{A/N: Holy smokes….It's been over a year since I updated. You have my sincere apologies. This chapter is dedicated to my reviewers, and in particular to MusicalSoul who likes Original Characters. ^~^ Thank you everyone, and I shall try to be more regular. ^~^}

Mint ch. 4

Raylea awoke with the sun shining on her face. Concealing a yawn, the girl got to her knees and ran her fingers through her long black hair. Inspecting the shorter lengths, Raylea could not help the sigh that escaped her. The whole length may need to be cut to even it out. As her mind woke up and remembered her patient, the young woman looked across the room to where the silver-haired demon lay, obviously awake. She watched him for a moment; it was often she was able to look at the stately demon and not meet those intimidating golden eyes. His features were graceful, perfectly suited to his aloof manner. Raylea restrained a smile at the thought of his perfectly muscled shoulder and chest. Standing, she walked as normally as possible, trying not to favor her injury.

Though he had not slept the remainder of the night, Sesshomaru felt very much recovered now, and knew he could leave whenever he wished. But something restrained him. The girl's silent tears and mysterious wounds had intrigued him.

'If the girl was attacked, then perhaps she is the victim of a misunderstanding? Do the other humans know she has taken a demon into her household?' he thought, his mind trying to find some explanation.

'No. Do not ask questions.' He told himself sternly, 'The last thing I need is another tag-along.' Quite suddenly Sesshomaru's thoughts turned to Rin. Though he had taken great pains to ensure she would be safe while he was gone, Sesshomaru did not want to be away for longer than absolutely necessary. That little human girl was amazingly good at attracting trouble.

'Jaken and Ah-Un are with her. She is still well; the time has not yet come for me to be late.' Calming his worry and noting with satisfaction that his wound had closed entirely, the daiyoukai began to repair his armor.

The girl's voice reached Sesshomaru's ears as he rested. Dispersing the thoughts his mind had conjured for the moment, he watched the girl prepare her morning meal. She kept up her chatter as usual, and, as usual, he remained silent. The woman was cleaning up after the meal when Sesshomaru's ears picked up the sound of movement from outside. Thanks to the strong smell of herbs in the home, he couldn't identify any smells from the outside.

"Girl." He called to the female, and as she turned around, clearly startled that he had spoken to her, he looked towards the door. It was only a whim, to let the girl know she was not as observant as she ought to be, but still…

Sesshomaru couldn't deny the very smallest of spasms in his hand as he watched the girl's blue eyes widen. She looked far too much like Rin.

Looking at the door, then back to him, the human moved without a word and replaced the screen from last night. Once again relying on his excellent ears to inform him of the situation, Sesshomaru gathered the visitors were not welcome.

"We heard you had a visitor." A female, younger than the mint girl spoke first; her voice held a nasally sneer. Listening intently, Sesshomaru tried to discern just how many humans were out there.

"Why don't you let us say hello?" a young male identified himself next. With the door open, Sesshomaru was able to catch a few new scents. In one breath he identified eight different humans, all adolescents; many carried the scent of aggression.

'If it comes to a fight the girl will most certainly lose. Eight is too many for her, even if they are younger.' He calculated what he knew of the girl, and the information that was carried in the air, the possible outcome if the situation turned sour. Just then, the girl interrupted his musings as she spoke for herself.

"You may not come in." her voice was commanding and stern, "None of you are ill or inured, so I ask you leave my land at once." Sesshomaru could almost envision the girl standing in the door, at her full height, looming over the impudent children. Her voice reminded him of a time when his mother had taken the same tone with himself and his father. It almost made him smile.

The group of young humans seemed to become uneasy. Many were shuffling their feet, and the demon's sharp ears caught the whispered warnings of spells and magic among the children.

The young male spoke loudly, trying to bolster his companions, "Really? Then why's that screen there? I think you're hiding someone!" Sesshomaru heard the boy take a step forward.

"The screen is there," the girl's voice was low and, to Sesshomaru's ears, carried the definite tone of menace, "because it is not proper for a boy to look upon a woman's bed." The barest of smiles crossed Sesshomaru's face as he listened to the boy retreat, and the breeze carried the scent of their fear into the small house. For a moment, he wondered why the children would be so afraid of her.

The girl's voice interrupted his thoughts; turning dangerously hard, "Now, you will leave my land at once." The amused demon lord had to wonder if the girl was, or had been, something more than a simple peasant healer. The gaggle of miscreants was silent and a few started walking off. Satisfied she had scared them off, the girl had nearly closed the door, when something was thrown at her. Sesshomaru heard it strike something then bounce off the wooden frame of the screen. It landed near his feet.

