Chapter 1 – She Decends

Disclaimer – If you recognize it I don't own it.

OoOoO

For some strange reason I never imagined dying would be this painful. It just never occurred to me that there would be this much pain. First of all I always thought I would die a nice painless, peaceful death despite my dangerous gallivanting in the feudal era. And even when the dark thought of the after life crossed my mind I always somehow imagined it would be…more graceful at least, with that pretty white light and some angelic figure stretching his beautiful hand out to me; my savior you know? I mean after all I've been through, all I've done in this era as a dimensional alien one would think I deserved at least that much if I were to meet my end here.

But nope.

I'm lying here; here where? I'm not even sure anymore all my eyes can register at this point is a blue haze surrounded by green fuzz. My brain is telling my I'm looking at the sky through the trees so I'm guessing I'm still in the forest and wasn't transported to yet another alternate universe. One in which priestesses where killed brutally for their goodness. No good deed goes unpunished I suppose.

I attempted to huff, sigh, something to express my frustration but it only resulted in blood sputtering from my lips violently. The wound seemed to cover my entire mid section. I don't even remember what happened. All I remember is hearing someone scream my name, sounded like everybody, then turning around only to be blasted back at least 5 yards, slammed into a tree and then dropped to the floor, courtesy of gravity, and now I lay dying in a growing pool of my own blood, and I'm in excruciating pain. The pain is so…so overwhelming and debilitating that I can't even really feel it, it just feels like an enormous weight on my body like someone dropped a ten thousand ton boulder on me. There was no beautiful hand, no angelic figure, no savior, unless you count Inuyasha screaming his head off.

And you know what's funny? I don't even care at this point as I'm watching my vision slowly darken; the chaos around me felt miles away, as though I were submerged in some dark murky lake. Even my sense of feel was starting to deteriorate, the excruciating pain that was crushing my body just barely registered in my brain as a dull throb by now. Strangely enough though, my sense of smell seemed to have been enhanced ten fold for it was only because I recognized the scent of his fire rat haori that I realized Inuyasha had finally made his way to me.

"You're…late." I managed to choke out, or at least I think I did. I could hardly even hear myself much less what Inuyasha was trying to say to me as I vaguely registered the cool droplets falling unto my face. They were probably tears. What do you know, Inuyasha's crying for me. I honestly find it amazing and rather disturbing that I don't care about anything at this point, this is so not like me.

I vaguely felt his hands shaking my shoulders and I tried to make a face at him to let him know that he was only making things worse, but then I suddenly felt my body shudder violently on it's own and then everything, dissolved away into blackness.

OoOoO

There are many things that the Lord Sesshoumaru does that most could not imagine him doing; mostly because he is too perfect. They just assume that he is naturally the way his is all the time, that he just wakes up beautiful every morning, if he sleeps at all anyway. But in truth and in fact, every now and again the great Lord Sesshoumaru of the Western Lands does have to have a bath.

There are many that would kill for the privilege of accidentally coming across the great Lord Sesshoumaru in a natural spring completely naked and sopping wet, but of course any that have had the privilege, don't live to tell the tale. So as Sesshoumaru stepped out of the spring and made to pull on and tie his hakamas he wondered how he was going to slaughter this new intruder as he sensed something approaching.

He was not immediately alarmed, however, as the presence did not feel threatening or nervous or even excited. The aura of the being approaching him was completely neutral, as if it were asleep. Soon he could smell the intruder as well and became all the more curious as he inhaled deeply, instinctively savouring the scent of smoking cinnamon and warm caramel. It was practically edible. It wasn't long before he noticed he had stopped dressing and turned to face the direction from which the scent and aura were approaching, leaving himself in his half tied hakamas, his hair still damp as it stuck to his face and back.

As he stared up at the sky, waiting to finally get a visual of this being that had him so rapt, he felt a light breeze crawl across his skin, almost caressing him. He instantly knew it was no ordinary wind and he wondered if this was actually some sort of trap. Well if it was then he'd deal with it when the time came but for now, he must see just what it is that has had him so entranced for the past thirty seconds.

And then, finally, he saw it as it pushed its way down through the branches, the warm dusk light shimmering off it's opalescent surface giving it an ethereal glow. Sesshoumaru stood completely still as he watched it slowly touch down a few feet in front of him. It was a pod or perhaps a bud, a flower bud. Sesshoumaru couldn't decide what it was, but before he could wager any more guesses, it cracked. He watched curiously as the pod split cleanly down the middle and slowly began to open.

