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Chapter Eleven

After setting up camp Aniu went to the head of the cave and took in the sun setting on distant mountains. Tonight was the night. She didn’t want to be here when she first started to transform. She wasn’t embarrassed; it was just that she didn’t know how Sesshomaru would act. She shook her head. She’d been with him for a month now and they had already proclaimed their love for one another. For crying out loud, when they first met she was in her vulnerable stage. Shouldn’t that make her feel comfortable when it happened around Sesshomaru? No! She sighed and shuddered slightly.

Sesshomaru was watching Aniu from a little ways into the cave. When she shook he walked over to her and put his arms around her waist and set his chin on her shoulder.

“What’s wrong,” he asked.

Aniu leaned into him letting him warm her numb body but she kept her arms crossed in front of her instead of touching his arms.

“I just need to be alone,” she said matter-of-factly.

Sesshomaru tightened his grip around her. “Why? I said I would protect you. I said I love you. Why won’t you stay here with me so I can watch you?”

“I’m not saying I won’t come back before dawn. I just don’t want to be here when I first transform. Okay?”

“Why?”

“It’s difficult for me to change in front of someone. It took me a year before I did change in front of Inuyasha. I still haven’t done it with the rest of the gang yet.”

Sesshomaru’s arms tightened more around her waist when she mentioned Inuyasha’s name. She was finding it hard to breathe. Her breath was coming in short gasps and she could barely get a few words out.

“I’m sorry…please…forgive…me. I forgot…about…your rule.”

Sesshomaru hadn’t even noticed that he was hurting her. He loosened his grip until he was holding her gently. He leaned his forehead on her shoulder and waited until her breathing had returned to normal.

“I’m sorry, Aniu. I wasn’t paying attention to my actions.”

He sighed, thinking about how much he could have hurt her. He was dragged back to the present when he felt a hand on his arm. Moments later he felt a hand in his hair. He moved his mouth to her neck and laid gentle kisses there. She whimpered softly. He let out a warm breath on her neck.

“I love you.”

“I know but I need to be alone right now. I’ll come back but please Sesshomaru let me go for a little while.”

Sesshomaru was thoughtful for a minute, thinking about how hard it must be to even share her vulnerability with him, let alone see her transform. He had to let her go but something in the back of his mind was itching at him. It was telling him he shouldn’t let her go, at least not alone. If he really wanted her to trust him he had to do it. She would be back, he could trust her word. He sighed and Aniu went very still in his arms. Her hands stopped in mid-caress and it felt like she had stopped breathing.

“Alright. You can go but please come back as soon as possible.”

Aniu was so relieved she didn’t even hear the warning and concern in his voice. She turned in his arms and he leaned his forehead on hers. He stared hard into her eyes and only saw relief. She must not have heard what he had said. He pulled his head back a little and opened his mouth to speak but was stopped by her mouth on his.

She whispered against his lips, “Thank you.” Then she gently pushed his arms away and ran off towards the river.

“Good riddance!” Jaken said. “Now we can all rest in peace without having to worry about that bitch.”

“Jaken!” Rin said with a shriek.

“Well, it’s true! Isn’t that right, Lord Sesshomaru?”

Sesshomaru turned around, his face unreadable and Jaken scrambled to hide behind Rin.

“Jaken,” Sesshomaru said his voice cold.

Jaken peeked out from behind Rin. “Yes Mi’ lord?”

WHAM!

Jaken lay on the ground with a large lump protruding from his head. He groaned and Rin snickered. He scowled at the human wench.

“Well, that’s what you get when you insult people, Master Jaken.” She turned away, still giggling and followed Sesshomaru deeper into the cave.

“I really have to learn to keep my mouth shut.” Jaken slowly rose to his feet and walked back into the cave.

*****

Aniu hugged her knees closer to her chest as she felt the power leave her. It was suddenly a lot colder than it had been. She shook as the last bit of power was drained from her.

Her golden hair turned to night black, the green stripes on her cheeks disappeared and the black cross on her forehead flipped upside down.

She sighed, suddenly feeling cold and weak. She hated this form. Even if she had fangs and claws, they weren’t really good for protection. If she went back, Sesshomaru would protect her. Even with her powers she always felt safer knowing he was near.

Long, lost words whisper slowly to me, still can't find what keeps me here. When all this time I’ve been so hollow inside, I know you're still there...

She shook her head and started to get up.

SWISH!

Aniu looked down and saw a cut through her haori and blood started seeping through the cut in her arm. As soon as she saw the blood it started to hurt and she grabbed her arm and sank to her knees. How come whenever you see blood then the wound starts to hurt?

Out of the corner of her eye she saw white horse legs covered in flames. There was something strange about the legs. She looked up and up and up until she could see the rider.

The rider looked to be only eight or nine years of age. He was dressed in white with white hair to match. He looked like a tiny figure on top of the fire horse. The kid carried a long stick that had a large blade on the end. The blade was dripping with black liquid. Her blood.

Aniu looked at the horse. Her eyes went wide with recognition. Entei. Then that means…

“Hakudoshi,” she said astounded.

He chuckled. “So you recognize me. You know you’re not an easy person to track.”

“What do you want,” she asked quickly, panic starting to seep into her words.

He chuckled again, sending cold shivers down her spine. “You.”

He lashed out with his knife. The movement was so fast she didn’t even feel it when the blade made contact with her skin. She suddenly had a cut from hip to ankle. She cried out and was silenced when she was hit by the other end of the knife then fell hard on her stomach.

Aniu started to get up when she felt the knife cut a deep, long stroke into her back. Again she cried out.

Hakudoshi flipped the knife around and hit her hard on the back of the head but not before she let out a scream for Sesshomaru.

She fell limply to the ground and Hakudoshi smiled. This was too easy. He picked up her unconscious body and threw her on Entei’s back. Once loaded he took off in the opposite direction of Sesshomaru’s camp.