'A rock…Blood.' He turned his head back towards the door.

"You act so high and mighty," the boy was yelling, "but you're nothing more than the bastard child of whore!" The door slammed shut amidst derisive laughter. Taking a deep breath, Sesshomaru was almost surprised to find the girl calm. Most humans flew into a rage when their heritage was slandered. The woman stood still until the last of the laughter faded away, then removed the screen, replacing it in the corner. His golden eyes spied the dark spot of red and bruised flesh on the girl's left cheek, and his anger slowly began to simmer. He didn't care for the girl, that much was clear, but such behavior still angered him ever so slightly. From his aristocratic upbringing, Sesshomaru had been taught to never strike someone older than himself, male or female, without due cause. This sort of disrespect, to be blunt, got on his nerves.

"It seems your morning has, once again, been disturbed." She said, smiling at him. Wincing as the action pulled on the injured muscles, the girl inclined her head slightly, "If you'll excuse me a moment." Turning from the reclining demon, she went to her cabinet and sorted through it for a moment, pulling various items out. With her back to him, Sesshomaru took this moment to study this girl, who, through no fault of her own as far as he could tell, was tormented by every human she came in contact with. He looked closely at the girl, looking for the clues that would tell him more about her. She was in good health, if a little tired; but from the way she sat her knee was troubling her, and she was favoring one side of her rib cage.

'Another bruise perhaps?' he speculated, 'No matter. I will leave at midday and this will be over and done with.' He decided.

"Sorry you had to listen to that." The girl turned around, her voice cheerful, "I hope you don't mind the screen, but it is for the best."

Acting on a whim, Sesshomaru asked a question, "Where did you learn medicine?" He kept his voice bored, indifferent. A level tone, just to make sure the girl didn't misconstrue his intentions.

'Which are what?'

The girl looked mildly surprised, but smiled again anyway, "My mother. She taught me everything she knew. I lived here with her, until her passing a few years ago." She explained. Satisfied with the answer, Sesshomaru looked away, signaling the end of his interest. He was not surprised when the girl kept going.

"She was very kind. She knew so much about the land and what plants were good for you or not. She never turned anyone away who was sick or injured." The girl did not seem to be letting the subject drop, even though her audience appeared to be deaf. "We were very happy together. It is a shame that even though she knew so much Mother still succumbed to disease. She always said, 'There are some things even healers can't cure." The girl smiled sadly, "It's a shame…" Seemingly lost in thought, the girl fell silent.

As midday approached, Sesshomaru contemplated his departure. Deciding it was time; he opened his eyes to locate the girl. She was sitting where she had been earlier, a book in her hand. Shifting ever so slightly so he could rise, he heard the girl stir. Standing, the demon lord did not look at her.

"Are you leaving?" she asked, "If you are, could you spare a moment so that I can remove the stitches?" she looked at him and Sesshomaru could tell she did not expect him to answer 'yes.'

"Be quick." He said shortly, settling himself back down. The girl smiled, the bruise on her cheek pulling at her mouth. From her cabinet she pulled out a small, gleaming knife, and a pair of exceedingly thin chopsticks. Approaching his side, she knelt down.

"If you will my lord?" she said expectantly. Without looking at the girl, the great demon lowered the sleeve of his kimono, exposing the healed wound. As the girl's fingertips brushed his flawless skin, Sesshomaru had to work to keep his face indifferent. Beneath his disgust, he heard the distinct thought.

'That is pleasant.'

After a few minutes, the white thread slid easily out from the healed flesh. The girl set her instruments down then, unafraid, ran her fingers over the tiny holes, making sure the skin was not rough or patchy, as that would indicate infection.

"These will close in no time and you will– " The girl paused in her speech, as Sesshomaru smirked inwardly. Before her eyes the area in question healed completely. Before the demon lord could move away, the girl's soft fingers were once again, brushing across his shoulder.

"Well, I guess 'no time' isn't a figure of speech for demons." She said with a smile, withdrawing her hands, "Since it seems there is not infection or lingering injury, I give you a clean bill of health." She announced happily. Gathering her tools and the discarded thread, the healer stood and moved away.

In one graceful motion, Sesshomaru was on his feet and moving towards the door. As he opened the door he could feel the girl watching him. Pausing only a moment, he didn't look back as he said, "Your skills are adequate."

Moving away from the small home, Sesshomaru took a deep breath, trying to clear his nose of the scent of mint. Leaping into the air, the daiyoukai moved across the land like quick silver, leaving the human standing in the doorway of her home staring after him.