The scent that issued from inside the pod was so strong that Sesshoumaru took a small step back, countering his initial instinct to step forward towards it. The scent was the same, but strong and far more potent. He watched as a thick, almost completely clear liquid began to seep through the crack to pool around the pod. The liquid poured and poured out of the pod until the puddle was only inches from Sesshoumaru's bare feet before it trickled to a stop and the pod slowly fell open to reveal what was left of it's contents.

Sesshoumaru was genuinely surprised by what he saw. In fact, he was so taken aback that he had half a mind to turn on his heel, pick up his clothes and leave the spring that very moment, fore there lay, on the floor of the pod, his half-brother's strange human wench who has supposedly been dead for the passed year.

Sesshoumaru stared at her for a moment making a short assessment of her and noticed certain interesting facts. The first being that she was as naked as he had been only a few minutes ago, then there was the fact that her hair had grown to almost twice it's original length, it was without a doubt longer than his and it was jet black with the slightest hue of burnished bronze in the sun light. Her skin was smooth and pale like fine porcelain. Her aura felt completely different, in fact, in accordance with her aura she was neither human nor demon. And then there was her scent; that intoxicatingly delicious scent of smoking cinnamon and warm caramel. He was quite certain that she did not smell like that before, if she had he would've remembered.

He watched her unconscious form for a moment more before he turned away and continued dressing himself. It was not until he had nearly tucked his feet into his shoes that he heard her stir. He glanced over his shoulder and instantly regretted it. As their eyes met, he was slightly surprised to find himself staring into cool Persian blue depths that completely contrasted with the warm glow of everything else about her. Again she entranced him and he almost growled at himself before he tore his eyes away and began to walk away, his face a blank mask as per usual.

He heard shuffling and scrambling behind him and assumed she was climbing out of the pod but stopped when he heard a distinct thud and a small moan of pain. He thought hard for a moment before he glanced over his shoulder at the pathetic girl as she slowly sat up while rubbing her head before she tried to stand again.

He faced forward again and ignored her until she finally spoke. "Wait…" Sesshoumaru almost stopped again; even her voice was completely different. It was smooth and almost tangible as it floated over his ears causing them to twitch. It wasn't particularly strong or commanding but something in it made him have the strong urge to stop and turn to face her at least, but he didn't.

Sesshoumaru kept walking and ignored her as she scrambled to follow him. He continued to walk and ignore her as she tripped and fell over roots and shrubbery on the forest floor, no doubt she was scratching and cutting herself in the process as she slowly fell behind, unable to keep up with his long calculated strides.

Finally Sesshoumaru found the clearing where Jaken and Rin had set up camp, his half-brother's wench far behind and likely lost. As he stepped into the clearing Rin and Jaken looked up and greeted him. "Sesshoumaru-sama! Rin missed you while you were gone!" Sesshoumaru barely acknowledged the girl as she barreled into him, wrapping her arms around his legs. She had grown over the past year. Her head know reached Sesshoumaru by his waist and she was very nearly twice Jaken's size so he thought twice about shouting at her now, especially since Sesshoumaru had officially given her permission to 'play rough' with Jaken if he was ever mean to her.

Sesshoumaru glanced around the camp and saw that Jaken had taken care of getting food for Rin, as Sesshoumaru ordered him to, a fire was lit and Ah Un was already asleep, sitting there like a huge ominous shadow in the back of their clearing. There was nothing left for him to do so Sesshoumaru simply sat with his back against a tree on the edge of the clearing watching Jaken and Rin quarelling over Rin's treatment off him.

They had long since settled down for the night when Sesshoumaru caught a familiar whiff. Impossible… He thought, but against all odds, there she was, stumbling into the clear like a toddler who's been spending the whole day playing in mud.

She was filthy, covered in dirt and grime, cuts and scratches. Her hair was full of leaves and twigs, completely matted, it was most likely the cause of most of her falls given its length and the way it tangled around her feet and ankles. Jaken jumped to his feet and most likely would've been ranting by now about filthy humans had Sesshoumaru not stood up and shoved him aside none too gently with his foot.

"How are you here?" Sesshoumaru's tone was cold and threatening, sending shivers down the girl's spine.

The girl swallowed hard, her eyes wide but not fearful merely…lost "Scent of water on rocks… and wild peppermint."

Sesshoumaru's countenance did not betray his surprise but he was absolutely certain that he had masked his scent on the return journey to the camp. Just then, Rin pushed passed Jaken who had been trying to keep her back and ran up to the girl with a huge grin on her face, took her hand and said, "Pretty Lady your back! Why didn't you come see Rin?! Rin missed you!"