“Now to Inuyasha,” he said as he chuckled.

I tried to kill the pain. But only brought more. I lay dying, and I'm pouring crimson regret and betrayal. I'm dying, praying, bleeding and screaming. Am I too lost to be saved? Am I too lost?

*****

A loud, ragged scream tore threw Sesshomaru’s camp. He was up so fast that the furs that were covering him flew several feet to either side of him.

“Aniu.”

He was off and running before Jaken could even ask what was wrong. He flew through the trees so fast it looked like the branches were moving aside for him to pass.

He burst out of the forest so hard he had to dig his feet into the ground so he wouldn’t plunge into the icy river. Once the dirt settled he did a double take of the area. He walked over to where he could see and smell most of the blood. The strange thing was he couldn’t smell anyone or anything else. He looked around and saw no footprints. How could they kidnap Aniu without leaving a scent trail or footprints?

Sesshomaru shook his head and started sniffing around to see which way they might have gone. He picked up the scent of blood heading north-east.

Once he had the scent he was off running at top speed not wasting anytime in going after her.

“Hang on. I’m coming, Aniu. I’m coming.”

Blame it on me, set your guilt free. Nothing can hold you back now. Now that you're gone, I feel like myself again. Grieving the things I can't repair and willing...

*****

Chapter Twelve

“Give that back, Inuyasha!”

“Not on your life, Shippo.”

“Come on. I’m a growing boy and I need it,” Shippo yelled at the stubborn Inuyasha.

“You are not getting this rice ball, you little punk,” Inuyasha said as he whacked Shippo hard on the head.

“Inuyasha!” Kagome yelled.

“Yeah well he should know better,” Inuyasha said his mouth full.

“Inuyasha,” Kagome said with a warning.

“Huh?”

“Sit!”

A strangled cry was tore from the half-demon’s mouth as he was pounded into the ground. He lifted his face enough to spit back at her, “What was that for?”

“Sit!”

He was pulled a little deeper in the ground but still with as much force as before. He pulled his head up and growled but stopped and started sniffing the air.

“What’s wrong, Inuyasha,” Kagome asked.

“I smell blood. It smells like…this can’t be!” He was on his feet so quickly he forgot about how hurt he was from that sit command.

“What is it Inuyasha,” Miroku asked getting to his feet and coming over to Kagome and Inuyasha.

“It smells like Aniu’s blood.”

“But doesn’t Sesshomaru have her? Why would there be blood if he is protecting her,” asked Sango.

“I don’t know but her scent is getting closer and fast. Kagome are you sensing any jewel shards?”

“No, but I do sense a demonic aura,” she said quietly.

“I sense it too,” Miroku joined in.

“I have a bad feeling about this,” Inuyasha said.

As if on cue something came from the sky and landed in front of the group.

“Hello Inuyasha,” said in a calm almost amused voice.

“Hakudoshi,” Inuyasha said with disgust.

Entei turned so everyone could see Hakudoshi and the limp figure that was strewn across his rump.

Inuyasha drew his Tetsusaiga and aimed it toward Hakudoshi. “Hakudoshi I’m going to slaughter you into pieces with my Tetsusaiga.”

“And in the process Inuyasha you kill Aniu.”

“Aniu?”

Hakudoshi smirked and pulled the limp figure’s hair so that her face could be seen.

“That’s not Aniu. That’s just some…”

Wait a second. That is Aniu in…in her powerless form.

“Damn you. You bastard, you’re going to pay for hurting Aniu.” He sheathed Tetsusaiga and charged. “Iron Reaper Soul Stealer.”

Yellow light shined from his claws as he attacked Entei. Entei moved but Inuyasha’s claws hit something. He tore his claws out and looked at where he had struck. He had sunk his claw right into Aniu’s shoulder.

“No! You bastard!” Inuyasha aimed for Entei’s head. “Blades of Blood!”

Red beams shot out this time but Entei moved so quickly. He moved so the beams struck Aniu’s helpless body.

Inuyasha clenched his fists so tight that his blood started falling from his palms. No! This can’t be happening.

Entei suddenly reared, knocking Aniu to the ground. Then with the speed he was known for, took off into the sky, disappearing without a trace.

Inuyasha didn’t waste anytime watching Entei leave, instead he ran to Aniu. Her blood had already started making a pool on to the ground. He stood over her and looked at what he had done as well as what Hakudoshi had done.

“INUYASHA!” A cold, hard, broken voice came from ahead of him.

*****

Inuyasha looked up to see Sesshomaru standing breathless, anger raging across his face. Sesshomaru looked down at Aniu and then back up at Inuyasha.

“You worthless half-breed, I’ll put you in your place.”

“Sesshomaru, I didn’t do it I swear.” Inuyasha’s voice was like someone trying to negotiate over a swap of land.

“Then why are your claws dripping with her blood?”

Inuyasha looked down at his claws. It was a setup. Naraku set them up just like he had done with Kouga and himself.

“I would never hurt her on purpose, Sesshomaru.”

“Liar. If you wouldn’t hurt her on purpose, why his she cut up by your claws?”

“It was Hakudoshi.”

“I know of no Hakudoshi. If you are trying to save your skin Inuyasha it won’t work. You don’t belong in this world. I’ll throw you into hell with your retched human mother!”

“Wait, Sesshomaru…”

Sesshomaru sprung into the air and his green whip lashed out from his claws. The whip hit Inuyasha hard and it threw him back. Sesshomaru kept striking the whip at Inuyasha until he was not even trying to block the attacks anymore.

Sesshomaru retracted the whip and his palm started to glow a fluorescent green.

“Inuyasha. Look out for his poisonous claws,” Kagome yelled from the other side of the field.

