Wandering Souls was written for and dedicated to Vampcrow. It was a birthday gift from me to her and I hope she enjoys it. Happy Birthday girl!

This was written 5/1/04-5/29/04. Sorry I am just now getting around to posting and updating this. It took a bit to get my courage up to post it here.

(These chapters are being reworked, as of 3-17-06. Several of the chapters have been combined and the ones at the end are brand new.)

WARNINGS: This is my first fanfiction and it will include violence and major character deaths. This is her story so I kind of wrote it to suit her.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything to do with the Inuyasha anima/manga. They are the sole property of their creator. I'm just borrowing them for the sole purpose of entertaining my friends.

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Chapter 1- Sisters

The path stretched before them in a never-ending jumble of twists and turns around the lush forest. They had entered the forest two days earlier and the younger girl could barely contain her enthusiasm.

"Hurry up!" the younger one bounced around her older sister trying to hurry her along. "Why don't you just let me carry you? It would be so much faster!"

"Lea would you calm down," the older girl sighed in exasperation. "You know how I feel about that." She stopped to glare at Lea. "Besides Kaeda knows we're on our way."

"Yeah, but we might miss them again!" Leas sulked.

"If what the old healer says is true then they'll be back."

"Marie!" Lea's eyes widened at her sister's lack of enthusiasm.

"Don't Marie me!" Marie snapped, "Why don't you just go on without me?"

"But who'll look after you?" Lea retorted, tossing her long purple hair over her shoulder.
Marie just gave Lea a dark look and started walking again. Her eyes fixed on the ground ahead of her. Lea sighed and fell into step with her sister.

"Humans are so difficult," Lea grumbled under her breath.

Marie heard it and shot her another dark look before shaking her head. The two girls walked on in silence, Marie's face set in a cold, emotionless mask while Lea outwardly fumed.

Marie knew her younger sister meant no harm by her words but the familiar phrase hurt just the same. Lea's father had used that same phrase on her so many times, but when he spoke the words, pain would usually be close at hand. She shuddered as her thoughts turned to the demon that had sired her sister and hoped for the hundredth time that day that Lea really did not know what she had endured.

Noratu had not been kind or gentle, but a true beast where Marie was concerned and she was totally convinced that he had killed the girls' mother to get Lea. Marie had been an unwanted burden at first but as she grew older Noratu had taken a special interest in her.

Unconsciously, Marie reached up to rub the old scar on her neck as the painful memories flooded back. Lea saw her and sighed, wishing her older sister would confide in her, Marie never talked about anything where Noratu was concerned. Her face always set in that expressionless mask that gave nothing away. Lea knew what was on Marie's mind by the small movement.

"It's time to let father go, sister." Lea said softly. "It's been a year now. Maybe you should try and find another mate."

Startled, Marie looked up at Lea, coldly she replied. "Don't start that again."

"But it will be good for you." Lea crossed her arms over her chest, a determined look set across her lovely features. "I know father was cruel to you. I didn't even really like him, but Marie there are better demons out there."

"I don't want to talk about it, "growled Marie.

"I know, I know," Lea sighed. "You'll never tell me what that old bastard did to you, but you survived Marie."

Angrily, Marie turned on her sister, "You see his mark on me! So will everyone else." she turned away her shoulders slouching as the sadness set in only to be quickly hidden with her cold mask, "No one, demon or human, wants a demon's old mate. I'd be no better then a whore to anyone else."

"But you don't know that, Marie!"

"Yes, I do, "Marie sighed, "Now drop the matter."

Lea growled something under her breath that Marie could barely make out but chose to ignore it. The argument was an old one and it did no good to either of the two girls.

At twenty-six, Marie was resigned to her fate already. She had longed for freedom from Noratu, but now that she had it, she was at a loss as to what to do with herself. A side way glance at Lea told her that her baby sister was determined to find her another mate. She shook her head slightly wondering when their roles had reversed.

I was ten when she was, born Marie thought sadly, after mother died I raised her, protected her from everything I could. Now she thinks I'm the one needing protected.

Thinking about everything she had endured for the younger girl, it was almost laughable.

Marie thought back about the day Noratu, a strange Inu-youkai, had entered her life. He had appeared one year before Lea had been born and her mother had fallen instantly for the purple haired demon lord. Marie nine at the time had immediately disliked him, but her mother turned a deaf ear to the child's worries believing Marie to still be upset over her own father's death two years earlier.

