"

'Written'

Singing

Drunkenness

Again I seem to be having more difficulties within the chapters, but I guess that's to be expected. I also do not claim to own anything of this series, save for my plot and own character.

Attack take two

The sunlight streaming through the trees tugged delicately at the 'fair maiden', bringing consciousness to the forefront and shoving blissful ignorance into the trunk, bound and gagged. Groggily opening her eyes, Taki heaves a sigh. All this beauty surrounds her and yet here she lies unable to even sit up correctly. Damn cruel and unusual punishment. Hearing misplaced laughter, she tries futilely to look up cringing in pain in the process. Well I'm glad someone's getting their jollies, cause I'm sure not.

Slowly it dawns on her the smell of blood isn't as putrid as was previously. Maybe my nose is busted. Surveying the wasteland that is now her body, white peeking out from underneath torn clothes is a startling turn of events. What the is her clever remark.

Taking note the raggedy appearance and sloppy work of fastening the cloth secure, she is heavily reminded of what a mummy would look like. Yeah, a mummy whose on meth perhaps.

"Oh. She's awake now master Jaken "; a child's voice is heard accompanied by the sound of feet trodding upon grass and an indignant huff. Rin

Skidding to a halt just before her, Taki is able to see the concern and hope shining in the girl's big brown eyes.

"Are you alright, Taki? You're not in pain are you? The bandages aren't too tight?" How she manages to say so many things at once I have yet to figure out. But she is such a sweetheart.

Before she can think what to tell the girl, an annoyed squalling fills the silence. "What?! How dare you Rin! Insinuating that I cannot perform such a simple menial task as bandaging a stupid mortal child!"

Rin's pleas fall on stunned ears; an accusing finger is pointed weakly in Jaken's general vicinity. He's the one responsible for this? That figures. No wonder I look like a raggedy Anne doll"I supervised!" Rin chirps delight clear in her face. Aww, that's so cute. But wait a minute. Why would Jaken of all things be the one to patch me up, he doesn't seem the caring type. I wonder what happened.

Not one to stay on one subject for too long, she soon wonders where he is, the handsomely inhuman being that not only saved her life (as far as she knows) but also allowed her to stay within his group. Maybe He's the one who commissioned the ever squawky one to bandage me up. Mind quickly turning to a much more basic fan girl state, she does not realize when the subject of her fancy comes back to their camp, elegant strides pausing to inspect the bizarre girl and her outlandish garb.

Hm. What foolish creature would willingly wear something asoffensive and provocative as this? Could it be that she knows not the consequences or is she merely tempting fate? Realizing a familiarity in her dress another thought strikes the Lord. She is from another era. The wench that travels with his hanyou half brother is said to be from the 'future'. It is possible that this girl is the same. Interesting.

Sighing audibly, the girl's enthusiasm turns melancholy. Who am I kidding here, there's no way he'll ever… feel the same. Downcast eyes swirl with unused tears as her head lolls to the side, a lone tear escaping her. Feeling eyes upon her she lifts her gaze only to meet the cool amber of her "Lord". A mad blush stains her countenance and quickly the girl about faces, twisting her head away from him.

Oh my God! He was standing there all this time?! What if he knows what I was thinking?! I'm such a baka

The Demon Lord having smelled the salt in the air instinctively fixed his gaze to the girl's face to discern what transpired to make her cry; only to have her blush profusely at meeting his heady stare. If he were a lesser being he might have actually smirked at her reaction. But being the great Taiyoukai as he is, he opted instead to find a comfy place where he could sit at leisure at yet still overlook his surroundings and the people in his 'care'.

(3 days later)

Three days later finds our spunky heroine back on her feet, minor injuries notwithstanding, perusing the forests design and its inhabitants. New Yukata replacing the reprehensible outfit of before and a shorter hairdo, now reaching between her shoulder blades, attend the girl making her a quite different person; though internally she is anything but.

Sigh. It's been four whole days. Well technically it's more like five days since I came to be here, but it's been four days since I came into this little group. In all that time, not once has he spoken one word to me, not one! I only vaguely know what his voice sounds like, but that's because I remember him addressing Jaken on one or two occasions and I keep repeating it in my obsessed little head! It's not as though I expect him to be all friendly and cuddly. In fact that would probably scare the hell out of me if he were. But still…again she sighs but this time out loud.

I really need to get a life.

Moping, absorbed with worthless thoughts, Taki continues her ever slow pace, the only sounds her intermittent sighs and occasional clinking bell.

Not so surprisingly, she soon is lost and at a standstill as to which way she should travel. The unexpected snort and coarse hand placed roughly over her mouth throws the girl an unwanted curve ball, as she struggles against the new invasion.

"Heh Heh, whas a widle lass lic yursef doin' all out hic here, eh?"Clearly drunk and very much unwelcome, Taki shudders despite herself and the warming temperatures.

Releasing her mouth but not her body, he drinks her in, swaying while doing so. "Ser' I us ly. Yor delecable, dar' lin. Let me jus' get a luk at you, see wat hic we cn do." At this he locks his glossy, giddy eyes with her own and she cannot help but see the gleam shinning in them.