Inuyasha tried to get up but was forced back down by Sesshomaru’s hand on his throat. The flesh began to sear away from his neck and he screamed. He struggled to get free but couldn’t.

“You’re not going to survive this time, little brother.”

“Sesshomaru,” came a quiet voice from behind him.

Sesshomaru’s hands stopped glowing as he turned around to look at who spoke. Slowly trying to get up was Aniu.

“A...Aniu,” he said quietly.

She pushed herself up but didn’t have the strength to stay there. She collapsed into the puddle of her blood.

Sesshomaru let go of Inuyasha’s neck and ran over to Aniu. Inuyasha drifted between the light and the dark until the dark took him over and he was oblivious to the world.

Sesshomaru lifted Aniu from the puddle so she wouldn’t drown on her own blood. He cradled her in his lap for a few minutes before he remembered where he was. He looked around to see Inuyasha’s friends surrounding his unconscious body. Only Kagome was coming towards them.

“Don’t come any closer, priestess.”

“But Sesshomaru she is hurt badly let up help.”

“No.”

“But…” Kagome didn’t get any farther before Sesshomaru was already leaving. Kagome watched him until he disappeared and then went back to Inuyasha. Naraku will pay!

*****

Chapter Thirteen

Aniu.

Aniu looked around in the darkness for the voice calling her name.

Aniu come back.

Where are you? She asked to the darkness.

I am here.

Where?

Here.

She turned around and saw nothing. She turned around again; surely there was something behind her. There was nothing but darkness. Panic started to seep in and she began to run through the darkness. Suddenly it wasn’t dark anymore. She in a clearing surround by an untamed forest. The full moon shining onto the clearing. She looked up to the moon.

Aniu.

She brought her gaze down to look across the clearing. There stood a figure cloaked in white. She smiled.

Sesshomaru.

She ran to him and it was an easy gait like she wasn’t hurt at all. All of a sudden a purple beam was cast through her stomach. She choked and fell to her knees.

He pulled the beam out of her body and she fell on her side.

Why?

The cloaked figure walked up to Aniu until he was standing over her. The cloak had a bluish baboon mask.

Not Sesshomaru.

No not Sesshomaru.

He pulled back the mask to reveal a black haired man with a wicked grin on his face.

Naraku.

Correct. Now die Aniu.

Another beam slashed across her body and she coughed, coughed up blood, her blood.

No.

Aniu woke up with a start. She was so warm, so warm it was like her body was on fire. Something cold pressed onto her forehead and she shivered at the feel of it. Her eyes opened slowly to peer onto the face of a concerned Sesshomaru.

“Aniu, you’re awake.”

Relief flooded his eyes and he rubbed his hand through her hair.

She smiled glad that it was only a dream. She felt a tickle in her throat and began to cough. Sesshomaru turned her as her cough turned to gagging. Soon she was puking. When she finally had hold of herself she looked down to see blood soaking the grass and not left over food. She didn’t have time to take it in because she started shaking, badly. She was shaking so hard it looked like she was having spasms.

“Sessh…oo...ma...rruu,” she said through chattering teeth.

Sesshomaru hugged her closer to his bare chest. She wasn’t hot anymore she was ice cold. He pulled her legs into his lap until she was like a little kid being held by their parent. “I’m here.”

The shaking turned violent and it tore a scream from her throat. She raked her claws down Sesshomaru’s arm as she screamed. He put a hand on the back of her head and pressed her face into his chest as she screamed. He winced when her claws drew blood but ignored it and looked over her head at the sunrise, hoping to the gods that she would get better.

Aniu screamed and screamed and screamed until her throat was raw. Then she turned to whimpering, painful whimpers.

Her body had started warming slightly and the spasms were decreasing in magnitude. Soon she was just shivering but whimpering like it still hurt.

“Aniu, are you still hurting?”

She nodded against his chest and shuddered at the movement. Her head felt like it had exploded into a million pieces. Just nodding made her want to puke so much that she pushed away from Sesshomaru to retch on the grass. Sesshomaru held her steady until she finished then he wiped her mouth with a white cloth.

Aniu had a moment to look at what had appeared on the grass. It was blood. Why was she puking blood?

“Sesshomaru?” she asked panic seeping into every part of her body.

“I know.”

“What’s…going…on?”

“I don’t know.”

“Am…Am I going…to die?”

Sesshomaru looked away from her and said so softly she thought she’d miss it if she wasn’t looking for it. “I don’t know.”

I can't save your life, though nothing I bleed for is more tormenting. I'm losing my mind and you just stand there and stare as my world divides…

*****

The cave was damp but warm because of the fire. Rin and Jaken were sleeping at the back of the small cave. Aniu and Sesshomaru were closer to the opening but still very close to the fire.

Aniu was cradled in Sesshomaru’s lap, crying as her face was buried in his bare chest. Sesshomaru held her tightly, stroking her hair lightly. He murmured softly in her hair and every once in a while left light kisses.

Sesshomaru felt every hot tear that streaked down her face. They landed on his chest and trailed down his stomach. Aniu was still so cold in his arms but she was warmer than she had been.

He had taken her home, clinging to his body. He had thrown away her bloody clothes and dressed her wounds. As soon as he was finished he wrapped as many furs around her freezing body as he could. Ever since then he had bee trying to comfort her.

Damn that half-breed.

Aniu was suddenly very still in his arms and he looked down at her. She was very pale and she wasn’t breathing. It was still hours away from when she would change but if she died before then, she would never awake.

He picked her up and put her down on the stone floor, the furs cradling around her. Sesshomaru placed his ear between her breasts and listened. Her heart beat slow and faintly but she wasn’t breathing.

He lifted his head off her chest and put both hands on the side of her face. He looked down at the deathly pale face and noticed blood falling from her nose.

“Aniu, breathe. Please stay with me.”

She didn’t respond.