At first Noratu had been kind to Marie on his visits, tolerating the child's questioning glances and out right hatred she felt toward him. Soon her mother began sending her away every time he returned, leaving the child in the care of neighbors or alone. The look on her mother's face was one of worry for her, but knew it was for the best. Over the course of that year Marie watched her mother turn from a lonely, yet happy woman to a broken, saddened creature she barely recognized anymore.

Marie did not understand what Noratu had done to make her mother so sad, but she decided to help her mother whenever she could, which meant doing just about everything in the house.

On the day Lea was born, her mother had called Marie into the room and placed the small crying bundle in her arms.

"Meet your baby sister Marie. Her name is Lea and you must do everything you can to protect her and raise her right. I entrust you, my daughter, with your sister's life."

Marie had looked at her mother in confusion, not understanding what her mother wanted from her, but knew her mother too weak to question. She laid there, her mother, her face a sickly pale color, her raven hair spread out around her head like a black halo, damp and matted from the ordeal of child birth. Marie could see her mother's hands shook from the excursion as they lay on her wool blanket, her eyes closed.

"Promise me!" her mother's voice startled Marie who thought she was asleep. "Promise you will protect her with your life."

"I promise Mother," Marie cried softly clutching the crying bundle to her chest.

Her mother nodded then, her eyes still closed as a ghost of a smile crossed her pale lips. "You are a good daughter."

A moment later the healer attending her mother shooed Marie out of the room, explaining quickly how to calm the crying baby. Once her mother was resting, the healer had stepped from the room and glared down at Lea with loathing in her eyes.

"You should take that child out to the woods and leave her there." the healer spat in disgust, "No good will come of a half-breed."

Marie looked at the woman, not understanding what a baby could do to possible warrant the healer's hatred. Defensively, Marie held the baby tighter.

"Leave my sister alone!" Marie cried.

"Keep her then child, but be warned when she grows she'll turn on you," the healer sneered, "Maybe even kill you."

"Why do you say such mean things?" Marie demanded angrily.

"She's a hanyou, child," the healer retorted, "a half-breed demon child."

Marie suddenly understood what was wrong with the woman. Lea was different and the superstitious villagers would always look down on her. Mostly out of fear, Marie thought.

"My sister will never be like that!" Marie growled at the healer. Never had she felt such a mixture of sadness and anger at one time. Now she understood her mother's wish. Right then, Marie decided she would make sure Lea would never turn for the worst.

"Leave healer!" Marie retorted. "Your work here is done."

"Take my advice child, leave the babe." The healer had left in a huff, leaving the small family alone.

Marie finally calmed the baby down and cared for her mother by nightfall. She was just about to lay down when the door to their house crashed open. Noratu burst in, going straight to her mother's room. Hurriedly, Marie gathered Lea in her arms from where the baby lay sleeping on her small cot. Lea didn't awaken as Marie's instincts to protect both herself and her sister kicked in.

"WHERE IS MY CHILD?" Marie heard Noratu scream at her mother. His deep voice echoed thought the small hut and Marie could hear the growl in them. Deep fear clutched at her heart and she hid behind her bed screen, huddling in a corner of the room. She held tightly to Lea and feared for her mother, whom she had promised to protect her sister. Marie was determined to do just that no matter what the cost.

A sudden crash from her mother's room made Marie push father back into the corner, tears streaming down her face.

"Where is she?" Noratu thundered, pushing the few things her mother had over. In his anger, he ransacked the tiny room looking for the newborn infant.

As his search lead him back into the adjoining room, Marie caught a slight glimpse into her mother's room. The screen had been angled so that Marie could watch her mother from her bed and still has some privacy of her own. What she saw made her heart miss a beat.

The room was in a state of upheaval everything scattered and broken. Her mother's body lay off the bed, blood dripping from the corner of her pale lips. What frightened Marie the most was the way her mother's brown eyes seemed to stare at her, yet through her at the same time. They held no life to them and Marie knew her mother was gone. She could even see the small demons that claimed a person's soul on their death.

Suddenly, the screen crashed to the side as Noratu discovered Marie's hiding place and she stared up at him in horror.

"Give me that child, "he demanded "And your death will be painless."

Marie could hear the growl behind his words, sensed he meant every word he said, but she squared her small shoulders and glared up at Noratu with a bravery she did not feel.

"No! You aren't gonna hurt my sister!" Marie shouted in defiance, fear shining in her deep brown eyes.

A flicker of amusement crossed his eyes but was quickly replaced by anger.

"Do not bait me child." His scowl sent a shiver down Marie's spine. "That baby is mine and you will die!"

Marie knew she was dead either way even at her young age so she stood her ground, twisting her body around till it shielded Lea from Noratu.