Crap. I've got get out of here and now! Renewing her struggle, she is rudely surprised to find that his grip is sober, even if he is not. "C'mon sweets, c' meer an I'll show you som'fin." Dragging her to him, he crushes her body uncomfortably to his own and she can now tell just what that 'something 'is.

(Attempted rape coming, do not read if you don't like. Skip ahead.)

Squirming tirelessly, Taki can think no other thoughts save please someone, help me. Suddenly his face becomes much closer to her than she would like, in a clear attempt to kiss her. A harsh slap echoes through the clearing, past the trees and momentarily she is freed.

Hah, how'd you like that, you stinking bastard. Hand to sore check, he utters a "bitch" before he crashes into her, knocking her down with the full force of his body weight abrasively a top her.

"Ju thaht that was funny I but. I'll forguv you, but I'll need som'thin in return." So stated his tears into her flimsy yukata with the force of a brute, ripping the delicate fabric at the neckline, and staring down at the pale flesh beneath it. Chuckling derisively at his fortune, he reaches to grab at her only to be met with a dulled pair of canines to his needy hand. Swearing again, he punches her repeatedly in the face, blacking an eye and trails of blood seeping from her mouth and nose.

Liking his results when her thrashing ceases, he prepares to lose himself fully in her, spreading her yukata and legs open further. Just before his lips reach their desired destination they are gone with the swift precision of the killing perfection.

(Scene over, resume reading enjoyment)

Golden eyes rove the disembodied filth with much disdain and contempt. Setting them elsewhere, he examines the ill fated girl, a growl torn from his throat. Attire easily forgotten he scans the rest of her form, bloody and battered. Having enough, he soundlessly lifts the girl to him, taking care with old wounds as well as new, and sets off to their camp.

Awaking from a dreamless sleep, Taki aches and pains from before are dull in comparison with the stinging hurt of her swelling face. Only one eye is in use and the other is limited to half open. Dried blood clots her nose and the taste of tangy copper is present on her palate.

Well I must be in the living because this hurts too much for the underworld.

Feeling something at odds with her current hurt, she looks down to see white and fluffy lying on her lap. Its Sesshoumaru-sama's fluff. It's so soft and unusually warm. Did he give this to me so I'd be more comfortable? From her position propped up with the support of a hearty tree, she can see a nearby field and stream. The dragon Ah-Un rests not far from her.

I'm not entirely alone.

A clean breeze sweeps in, ruffling her tangled tresses and prying her damaged yukata loose once more. Despite all the pain and stinging in her eye, she feels almost at peace in such a setting at this.

Words tumble out of her mouth, forming a melody to a song she had forgotten some time ago.

Oh he was a lord of high degree and she was a lass from the low country, but she loved his lordship so tenderly. Oh sorrow, sing sorrow. Now she sleeps in the valley where the wild flowers nod and no one knows she loved him but herself, and God.

Closing her abused eye, she continues oblivious to all that surrounds her.

One morn when the sun was on the mead, he passed by her door on a milk white steed. She smiled and she spoke, but he paid no heed. Oh sorrow, sing sorrow. Now she sleeps in the valley where the wild flowers nod, and no one knows she loved him but herself and God.

This time she opens her one good eye staring at her lap and continues in a much quieter voice, full of longing and hope.

If you be a lass from the low country, don't love of no lord of high degree. They haint got a heart for sympathy. Oh sorrow, sing sorrow. Now she sleeps in the valley where the wild flowers nod, and no one knows she loved him but herself, and God.

Continuing to stare blankly at her hands, she does not notice the Demon Lord approaching until he stops just short of her, an unreadable expression in place.

Glancing upward she has the good graces to blush, before she addresses him.

"My Lord, please forgive me! It's my entire fault that this happened, I shouldn't have wandered off! I was being careless and I got what I deserved. Please. Forgive me or punish me as you see fit." Closing her eye, she waits for impact before realizing it's never to come. Opening her blue orb she sees he is gone.

He left. Maybe he's going to find something heavy to beat me with. Though in retrospect he doesn't need anything for that, he's perfectly capable himself.

Shortly after, he returns, grasping something white and dripping with water. Again he stops just before her and tosses her a rag soaked with water. Confused, she looks to him for an explanation.

"Put that to your eye and it will calm the swelling."

His simple statement leaves her more confused than previously, but nevertheless she follows his instructions. Thinking that this is actually the first thing he's said to her, Taki grins stupidly, reminding Sesshoumaru of a certain little girl.

Turning on his heels, her words replay in his mind. Is it possible for a lord of higher standing to fall for the lowly lass? Rather than ponder the meaning behind those words, he finds a spot by a tree far enough from the girl, yet close enough her smile can still be seen.

So ok, I know this chapter is way later than normal but again, I had difficulties deciding what to do and where to go. Fortunately I managed to get the main parts I wanted into it so though I know it's far from perfect, it at least resembles what I had in mind.

Hopefully the next chapter won't be as hazardous, though right now I have little to no idea what I'm going to do with it. As a side note however, I reached a little past 2,000 words, which I think it cool, but it may also mean that most of those words are complete and utter crap. Eh.

So sorry for the longer wait and hopefully I will be onto number 7 soon. R & R!