He sighed then pinched her nose and opened her mouth a little. He leaned down and breathed for her. Her chest rose and fell with every breath that wasn’t her own.

“Come on Aniu. Breathe,” he said tears shining in his eyes.

He breathed for her a few more times until she woke up coughing. Blood spilled from her mouth and he turned her so it wouldn’t go back down and drown her lungs. The blood looked black on the stone floor and in the light of the fire.

Aniu kept coughing and blood kept pouring onto the floor. Blood was still dripping from her nose mixing with the salty tears falling from her eyes. She coughed until something came up her throat and out of her mouth. Only then did she stop and Sesshomaru laid her on her back.

He wiped the blood from her mouth and nose like a parent wiping a kid’s runny nose, as she drifted in and out of consciousness. She closed her eyes and the last thing she heard was, “What is that,” until she passed out from the blood loss.

*****

A warm, naked body pressed tightly against her bare back. Hands clutched tightly around her waist and one leg clutched both hers together. A warm breath was blowing against the back of her head and stirring her hair.

She moved slightly and felt furs covering their naked bodies. Unfortunately the furs didn’t cover her face because there was a burning light on the other side of her eyelids.

Gingerly she moved her hand to cover her eyes but was stopped by the arms tightening around her waist. Fear surged through her and she struggled more only to be held fast by the man behind her. She was whimpering by the time she settled down.

“What’s going on?”

The man behind her stirred, “Aniu are you awake?”

“Yes.”

The man behind her loosened her grip and she turned over to see it was Sesshomaru. Looking into his face made a smile come across hers. Sesshomaru smiled back at her then let his hand trail up from her hip to her face. It was slow and sensual and made Aniu close her eyes.

Aniu leaned into him and placed her head on his chest. She breathed in the scent of him and sighed. Rolling her eyes up to his face she could see him staring down at her while playing with her now golden hair. She kept her eyes rolled up as she leaned in and kissed his chest. Feeling his breath catch made her smile and he smiled down at her. Her hands caressed his chest feeling the muscles ripple underneath as she kissed his chest.

Flicking her tongue across one nipple made him close his eyes and let out a soft moan. She licked and nipped at his nipple then moved to the other one and did the same thing. By the time she stopped he was breathing heavy, his eyes closed. She squirmed up towards his face and kissed him. She kissed him long, deep and passionately. His hands roaming over he body as they shared the sensual kiss. He placed both his hands on her butt and pulled her close to him. She felt his erection on her stomach and moaned into his mouth.

Shoving her hands into his hair she pulled him deeper into her mouth. She released his hair and moved it down his arms feeling the muscles that lay quiet there. He broke from the kiss and dove straight for her neck. He nipped and kissed along her neck and came to where her neck came together with the rest of her body. He kissed and licked the crease and she threw back her head. Sesshomaru turned her onto her back and pushed himself on top of her. He kissed her hard bruising her mouth but she didn’t give a damn in the least.

He pressed himself, hard and ready, against where it was warm and wet. She whimpered softly and whispered across his lips. “Yes, gods yes.”

He inched into her slowly still holding the kiss. He was a few inches in when he felt a barrier. Aniu winced but nodded to him. He kissed her gentler this time as he pulled back out and dove right back in. She screamed into his mouth and he whimpered as her body clamped around his shaft. Soon her body relaxed and he was able to move easily. She whimpered every time he went past where her hymen had been but soon started to enjoy it.

Aniu went to the rhythm that he had started, thrusting her hips up to meet his. Pleasure started to build low in her stomach, growing and growing as he thrust and thrust. Her body let go and she screamed as she drowned in the intensity of her first orgasm.

Sesshomaru thrust harder and harder until he let go. He thrust one last time, hard and deep, his seed spilling into her womb. When he was done he collapsed on top of her. She put her legs around him keeping him inside her for a little while longer. She put one arm around his back and the other stroking his face. They lay there covered in sweat, breathing heavy with their eyes closed as they regained their strength.

When Aniu could move again she let her legs fall to either side of Sesshomaru then started caressing his back. He moved his arms to either side of her and lifted himself up enough to see her face. She smiled at him and he kissed her gently.

“Thank you Sesshomaru.”

He smiled at her and pulled out of her. “I love you Aniu.”

“And I, you,” she said.

He got to his feet and swayed a little bit then looked down at her and laughed.

“I guess we should get cleaned up before Rin and Jaken get back.”

She laughed with him. “Yeah I don’t want to give that toad another excuse for mocking me.”

Sesshomaru held out his hand to her and she took it. He hulled her up and into his arms. He hugged her and she just leaned into the hug, burying her face into his chest.

“Don’t ever scare me like that again.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Come on we should get cleaned up.” He let her go and turned around to get their clothes. Then he grabbed her around the waist and ran for the trees in a blur of speed people would have thought they were imagining it. Aniu hung to his neck as he dragged her through the forest. When they came to a hot spring she just sighed in anticipation of the hot water and soaking in it for a good long time.

*****

Aniu leaned against Sesshomaru while letting the hot water take away all her problems. She was sitting in front of him her legs on either side of her body and the back of her head resting against his chest. He rubbed her arms and shoulders while she stroked his legs. They had been sitting like this for fifteen minutes before either one was willing to talk.

“Aniu?”

“Yes.”

“Do you know what happened last night?”

Aniu frowned. “I remember you saying, ‘What is that?’ then nothing.”

Sesshomaru was quiet for so long Aniu was getting nervous.

“Sesshomaru did something happen after I passed out?”

He shook his head sending part of his hair over his shoulder. Aniu grabbed part of it and stroked it. She knew he liked the attention to his hair whenever he needed a little comfort.

He sighed. “Yes.”

“Tell me what happened,” Aniu said calmly.

Sesshomaru tilted his head back a little. “Well that thing that was in your stomach was trying to eat you from the inside out.” Aniu’s stomach clenched at the thought of being eaten.

