Author's note: This is just something that I found while browsing through my story databank. Hope you enjoy.

Chapter 1

I felt him the second he crossed the shrine's borders. His youki was astonishing, swirling with dark, powerful flames. This demon could easily have rivaled Naraku's levels, but something was different in it. All I could sense was curiosity, no evil intent was present. So, I waited…

Maybe a year ago I would have jumped for joy at feeling youki, but it's been a hard year. I have been attacked on several occasions since my final journey from the Past. The attacks have become so frequent that after my grandfather's passing 8 months ago my mother and Souta moved off the shrine grounds and into the city. I couldn't really blame them, though. It was safer there.

He was closer now, hiding in the shadows of the surrounding trees. I waited, continuing my duties around the shrine. I sensed his eyes boring into me as I worked.

I waited. But he made no appearance, no noise. He just watched and I felt his energy brush the edge of mine as if testing me. Nothing but pure curiosity flowed from his youki. It was like he'd never felt energy such as mine.

And I brushed back gently, welcoming and warning him in the same instant. Lifting my head towards where I knew him to be, I smiled softly and waited. I must have startled him because then he retreated, leaving the shrine grounds.

"Well, at least he didn't attack, huh, Boyu?" I smiled at the sleeping cat that was on a nearby bench. At the mention of his name, the old tom lifted his head and gave a soft meow before returning to his nap.

That energy was back. I knew it was him, with the dark, flaming youki. It's been awhile, but he's back. Again, I could feel his eyes boring into my person as I moved about the grounds.

His stare was intense; I could feel him analyzing every move I made. His gaze made me a little uneasy, but again I felt no ill intent coming from him. Just pure, innocent curiosity. So, again I waited. I knew that if I was patient enough, he'd make the first move. That was the nature of curiosity.

I waited and I continued on my duties until the sun peaked. Then I sat at the base of the Tree of Ages to mediate. And that's when I felt his youki brush along the edge of mine. It was stronger than last time but, again with no malice. Smiling softly, I pushed back in a friendly, welcoming manner. My energy buzzed gently against his, reacting to his dark energy.

The contact lasted no more than a couple of seconds, but, again he left. He made no sound, but I could have sworn I saw a shadow shift right before he disappeared.

I was certain now, he would keep returning. He was curiosity and I was a mystery. And for a demon, every mystery was worth solving. So, I would wait with patience until he returned next.

Buyo curling into my lap brought me out of my thoughts and I gently patted the old tabby. A rumbling purr shook his old body as I scratched behind his ears. "You know, I think I may have found a mystery, Buyo." He gave a large yawn in response and batted my hand away from his ear.

"Alright, I'll do my mediation now and you enjoy your nap." He snuggled into my lap and promptly fell into a light slumber.

He continued returning. First, it was every few months he'd pop up, shying away from my aura's touch. Then he started showing up every couple of weeks. In that time, he started accepting my energy's touch. I think by then he realized I was no threat to him. After that, he started showing up every other day, if not daily and he would greet me with a brush of energy.

I never saw him though. Maybe I'd catch a glimpse of shadows moving, but never anything indefinite. He had, however claim a spot in the Tree of Ages.

He never spoke, only watch… and he listened. That, I'm sure of.

I've realized something and I appreciate this greatly. I've not been attack since this demon had made himself at home here. He had become my guardian angel.

So I continue my duties around the shrine, speaking softly of the shrines history and the legends that surround it. I guess, I started to trust him. I smile softly at that thought and I realize it was the truth. After all, I was beginning to tell him of myself, of my adventures, even if it was indirectly.

I also told him of my family, of my grandfather. I could have sworn that I heard a snort from the branches of the trees when I spoke of his faulty sutras he would throw at innocent people.

As the sun began to set, I called it a day. Between train and chores, I never seemed to have time for much else. "I think I'm going to go shopping. Do you want anything?" He didn't reply, but I didn't really except one. "I'll be back in a little while."

I shivered slightly. It had taken me longer than excepted to walk into town and to the closest grocery store. Now the sky was black and the sidewalks were deserted. Even the streets were void of cars.

The hair on the back of my neck rose. It felt like I was being watched. I couldn't sense any demons so that meant humans. I quickened my pace. It's true that I've been training, but not really physically. I never had the chance to learn how to fight with anything more than bows and arrows. I did learn the art of healing, erecting barriers, and spiritual control. So I'm a powerful opponent, or at least I'm not dying quickly, against a demon but against a human I'm pretty weak.

Footsteps. I heard them now trailing behind me, setting a quick pace. I quicken mine. In return his pace quickened. Before I knew it, I'm running and so were the footsteps behind me.

Not paying attention to what was in front of me, I fun head long into something hard and warm… a body. I gasped, ready to make a quick apology, when I feel this person arms wrap around, his hand coving my mouth. I struggle against my captor as he dragged me into an alley.

The one who had been chasing me caught up. "I told you she'd be coming. She always comes on Saturdays." My blood ran cold with terror. This stranger knew my schedule, which means he'd been watching me for some time.

My struggles increase but now my feet were off the ground, the arms around me tighten to the point that I could barely breathe. I felt more then saw my orb being cut off and my pants dropping to the ground, straight off my feet. I kicked my feet, hoping to make contact with either of them.

There was a low grunt and I felt my foot connect with one of their shins. "Feisty, isn't she?"

"Yeah she is. This'll be fun."

I thrashed after hearing that. I felt hot tears gather in my eyes from the terror that I felt, but I didn't let them fall. I wouldn't give them the satisfaction of see me cry.

I cried out as one of them punched me, then grabbed a hand full of my hair and ripped my head back.

"Now, why don't you behave yourself priestess? Things will be easier on you if you do."

My anger rose and I spit in his face. "Screw you!" I growled out.

He wiped his face off with a happy, sadistic grin. "Priestess, you just made our night."

He threw my face into the ground and before I could recover I was kicked. The kicking seemed to last for a lifetime and after it did stop I tried picking myself up only to have one of them stomp of on my back. I cried out or tried to, but my breath was gone. One of them used their foot to turn me on back.

I whimpered as he straddled my hips. He pulled a knife and pushed the tip of the blade into the skin of my throat.

"Hey man, I just got to thinking… don't you think she a little over dress for this occasion?" He slid the knife the down my throat to my shirt line, leaving a bleeding welt.

"I think you're right dude. She is over dressed. Help her take some layers off."

Smirking, he slashed out with the knife, slicing my clothes and skin. He finished and sat back to admire his work with a cold smile.

I tried covering myself but he had my arms pinned under his knees. I closed my eyes and turned my face from him as my tears began to fall.

"You're that sexy bit-"

His weight was gone off me and I heard a yelp of surprise and pain. My eyes flew open and my head flipped around. He was standing with his back towards me and even though I'd never seen him before, I knew it was my guardian angel.

His movements were quick and unseen as he dealt with the two men. It surprised me, he didn't kill them, just left them bloody and unconscious. He made sure that either of the men moved before turning to me.

He looked down at me with guarded, guilty red eyes. With a flick of his wrist his cloak was over my nude body and he was kneeling beside me. Gently, he helped me to sit up.

Once I was sitting up, I cried leaning into his warmth. His youki wrapped around me like a blanket making me feel protected. He let me cry on his shirt until I fell into a painless oblivion.