"I promised!" Marie screamed, her tears flowing even harder. The young girl curled her body around her sister even more as she saw Noratu raise a clawed hand; her eyes closed tightly waiting for him to kill her.

The second Lea started crying, Marie realized that something was wrong. Cracking one eye open, Marie hesitantly peered around. Noratu towered over her, rage blazing in his deep purple eyes. He stood poised to strike but something seemed to hold him in place. A pale white glow surrounded Marie and she stared down at her sister, who screamed in her arms.

"Shh, it'll be Okay," Marie whispered to Lea. "I promised mother. Please don't cry."

"Stop it!" Noratu growled his eyes slowly becoming a deep red. "The light will hurt her."

"I'm not hurting her! You are!" Marie forgot her fear at her sister's tears. "Stop it! Stop it! Stop hurting her!" Marie demanded advancing on the surprised demon Lord. Never in his long life had a human spoke to him in such an angry and defiant manner and it took him off guard. The light grew brighter with each step Marie took towards Noratu and he visible cringed.

"Human, you are the one who brings the light, not I, "he replied through gritted teeth. Then an evil thought crossed his mind, one that Marie could see in his face, though she didn't find out till years later what it was exactly.

"I am not," Marie protested weakly. Something about what he said was beginning a tight knot in the pit of her stomach.

"You are. Now you have to stop before harm her farther."

"No! It's not me!" Panic gripped Marie and she dashed past the immobile demon Lord and out into the night.

Free from the light, Noratu chased after them, finally finding them deep in the forest. Marie huddled against a large tree; deep-racking sobs shook her tiny frame. Looking at the human girl, Noratu wondered how she had been able to avoid him so long, she was human after all, but he decided to change tactics because now he wanted both of them for himself.

"Child," His voice become gentle, softer then Marie had ever heard it. "You must calm yourself, "he approached the girls carefully, not wanting to frighten Marie into running away again. He could tell she was already exhausted having unknowingly used so much of the budding power within her. He realized that one day she would be a powerful tool against any who dared come against him. He grinned as he thought of using Marie against his worst enemy, The Lord of the Western Lands, Sesshomaru.

"I won't let you hurt Lea, like you hurt Mommy." Marie stammered, hiccupping, as her crying became less.

"I do not want to hurt Lea," Noratu replied calmly. "And I did not hurt your mother. She was already dead when I arrived." He sighed looking down at the terrified human girl letting sadness fill his eyes. "I beg your forgiveness child. I merely acted our of grief when I saw your mother had passed, then when I could not find Lea, I went mad believing some one was going to kill her. I meant nothing by it, just worry for my child."

"You said you were going to kill me!" Marie accused him scuttling farther away.

"Only because I thought you were trying to suffocate her!"

"Suh-fo-kate?" Marie stumbled over the unfamiliar word, "What's that?"

"Suffocate," Noratu corrected her, trying to hide his amusement at the child before him. "It means to stop her from breathing."

"Why would I hurt Lea?" asked Marie looking up at him with a demand that only a child could have. Then it changed as the healer's words replayed themselves in Marie's mind. Her eyes widened and her mouth formed a small O as understanding hit home. "I would never do that!" Marie fumed. "She's my sister!"

"I know that now, "Noratu replied kneeling down in front of them. His eyes fell on the baby in her arms and smiled. Marie could see it was genuine. "How would you like to come live with us and you can keep your promise?"

"Really?" Marie brightened unsure wither to trust the demon Lord. "You won't take Lea away from me?"

"Really," he told her, his patience with the child beginning to wear thin. "And we'll even make sure you get training so you can control your powers better."

Marie shuddered at the thought of the light, a hundred questions filling her mind. Noratu held his arms open to the two girls and Marie hesitantly stepped into them, sensing she had no other choice if she wanted to keep Lea safe.

Her life had become a living nightmare after that day. Noratu had been true to his word though and had her trained her both in the ways of the miko and in battle training. He formed her powers into a powerful force that he used for his own means. All the while telling her that one day he would use her to help him take over the Western Lands.

Over the years he had allowed Marie to raise her younger sister, only taking an interest in Lea when her training became advanced. By the time Marie was sixteen, Noratu had decided to make the human girl one of his many mates. So against her will, Marie was marked, his sharp fangs dug deeply into her tender flesh where the neck met the shoulder, while he violated the rest of her body with his. After that he forced the girl to wear a low cut top that revealed his mark for all to view.