“How do you know?” She asked softly.

“When we killed it, it was full of your blood. Did you eat anything earlier in the day?”

Aniu thought about that for a minute. “No. I was too worried about the transformation that I didn’t eat anything.”

“What happened after you left the camp?”

“I walked to the river and sat by the edge as the sun set behind the mountains and my power left.” She shivered.

He hugged her close but still urging her to go on.

“I was getting up to go back to you when I was attacked by Hakudoshi.”

Sesshomaru frowned. “When I found you, you were cut up by Inuyasha, your blood dripping from his claws. There was no Hakudoshi there.”

“Hakudoshi must have taken me to Inuyasha to force you and Inuyasha to kill each other. But what I want to know is how did that thing get in my stomach?”

Sesshomaru was quiet as he thought about the trap set up between Inuyasha and himself. “Are you sure Inuyasha wouldn’t harm you?”

Aniu rubbed her shoulder where Inuyasha had clawed her. It had already healed but still hurt because it was a demon’s cut so it would heal fast on the outside and slow on the inside. “Yes. I think we need to talk to Inuyasha about why I was cut up by his claws, though. But I think that flesh thing my have been jammed into the cut on my back that Hakudoshi made.”

Sesshomaru nodded. “I don’t want to go to Inuyasha. If you trust him that much then I’ll let it go this time.”

“But…”

“No. We are not going to him unless he is our last option. Alright?”

She nodded and Sesshomaru sighed digging his face into her hair. He took a deep breath filling his senses with her scent. How could he face that bastard half-breed after finding out he was wrong?

*****

Description
Chapter Eleven

After setting up camp Aniu went to the head of the cave and took in the sun setting on distant mountains. Tonight was the night. She didn’t want to be here when she first started to transform. She wasn’t embarrassed; it was just that she didn’t know how Sesshomaru would act. She shook her head. She’d been with him for a month now and they had already proclaimed their love for one another. For crying out loud, when they first met she was in her vulnerable stage. Shouldn’t that make her feel comfortable when it happened around Sesshomaru? No! She sighed and shuddered slightly.

Sesshomaru was watching Aniu from a little ways into the cave. When she shook he walked over to her and put his arms around her waist and set his chin on her shoulder.

“What’s wrong,” he asked.

Aniu leaned into him letting him warm her numb body but she kept her arms crossed in front of her instead of touching his arms.

“I just need to be alone,” she said matter-of-factly.

Sesshomaru tightened his grip around her. “Why? I said I would protect you. I said I love you. Why won’t you stay here with me so I can watch you?”

“I’m not saying I won’t come back before dawn. I just don’t want to be here when I first transform. Okay?”

“Why?”

“It’s difficult for me to change in front of someone. It took me a year before I did change in front of Inuyasha. I still haven’t done it with the rest of the gang yet.”

Sesshomaru’s arms tightened more around her waist when she mentioned Inuyasha’s name. She was finding it hard to breathe. Her breath was coming in short gasps and she could barely get a few words out.

“I’m sorry…please…forgive…me. I forgot…about…your rule.”

Sesshomaru hadn’t even noticed that he was hurting her. He loosened his grip until he was holding her gently. He leaned his forehead on her shoulder and waited until her breathing had returned to normal.

“I’m sorry, Aniu. I wasn’t paying attention to my actions.”

He sighed, thinking about how much he could have hurt her. He was dragged back to the present when he felt a hand on his arm. Moments later he felt a hand in his hair. He moved his mouth to her neck and laid gentle kisses there. She whimpered softly. He let out a warm breath on her neck.

“I love you.”

“I know but I need to be alone right now. I’ll come back but please Sesshomaru let me go for a little while.”

Sesshomaru was thoughtful for a minute, thinking about how hard it must be to even share her vulnerability with him, let alone see her transform. He had to let her go but something in the back of his mind was itching at him. It was telling him he shouldn’t let her go, at least not alone. If he really wanted her to trust him he had to do it. She would be back, he could trust her word. He sighed and Aniu went very still in his arms. Her hands stopped in mid-caress and it felt like she had stopped breathing.

“Alright. You can go but please come back as soon as possible.”

Aniu was so relieved she didn’t even hear the warning and concern in his voice. She turned in his arms and he leaned his forehead on hers. He stared hard into her eyes and only saw relief. She must not have heard what he had said. He pulled his head back a little and opened his mouth to speak but was stopped by her mouth on his.

She whispered against his lips, “Thank you.” Then she gently pushed his arms away and ran off towards the river.

“Good riddance!” Jaken said. “Now we can all rest in peace without having to worry about that bitch.”

“Jaken!” Rin said with a shriek.

“Well, it’s true! Isn’t that right, Lord Sesshomaru?”

Sesshomaru turned around, his face unreadable and Jaken scrambled to hide behind Rin.

“Jaken,” Sesshomaru said his voice cold.

Jaken peeked out from behind Rin. “Yes Mi’ lord?”

WHAM!

Jaken lay on the ground with a large lump protruding from his head. He groaned and Rin snickered. He scowled at the human wench.

“Well, that’s what you get when you insult people, Master Jaken.” She turned away, still giggling and followed Sesshomaru deeper into the cave.

“I really have to learn to keep my mouth shut.” Jaken slowly rose to his feet and walked back into the cave.

*****

Aniu hugged her knees closer to her chest as she felt the power leave her. It was suddenly a lot colder than it had been. She shook as the last bit of power was drained from her.

Her golden hair turned to night black, the green stripes on her cheeks disappeared and the black cross on her forehead flipped upside down.

She sighed, suddenly feeling cold and weak. She hated this form. Even if she had fangs and claws, they weren’t really good for protection. If she went back, Sesshomaru would protect her. Even with her powers she always felt safer knowing he was near.