The girl looked down at Rin and cocked her head to the side, her lips sealed and her countenance portraying her confusion. "And why are you naked and all dirty? Sesshoumaru-sama, can Rin take pretty lady to the river to clean off?"

"No Rin, night has already fallen." Sesshoumaru said sternly not looking at Rin but keeping his cold gaze fixed firmly on the blissfully ignorant girl.

"But Sesshoumaru-sama, she can't stay like this! And she needs clothes! Aren't you cold pretty lady?" Rin said turning back to the girl who just cocked her head to the side again and stared at Rin. "Why won't you answer pretty lady?" Rin said shaking her hand slightly.

"Cold…" the girl said and Rin huffed before she turned back to Sesshoumaru.

"There see, she's cold! And she can't put on clothes being all dirty like that so we have to go to the river and wash off!" Rin protested. Sesshoumaru almost raised an eyebrow and thought absently that he must be giving her too much leeway for her to be behaving so arrogantly to him now, or perhaps he's just rubbing off on her.

"Rin, you are not leaving the camp site until morning. I will take her to the spring and Jaken will procure clothes for her in the morning. Never speak to me in that tone again." He said as he gave Rin a stern look and ignored Jaken's incoherent noises of protest.

Rin seemed to shrink and pouted nervously as she began to realize what she had done and whispered a soft apology. "Now go to sleep." Sesshoumaru added before he turned to the girl and noted that she had been watching the scene avidly, as a new born baby would, as if she were taking in such sights for the first time.

"What is your name wench?" Sesshoumaru ordered as he stepped closer to her. He really had no interest in learning her name again, he was only trying to confirm the theory he had developed thus far.

"Name…?" the girl said questioningly as she looked up at him. He narrowed his eyes slightly and searched her features for any signs of insincerity and found none. Instead he found himself staring into her eyes. They were profoundly deep yet at the same time held a young, shallow innocence in them. Again the thought of a newborn came to mind. Sesshoumaru sighed slightly as he came to the conclusion that his theory was correct. The girl had in fact lost all of her memories.

How else could things be explained? She appears out of nowhere and just so happens to come across The Sesshoumaru of the Western Lands who has, in the past, tried to kill her many times. So then why on earth would she then follow that man to his campsite? Who follows a man that has tried to kill them multiple times? Then there was her interaction with Rin. In the few times before that they had interacted, she was always smiling and giving Rin strange food which Sesshoumaru did not approve of, yet, when she met Rin, she acted as if she had never seen the child before. Not to mention she'd been doing all of this while being entirely naked.

But then, there was always the idea that this girl was not in fact Inuyasha's wench but someone else entirely. And then, there was her aura. It didn't matter who she was in terms of this, it was her aura that intrigued Sesshoumaru. The energy she gave off was something he had never experienced before. It intrigued him to the point of madness and he decided that he wanted, no, he needed to know what it meant and what she was.

"Come." He said simply before turning on his heel and leaving the campsite. He really would rather not have to babysit her, but he had to keep his promise to Rin. He walked at a slower pace so that she would not get lost but also keeping her a distance away from him.

By the time they got to the spring, Sesshoumaru noticed that she'd gotten the hang of walking. She didn't trip or shuffle but fell in time with his steps and navigated the forest floor expertly. He narrowed his eyes at her for a moment, contemplating the realization, then he faced the springs and wasn't all that surprised to find that the pod that had deposited this strange creature into his presence had disappeared.

Sesshoumaru walked over to the edge of the spring and turned to face her; she did not follow but stood and watched him. Sesshoumaru stood and watched her as well, and as they stood, contemplating one another, Sesshoumaru realized while holding back a sigh of frustration, that even if he were to describe the entire bathing process to her she wouldn't have a clue as to what he was talking about.

Sesshoumaru quickly removed his armour and haouri, deciding to just suffer through a night with a damp hakama, before he stepped into the hot spring for the second time today. "Come." The girl blinked and cocked her head to the side before she followed suit and walked into the spring, a show of delight on her face at the feel of hot water on her tense and bruised feet.

She splashed around in the water at ankle depth for a moment before she felt Sesshoumaru's freezing glare in the back of her head. She turned and smiled brightly at him despite the burning cold of his gaze, but then something caught her eye and her smile faltered. She made her way over to him and reached up to the stump that was his left arm and was about to touch it when Sesshoumaru grabbed her arm and growled at her.

She looked frightened by the noise but she didn't back away. She looked back at his missing arm and said, "Different…" as she looked from his one arm to her two. Sesshoumaru ignored her, deciding that now was not the time and proceeded to wipe the caked on dirt and grime from her arm in one sweep.