Saddened at the loss of her innocence, Marie discovered that in the process she had gained some of the demon's abilities. Her senses heightened till she was almost equal with that of many higher-level demons, while her own powers grew stronger. She could move quicker then, almost being able to keep up with her six-year-old sister. Noratu also taught her to fight along side of Lea. Her sword, Tasuke, a gift form a pleased Noratu upon her completion of her miko training, became her constant companion.

Through it all Marie always steadfastly protected Lea from Noratu's cruelty towards her, explaining away the bruises as coming from sparing. Lea had devotedly believed her loving sister till she was fourteen. That was when Lea saw her father take out his anger on her older sister. Lea had crept away not letting anyone know she had been there, but Marie had known, had sensed her presence even when Noratu had not. Even though she knew Lea had seen what had happened, Marie still used the same excuse the next day when Lea had asked. Lea never mentioned knowing to Marie, pretending to believe her older sister's excuse. Marie let the matter go hoping in time that Lea would forget.

A year after that, Noratu did not return from a skirmish near the West Lands, where he had traveled to search for some jewel shard. He was going to challenge the ruling Lord for hunting rights so that he could find it. He had taken Lea with him as a training mission. Marie had wondered why she had not been taken along also because he had been training her to do battle against Sesshomaru.

Marie did not care if he ever came back, but the torment from his other mates had steadily grown worse during his absence. Till one day Marie got beat so severely that Lea, upon her return found Marie unconscious on the garden pavement. Worriedly, Lea had scooped her up as if she were a child and raced from her father's palace knowing exactly what had happened without Marie telling her anything.

Lea had grown into a powerful young woman by this time with full control over her own abilities, which strangely enough gave her the full inu youkai form. Something mostly only full demon's had. Lea could only use it for a short time though and would soon fall exhausted after transforming. She had also, under her father's careful tutelage, become a strong warrior, surpassing even Noratu himself.

Already battle tested, having gone with her sister and father many times, Lea's instincts had kicked in and she hid her sister deep in the forest.

Marie had been surprised to see Lea when she came to because of her being away with her father; it had been the first time she and Lea had been separated for more then a day at a time.

Lea stammered out everything that had occurred then trying to hide her disquiet at what had happened to Marie in her absence. It was then that Marie learned Noratu was dead, never to return, or so she hoped anyway and of the powerful young hanyou who had slain Noratu. The hanyou had been protecting the keeper of the jewel that Noratu sought, a young miko not yet sure of her powers.

Marie caved in when Lea begged her to go after the young man, not for revenge but for the desire to see him again. Looking deep into Lea's pleading gaze, Marie suddenly realized that her sister was a grown woman now, not that small bundle she had sworn to protect so long ago.

Sadly, Marie agreed and they set out. It had taken them a week to reach the Western Lands, traveling at an easy pace while Marie healed from her wounds.

Leah had been anxious, wanting to travel swiftly, hoping to over catch up to the young hanyou. In the end the girls traveled the four lands for a year, gathering information on the group the he traveled with. On one of their trips into the South Lands, Marie longed to see her home. They had gotten a harsh welcome from the new lord barely escaping with their lives but Marie had some how gotten what she had been longing for.

Her mother's necklace, a single black pearl cradled by a silver claw and suspended on a golden chain. The necklace now rested around her neck and she fingered it lightly as her thoughts returned to the present with a start

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"Hey, gloomy!" Lea tapped Marie's forehead lightly, "you still in there?"

Marie brushed her sister's hand away and glared over at her. "What?"

"Nothing, "Lea grinned happy to see some kind of emotion on Marie's face. It bugged her when the older girl got that cold expression. She knew Marie had been thinking about the past just from the way she caressed their mother's necklace. Nothing she seemed to do could erase what ever it had been that her father had done to Marie, but she would continue to try.

Marie growled at Lea and marched ahead. "Leave it Lea."

"Sure big sis," Lea laughed bouncing around Marie again. "Now will you hurry up?"

"You just..." whatever Marie was going to say was lost as Marie scented the air around her. "Do you smell that?"

"Huh? Smell what?" Lea asked following Marie's example, her nose wrinkled as she too caught the faint scent. "Blood. Human blood."

Marie nodded and followed the smell her healer instincts taking over. "Some one may need help. Come on!" she raced off through the trees leaving a surprised Lea behind.

"Now she decides to hurry!" grumbled Lea as she took off after her sister. It was not hard for Lea to catch up to Marie, since she was three times faster then her human sister, but some how Marie had managed to find the source of the smell before she could find Marie. It amused her to know Marie could move that fast when her emotions took over. The amusement faded quickly when her eyes fell upon the scene in the small clearing.

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Well that's it for chapter one. I hope you all enjoyed.