Long, lost words whisper slowly to me, still can't find what keeps me here. When all this time I’ve been so hollow inside, I know you're still there...

She shook her head and started to get up.

SWISH!

Aniu looked down and saw a cut through her haori and blood started seeping through the cut in her arm. As soon as she saw the blood it started to hurt and she grabbed her arm and sank to her knees. How come whenever you see blood then the wound starts to hurt?

Out of the corner of her eye she saw white horse legs covered in flames. There was something strange about the legs. She looked up and up and up until she could see the rider.

The rider looked to be only eight or nine years of age. He was dressed in white with white hair to match. He looked like a tiny figure on top of the fire horse. The kid carried a long stick that had a large blade on the end. The blade was dripping with black liquid. Her blood.

Aniu looked at the horse. Her eyes went wide with recognition. Entei. Then that means…

“Hakudoshi,” she said astounded.

He chuckled. “So you recognize me. You know you’re not an easy person to track.”

“What do you want,” she asked quickly, panic starting to seep into her words.

He chuckled again, sending cold shivers down her spine. “You.”

He lashed out with his knife. The movement was so fast she didn’t even feel it when the blade made contact with her skin. She suddenly had a cut from hip to ankle. She cried out and was silenced when she was hit by the other end of the knife then fell hard on her stomach.

Aniu started to get up when she felt the knife cut a deep, long stroke into her back. Again she cried out.

Hakudoshi flipped the knife around and hit her hard on the back of the head but not before she let out a scream for Sesshomaru.

She fell limply to the ground and Hakudoshi smiled. This was too easy. He picked up her unconscious body and threw her on Entei’s back. Once loaded he took off in the opposite direction of Sesshomaru’s camp.

“Now to Inuyasha,” he said as he chuckled.

I tried to kill the pain. But only brought more. I lay dying, and I'm pouring crimson regret and betrayal. I'm dying, praying, bleeding and screaming. Am I too lost to be saved? Am I too lost?

*****

A loud, ragged scream tore threw Sesshomaru’s camp. He was up so fast that the furs that were covering him flew several feet to either side of him.

“Aniu.”

He was off and running before Jaken could even ask what was wrong. He flew through the trees so fast it looked like the branches were moving aside for him to pass.

He burst out of the forest so hard he had to dig his feet into the ground so he wouldn’t plunge into the icy river. Once the dirt settled he did a double take of the area. He walked over to where he could see and smell most of the blood. The strange thing was he couldn’t smell anyone or anything else. He looked around and saw no footprints. How could they kidnap Aniu without leaving a scent trail or footprints?

Sesshomaru shook his head and started sniffing around to see which way they might have gone. He picked up the scent of blood heading north-east.

Once he had the scent he was off running at top speed not wasting anytime in going after her.

“Hang on. I’m coming, Aniu. I’m coming.”

Blame it on me, set your guilt free. Nothing can hold you back now. Now that you're gone, I feel like myself again. Grieving the things I can't repair and willing...

*****

Chapter Twelve

“Give that back, Inuyasha!”

“Not on your life, Shippo.”

“Come on. I’m a growing boy and I need it,” Shippo yelled at the stubborn Inuyasha.

“You are not getting this rice ball, you little punk,” Inuyasha said as he whacked Shippo hard on the head.

“Inuyasha!” Kagome yelled.

“Yeah well he should know better,” Inuyasha said his mouth full.

“Inuyasha,” Kagome said with a warning.

“Huh?”

“Sit!”

A strangled cry was tore from the half-demon’s mouth as he was pounded into the ground. He lifted his face enough to spit back at her, “What was that for?”

“Sit!”

He was pulled a little deeper in the ground but still with as much force as before. He pulled his head up and growled but stopped and started sniffing the air.

“What’s wrong, Inuyasha,” Kagome asked.

“I smell blood. It smells like…this can’t be!” He was on his feet so quickly he forgot about how hurt he was from that sit command.

“What is it Inuyasha,” Miroku asked getting to his feet and coming over to Kagome and Inuyasha.

“It smells like Aniu’s blood.”

“But doesn’t Sesshomaru have her? Why would there be blood if he is protecting her,” asked Sango.

“I don’t know but her scent is getting closer and fast. Kagome are you sensing any jewel shards?”

“No, but I do sense a demonic aura,” she said quietly.

“I sense it too,” Miroku joined in.

“I have a bad feeling about this,” Inuyasha said.

As if on cue something came from the sky and landed in front of the group.

“Hello Inuyasha,” said in a calm almost amused voice.

“Hakudoshi,” Inuyasha said with disgust.

Entei turned so everyone could see Hakudoshi and the limp figure that was strewn across his rump.

Inuyasha drew his Tetsusaiga and aimed it toward Hakudoshi. “Hakudoshi I’m going to slaughter you into pieces with my Tetsusaiga.”

“And in the process Inuyasha you kill Aniu.”

“Aniu?”

Hakudoshi smirked and pulled the limp figure’s hair so that her face could be seen.

“That’s not Aniu. That’s just some…”

Wait a second. That is Aniu in…in her powerless form.

“Damn you. You bastard, you’re going to pay for hurting Aniu.” He sheathed Tetsusaiga and charged. “Iron Reaper Soul Stealer.”

Yellow light shined from his claws as he attacked Entei. Entei moved but Inuyasha’s claws hit something. He tore his claws out and looked at where he had struck. He had sunk his claw right into Aniu’s shoulder.

“No! You bastard!” Inuyasha aimed for Entei’s head. “Blades of Blood!”

Red beams shot out this time but Entei moved so quickly. He moved so the beams struck Aniu’s helpless body.

Inuyasha clenched his fists so tight that his blood started falling from his palms. No! This can’t be happening.

Entei suddenly reared, knocking Aniu to the ground. Then with the speed he was known for, took off into the sky, disappearing without a trace.