The girl looked down at her arm, then up at Sesshoumaru and then back to her arm, then she compared her two arms by holding them up in front of her, one dirty, the other clean. She grinned with recognition and began to wipe the rest of the dirt and grime off her body, having seemingly completely forgotten about Sesshoumaru's missing arm.

After a moment of watching her scrub herself, thinking only of how he would much rather be else where and reminding himself that he had made a promise to Rin, Sesshoumaru turned on his heel and walked out of the spring. He heard her movements stop but did not look back at her, he only walked to the edge of the clearing and leaned against a random tree and turned to look at her.

She had been watching him but did not move from her spot in the spring, reluctant to leave the therapeutic water. She watched for a moment more however, and continued when she realized he wasn't going to leave her. Sesshoumaru sighed and looked away into the forest as he contemplated this new development. He decided to forget her attempt to touch him earlier. She was clearly only curious and meant no harm, unraveling the mystery of her existence came before killing her for the crime of trying to touch the great Lord Sesshoumaru of the Western Lands.

He focused on the feel of her aura and tried to figure if it really was neither human nor demon or if it was just strange, like a mutated demon or human aura. He mentally shook his head and thought the idea was foolish. Her aura felt nothing like a human's or demon's. It was something entirely different and powerful. Her aura was heavy and he suspected it was unguarded given how naïve she was, he highly doubted she even knew there was a technique used to conceal one's aura.

Sesshoumaru momentarily closed his eyes and focused on the girl's aura. It felt heavy as he thought before, but it also seemed to feel like her scent. He wasn't sure how else to describe it. The aura felt like it was the cause of the smoking cinnamon and warm caramel scent, or at least that's what it seemed like, it seemed as if her aura was almost tangible.

Sesshoumaru opened his eyes and looked over at the innocent girl and found that her skin was completely clean and she had gotten the idea to try and clean her hair or at least get the twigs and leaves out of it. It seemed like quite the challenge. Sesshoumaru decided to test her aura. You can only truly feel someone else's aura through your own.

Sesshoumaru closed his eyes, undid his concealing charm and reached out to her with his aura. Even thought both aura's were intangible, there was a very tangible spark between them the moment they crossed.

Sesshoumaru snapped his eyes open and found the girl staring at him, her eyes wide and her hands frozen in her mass of hair. She didn't say anything she only stared. She didn't say anything. But she asked why. But she didn't say anything. But somehow, Sesshoumaru knew she had asked why. It was the strangest occurrence he'd ever experienced in his life. He didn't even hear her voice in his mind, he just knew somehow that she wanted to know why he did that.

Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes, not liking the idea of her being able to implant the very essence of thoughts into his mind. "What are you?" Sesshoumaru said menacingly and he slowly began to advance on her. There was simply no way she could not know anything about herself.

The girl twitched and took on a scared expression and she took a step back watching him approach. It wasn't long before their aura's crossed again and they sparked more violently this time. Sesshoumaru immediately pulled back and glared at her, unsure of how to continue having no idea of the effect her aura might have on him if he were to get in contact with it again.

He made to retract his aura, but he could feel her in his mind and growled angrily when she reached out with her aura and caught his, sending sparks high into the sky for a moment. He could feel her asking him to wait.

He was about to retract and full on attack her when he realized they're aura's where no longer sparking and he could feel her mind. It was strange, so strange but he understood that she meant no harm and that she was only lost and confused and in need of guidance. She didn't know anything about who she was or her past and had followed him because she wanted to know; Nothing in particular but she wanted just to know something, anything.

Sesshoumaru himself wasn't sure how he could understand all of this, and as soon as the thought crossed his mind he felt her again. She didn't understand either, but she was glad to be able to communicate with him properly at last.

Sesshoumaru relaxed and stared at the girl as she stared at him. You truly are a mystery…most likely it is the contact between our auras that is causing this.

The girl blinked and looked around the spring clearing before thinking, Auras?

Sesshoumaru sighed and thought A person's aura is their essence. If you can learn to read their aura, you can learn a lot about that person.

The girl contemplated his thoughts for a moment then grinned and thought, then, what can you tell from my aura?

Sesshoumaru could feel that she instantly assumed that he had the ability to read someone's aura. Your aura is strange. I cannot determine what you are; it is not the aura of a human or a demon.

Human or demon?

For example, I am a demon, while Rin, the girl you met at my camp site, was a human. You are neither. You are not even a half breed. There is no trace of either human or demon blood in your veins.

