Sesshomaru and the Songstress

This story has taken me an extremely long time to complete. Please read and review my work!

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PROLOGUE: That Damn Woman

I wanted her to die...

Yet I wanted her in my arms...

She was the key to my desires...

And the answer to my world...

Blood was falling from her lips...

And trailing down her dress...

How could I stand here idle?

It was my hands.....

That plunged her towards death...

And yet.......still...........

She saved me...

But could I save her?

Now.....onto the story...........

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Chapter One: How Did We Get Here?

Anicent Japan

Rural Countryside

Eastern Road

"How in the hell am I going to find my way out this?" Rumana thought.

Traveling constantly was always stressful, and since no one could accompany her, loneliness was beginning to settle in. Rumana knew that her life depended upon her ability to hide successfully from those who hunted her, but building smoldering campfires and relentlessly traveling was weighing heavily on her homesick heart.

Rumana had been a fugitive since she was seven years old, yet ten years later, she was still denied passage to her small hometown. There were demons and humans who craved the power she contained within her voluptuous frame and her advisers knew that her return would mean an imminent assassination attempt, the exact thing that killed her parents.

Trailing her long fingers in the cool waters of a river bank, Rumana longed to breath in the air of the small province that was bore her. Naraku was the source of these problems, as he had been for her entire existence. Rumana knew little about the power she possessed, I mean, she was only a human, how much power could she possibly carry? Sighing and lifting her heavy traveling bag, she continued east towards another town…another false name. The only thing carrying her oppressed mind was her ardent love for song, a talent that she had well tamed.

Regardless of the village, Rumana sang songs under an assumed name. This woman…..who never once bathed in the luxuries of a quiet life, had to hide like a criminal among the countryside. Often Rumana longed to find the solution, the end to her problems of solitude and fear. The death of Naraku…how so many burdens would be gone…

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"Sir..oh Sir…please don't leave us! Wait!" Jokken called as Sesshomaru trudged on. He said nothing as usual, and as always, Jokken eventually caught up, followed by Rin. The sun had just begun to dim, and hot white stars slowly settled into the morose sky. A cooler breeze began to harass the travelers, but despite the weather they blindly followed their striking leader. Rin adored Sesshomaru with every breath and like Jokken, she followed every step he took.

"Jokken…are you hungry? My stomach is starting to make noises…ugh…come with me to get something to eat."

"Hah, we have no time girl. Lord Sesshomaru has caught the scent of that retched Naraku and there's no way he's going to stop just to appease your appetite!" Rin only smiled and quietly snuck off to find sustenance.

"Come back you little brat! Ugh, she has run off again! Lord, I say we leave her behind! She has cost us nothing but valuable time!"

Sesshomaru said nothing, he just lowered his head and leaned against the tree…waiting for her return. Jokken scoffed in agitation but said nothing; he wouldn't dare question the actions of his powerful master. Resolving to drop the issue, Jokken sat under the tree as well, awaiting her return.

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Rin shuffled through the woods, knowing well where she was going. Checking for berries and natural plants, she only found those that were harmful and bitter tasting. Sighing in complete frustration, Rin continued to walk through the barrage of trees and shrubbery until she came upon the edge of the Eastern Rivers. Leaning over the bank, she smiled in relief as she saw the fish swimming about. Only problem was, she had no net to catch them with. Grumbling, she realized that she had left it back with Jokken

"Do you need any help?" said a soft voice from behind her. Rin practically jumped as she quickly turned around to face the stranger. She was young and very exotic looking. Rin noticed that her long white hair was worn completely down, but was smooth and smelled of foreign flowers. But her eyes were the most enchanting of all, dark green…so crisp and cool yet entirely inviting. Relieved, Rin soon became over washed with a feeling of safety. She had become so accustomed to various creatures and monsters lurking around, that running into a human lady was a pleasant break.

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Rumana never expected to run into a small child while traveling in the dark forests…so it was a complete shock when she found the timid girl leaning over the river bank, mouth watering for food. She felt sympathy for the frail child, and since she wasn't in a position to help anyone else, Rumana felt obliged to aid those she met on her travels. Pulling out a small net, Rumana threw the net into the water, rapidly catching the food that was so desired.

"Thank you for helping me. I forgot my net. I left it with my friend."

"Oh, so you have someone with you? Why were you allowed to roam out here by yourself?"

"It's not a big deal. I do this quite often."

Rumana was appalled. The girl couldn't have been any older than eight…maybe nine. What kind of parent's allowed their children to wander around in such a dangerous place? Rumana, being stubbornly moral and always faultless with concern, was determined to walk her back to her guardians, friends, or whoever the hell was supposed to be watching the poor girl. Technically Rumana was suppose to wait by the river to await on a new body guard, since the last one abandoned her, but as usual, Rumana threw aside her own needs for those of others.

"I can't let you go back by yourself."

"I'll be fine! I know every part of these woods. We're always traveling."

"You're always traveling…exactly who do you stay with?"

"Well…my friends. My parent's died a few years ago, and they take care of me now."

"What's your name little girl?"

"Rin."

"Well Rin, you may know how to get back, but I doubt you'd be able to fiend for yourself if you got into trouble. Come on, grab the fish and I'll walk you where you need to go."

"Not to be mean, but how are you going to protect us if we run into trouble?"

Rumana said nothing in return, only turned away from the girl and began to walk. Rin, left with no other choice, followed.

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It was already well into the evening hours and Rin still had not returned. Jokken, although not outwardly showing any concern, began to pace in his mind. Sesshomaru said nothing as well, but instead listen carefully for her footsteps or the slightest hint of her scent. Still…nothing.

"My Lord, perhaps she is lost. Maybe I should go and look for her." Sesshomaru almost agreed, but suddenly an unknown aroma pierced the cool autumn air…what was it? Flowers…none that he recognized. But then, there it was! Rin's scent! She was near, but not alone. Fearing to be caught off guard or lured into an enemy's trap, Sesshomaru drew out his sword…

Exhausted and weary, Rumana fumbled as she guided Rin through the dark, dense woods. Night covered the earth like a dark, silk blanket. Not even the moon was present in the sky; the only light that aided them was the few bright stars that burned acrimoniously in the empty air. As they continued to hike the unforgiving terrain, Rumana was overcome with a sense of fear. Immediately she grabbed Rin by her dress and dragged her to her side.

"What's wrong? Let me go!"

"Shhhhhhh…I heard something."

Standing silently, Rumana's human ears desperately tried to hear, but the only thing audible was the chilly breeze that harangued her tired body. Every hair stood on end, and a sharp chill wrapped around her skin, but Rin was reluctant to be held. Relaxing slightly, Rumana decided that she was just being paranoid. Letting go of Rin, she turned to adjust her knapsack when......

.....as quick as a flash of lightning her vision went dim. She felt as if every muscle in her body was being crushed. Arms....a man's arms was holding her tightly above the ground, her feet dangling like dead weight.

"Look at me."

His voice dried whatever courage she had held in her heart. Slowly opening her eyes, she realized that she was staring at the coldest, yet most beautiful face she had ever seen.

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