Inuyasha didn’t waste anytime watching Entei leave, instead he ran to Aniu. Her blood had already started making a pool on to the ground. He stood over her and looked at what he had done as well as what Hakudoshi had done.

“INUYASHA!” A cold, hard, broken voice came from ahead of him.

*****

Inuyasha looked up to see Sesshomaru standing breathless, anger raging across his face. Sesshomaru looked down at Aniu and then back up at Inuyasha.

“You worthless half-breed, I’ll put you in your place.”

“Sesshomaru, I didn’t do it I swear.” Inuyasha’s voice was like someone trying to negotiate over a swap of land.

“Then why are your claws dripping with her blood?”

Inuyasha looked down at his claws. It was a setup. Naraku set them up just like he had done with Kouga and himself.

“I would never hurt her on purpose, Sesshomaru.”

“Liar. If you wouldn’t hurt her on purpose, why his she cut up by your claws?”

“It was Hakudoshi.”

“I know of no Hakudoshi. If you are trying to save your skin Inuyasha it won’t work. You don’t belong in this world. I’ll throw you into hell with your retched human mother!”

“Wait, Sesshomaru…”

Sesshomaru sprung into the air and his green whip lashed out from his claws. The whip hit Inuyasha hard and it threw him back. Sesshomaru kept striking the whip at Inuyasha until he was not even trying to block the attacks anymore.

Sesshomaru retracted the whip and his palm started to glow a fluorescent green.

“Inuyasha. Look out for his poisonous claws,” Kagome yelled from the other side of the field.

Inuyasha tried to get up but was forced back down by Sesshomaru’s hand on his throat. The flesh began to sear away from his neck and he screamed. He struggled to get free but couldn’t.

“You’re not going to survive this time, little brother.”

“Sesshomaru,” came a quiet voice from behind him.

Sesshomaru’s hands stopped glowing as he turned around to look at who spoke. Slowly trying to get up was Aniu.

“A...Aniu,” he said quietly.

She pushed herself up but didn’t have the strength to stay there. She collapsed into the puddle of her blood.

Sesshomaru let go of Inuyasha’s neck and ran over to Aniu. Inuyasha drifted between the light and the dark until the dark took him over and he was oblivious to the world.

Sesshomaru lifted Aniu from the puddle so she wouldn’t drown on her own blood. He cradled her in his lap for a few minutes before he remembered where he was. He looked around to see Inuyasha’s friends surrounding his unconscious body. Only Kagome was coming towards them.

“Don’t come any closer, priestess.”

“But Sesshomaru she is hurt badly let up help.”

“No.”

“But…” Kagome didn’t get any farther before Sesshomaru was already leaving. Kagome watched him until he disappeared and then went back to Inuyasha. Naraku will pay!

*****

Chapter Thirteen

Aniu.

Aniu looked around in the darkness for the voice calling her name.

Aniu come back.

Where are you? She asked to the darkness.

I am here.

Where?

Here.

She turned around and saw nothing. She turned around again; surely there was something behind her. There was nothing but darkness. Panic started to seep in and she began to run through the darkness. Suddenly it wasn’t dark anymore. She in a clearing surround by an untamed forest. The full moon shining onto the clearing. She looked up to the moon.

Aniu.

She brought her gaze down to look across the clearing. There stood a figure cloaked in white. She smiled.

Sesshomaru.

She ran to him and it was an easy gait like she wasn’t hurt at all. All of a sudden a purple beam was cast through her stomach. She choked and fell to her knees.

He pulled the beam out of her body and she fell on her side.

Why?

The cloaked figure walked up to Aniu until he was standing over her. The cloak had a bluish baboon mask.

Not Sesshomaru.

No not Sesshomaru.

He pulled back the mask to reveal a black haired man with a wicked grin on his face.

Naraku.

Correct. Now die Aniu.

Another beam slashed across her body and she coughed, coughed up blood, her blood.

No.

Aniu woke up with a start. She was so warm, so warm it was like her body was on fire. Something cold pressed onto her forehead and she shivered at the feel of it. Her eyes opened slowly to peer onto the face of a concerned Sesshomaru.

“Aniu, you’re awake.”

Relief flooded his eyes and he rubbed his hand through her hair.

She smiled glad that it was only a dream. She felt a tickle in her throat and began to cough. Sesshomaru turned her as her cough turned to gagging. Soon she was puking. When she finally had hold of herself she looked down to see blood soaking the grass and not left over food. She didn’t have time to take it in because she started shaking, badly. She was shaking so hard it looked like she was having spasms.

“Sessh…oo...ma...rruu,” she said through chattering teeth.

Sesshomaru hugged her closer to his bare chest. She wasn’t hot anymore she was ice cold. He pulled her legs into his lap until she was like a little kid being held by their parent. “I’m here.”

The shaking turned violent and it tore a scream from her throat. She raked her claws down Sesshomaru’s arm as she screamed. He put a hand on the back of her head and pressed her face into his chest as she screamed. He winced when her claws drew blood but ignored it and looked over her head at the sunrise, hoping to the gods that she would get better.

Aniu screamed and screamed and screamed until her throat was raw. Then she turned to whimpering, painful whimpers.

Her body had started warming slightly and the spasms were decreasing in magnitude. Soon she was just shivering but whimpering like it still hurt.

“Aniu, are you still hurting?”

She nodded against his chest and shuddered at the movement. Her head felt like it had exploded into a million pieces. Just nodding made her want to puke so much that she pushed away from Sesshomaru to retch on the grass. Sesshomaru held her steady until she finished then he wiped her mouth with a white cloth.

Aniu had a moment to look at what had appeared on the grass. It was blood. Why was she puking blood?

“Sesshomaru?” she asked panic seeping into every part of her body.

“I know.”

“What’s…going…on?”

“I don’t know.”

“Am…Am I going…to die?”