The girl stood in the water contemplating what he'd said and thought, so are there no other kind? Are there only humans, demons and half breeds?

Sesshoumaru blinked. He had never really thought of it like that. Though it seemed ridiculous. If there was some other intelligent species then why were they unheard of and never seen? That is a fact well known, but your very existence challenges that.

I see… The girl bowed her head and began thinking to herself, though Sesshoumaru could still feel her. So if I am neither, then that means that I am strange to this world. I don't belong here; wherever here is…

You are in the Western lands of the nation of the Rising Sun. Sesshoumaru thought as he watched her. She looked up at him questioningly.

Western lands?

Yes, I am Lord to these lands.

Lord?

It is my duty to protect and watch over these lands as my father did before me and his father before him.

Then will you watch over me as well? Sesshoumaru watched her expression and found it unchanged. She was serious in her request, completely unabashed and unafraid to admit she was in need of help.

I am not. If there is one thing I can decide for myself it is that I don't want to go on alone. I don't even know what to go on to. I don't know where I am, I don't know what to expect from the world. I need you.

Sesshoumaru had forgotten for a moment that she could feel his thoughts as much as he could feel hers. His brow knitted together slightly and he sighed before thinking, This Sesshoumaru swears to watch over you until the mystery of your aura and your identity has been unveiled.

The girl grinned and Sesshoumaru could feel her extreme gratitude and thought of how no one before aside from perhaps Rin had ever shown him such gratitude for anything. Finish and come. We must return to the camp site.

The girl nodded and returned to untangling her luscious locks of hair while Sesshoumaru retracted his aura and reestablished his concealing charm. The girl looked up and frowned at the absent of his aura but didn't say anything while she hurried to finish cleaning herself.

When she came out she walked up to Sesshoumaru and said, "Finished."

Sesshoumaru looked down at her and was thoroughly surprised to find that her skin was entirely flawless. Not one bruise or cut or scrape. Not even redness from the high water temperature. Her regenerative skills were on par with his, if not better.

Sesshoumaru looked away finally when she cocked her head to the side, confused by his silence and said, "come." Sesshoumaru handed his hoari to her, which she took and picked up his armour before heading back into the forest.

After a while of walking Sesshoumaru almost growled in frustration as he realized she would not understand what to do with the garment he'd given her unless he said something. "Put it on. You are indecent as you are." He said, his tone cold and uncaring despite his words as he glanced over his shoulder at the girl as she stood behind him with a quizzical expression on her face.

He chose not to say anything more and kept walking. After a moment of only hearing foot steps, he heard the rustling of fabric and glanced back at her to find her wrapping herself in his hoari. It covered her enough so that she was no longer indecent and she wouldn't freeze to death during the night.

By the time they reach back to the camp site, everyone else was asleep and the moon was high in the sky. It is late. Sesshoumaru thought as he gracefully seated himself against a tree at the edge of the clearing. The girl stood above him and stared down at him as if awaiting instructions.

After a moment Sesshoumaru realized that was exactly what she was doing. He sighed and thought ironically, How is it that I always seem to attract the strangest of creatures. First Rin, a human who does not fear me, and now this mystery; It seems I will have to take her as my ward as well. I wonder what sort of expression that half-breed would make if he knew. Amusing… "Sit. Rest."

The girl obeyed instantly and sat beside him with her back against the tree. Sesshoumaru ignored her and settled into his own thoughts. My brother's wench, who died by Naraku's hand a year previous, I cannot remember much about her. This creature resembles her a great deal judging by my memory, but I could be wrong. Not to mention her scent and aura are completely different. If she was like this before I would most certainly remember, and she would most likely not be so worthless as to constantly need my idiot brother's protection. The only plausible answer to this mystery is that this girl is someone different entirely. But the fact remains that she is some how connected to my brother's wench. I just need to determine how. And why. Someday I will tell her of my brother's existence and we will see what sort of reaction she has to him. If she will regain her memory after seeing him or if she will remain oblivious, proving that she is indeed someone else entirely. But before that I will prepare her. The way she is now, not even my half-breed brother would be able to successfully protect her. I can already feel them. Demons of all different breeds and clans. They sense her and they want her. She is lucky to have fallen into my presence first. Were it any other she would likely not be alive right now, or alive but severely wounded and violated. Perhaps it is fate that has placed this creature in my care. I will prepare her for what is to come, even without the chaos this world is in right now with Naraku gaining power daily, she would need to be able to defend herself. And in the process I will discover just what she is and her purpose.

OoOoO

To Be Continued…