Sesshomaru looked away from her and said so softly she thought she’d miss it if she wasn’t looking for it. “I don’t know.”

I can't save your life, though nothing I bleed for is more tormenting. I'm losing my mind and you just stand there and stare as my world divides…

*****

The cave was damp but warm because of the fire. Rin and Jaken were sleeping at the back of the small cave. Aniu and Sesshomaru were closer to the opening but still very close to the fire.

Aniu was cradled in Sesshomaru’s lap, crying as her face was buried in his bare chest. Sesshomaru held her tightly, stroking her hair lightly. He murmured softly in her hair and every once in a while left light kisses.

Sesshomaru felt every hot tear that streaked down her face. They landed on his chest and trailed down his stomach. Aniu was still so cold in his arms but she was warmer than she had been.

He had taken her home, clinging to his body. He had thrown away her bloody clothes and dressed her wounds. As soon as he was finished he wrapped as many furs around her freezing body as he could. Ever since then he had bee trying to comfort her.

Damn that half-breed.

Aniu was suddenly very still in his arms and he looked down at her. She was very pale and she wasn’t breathing. It was still hours away from when she would change but if she died before then, she would never awake.

He picked her up and put her down on the stone floor, the furs cradling around her. Sesshomaru placed his ear between her breasts and listened. Her heart beat slow and faintly but she wasn’t breathing.

He lifted his head off her chest and put both hands on the side of her face. He looked down at the deathly pale face and noticed blood falling from her nose.

“Aniu, breathe. Please stay with me.”

She didn’t respond.

He sighed then pinched her nose and opened her mouth a little. He leaned down and breathed for her. Her chest rose and fell with every breath that wasn’t her own.

“Come on Aniu. Breathe,” he said tears shining in his eyes.

He breathed for her a few more times until she woke up coughing. Blood spilled from her mouth and he turned her so it wouldn’t go back down and drown her lungs. The blood looked black on the stone floor and in the light of the fire.

Aniu kept coughing and blood kept pouring onto the floor. Blood was still dripping from her nose mixing with the salty tears falling from her eyes. She coughed until something came up her throat and out of her mouth. Only then did she stop and Sesshomaru laid her on her back.

He wiped the blood from her mouth and nose like a parent wiping a kid’s runny nose, as she drifted in and out of consciousness. She closed her eyes and the last thing she heard was, “What is that,” until she passed out from the blood loss.

*****

A warm, naked body pressed tightly against her bare back. Hands clutched tightly around her waist and one leg clutched both hers together. A warm breath was blowing against the back of her head and stirring her hair.

She moved slightly and felt furs covering their naked bodies. Unfortunately the furs didn’t cover her face because there was a burning light on the other side of her eyelids.

Gingerly she moved her hand to cover her eyes but was stopped by the arms tightening around her waist. Fear surged through her and she struggled more only to be held fast by the man behind her. She was whimpering by the time she settled down.

“What’s going on?”

The man behind her stirred, “Aniu are you awake?”

“Yes.”

The man behind her loosened her grip and she turned over to see it was Sesshomaru. Looking into his face made a smile come across hers. Sesshomaru smiled back at her then let his hand trail up from her hip to her face. It was slow and sensual and made Aniu close her eyes.

Aniu leaned into him and placed her head on his chest. She breathed in the scent of him and sighed. Rolling her eyes up to his face she could see him staring down at her while playing with her now golden hair. She kept her eyes rolled up as she leaned in and kissed his chest. Feeling his breath catch made her smile and he smiled down at her. Her hands caressed his chest feeling the muscles ripple underneath as she kissed his chest.

Flicking her tongue across one nipple made him close his eyes and let out a soft moan. She licked and nipped at his nipple then moved to the other one and did the same thing. By the time she stopped he was breathing heavy, his eyes closed. She squirmed up towards his face and kissed him. She kissed him long, deep and passionately. His hands roaming over he body as they shared the sensual kiss. He placed both his hands on her butt and pulled her close to him. She felt his erection on her stomach and moaned into his mouth.

Shoving her hands into his hair she pulled him deeper into her mouth. She released his hair and moved it down his arms feeling the muscles that lay quiet there. He broke from the kiss and dove straight for her neck. He nipped and kissed along her neck and came to where her neck came together with the rest of her body. He kissed and licked the crease and she threw back her head. Sesshomaru turned her onto her back and pushed himself on top of her. He kissed her hard bruising her mouth but she didn’t give a damn in the least.

He pressed himself, hard and ready, against where it was warm and wet. She whimpered softly and whispered across his lips. “Yes, gods yes.”

He inched into her slowly still holding the kiss. He was a few inches in when he felt a barrier. Aniu winced but nodded to him. He kissed her gentler this time as he pulled back out and dove right back in. She screamed into his mouth and he whimpered as her body clamped around his shaft. Soon her body relaxed and he was able to move easily. She whimpered every time he went past where her hymen had been but soon started to enjoy it.

Aniu went to the rhythm that he had started, thrusting her hips up to meet his. Pleasure started to build low in her stomach, growing and growing as he thrust and thrust. Her body let go and she screamed as she drowned in the intensity of her first orgasm.

Sesshomaru thrust harder and harder until he let go. He thrust one last time, hard and deep, his seed spilling into her womb. When he was done he collapsed on top of her. She put her legs around him keeping him inside her for a little while longer. She put one arm around his back and the other stroking his face. They lay there covered in sweat, breathing heavy with their eyes closed as they regained their strength.

When Aniu could move again she let her legs fall to either side of Sesshomaru then started caressing his back. He moved his arms to either side of her and lifted himself up enough to see her face. She smiled at him and he kissed her gently.

“Thank you Sesshomaru.”

He smiled at her and pulled out of her. “I love you Aniu.”

“And I, you,” she said.

He got to his feet and swayed a little bit then looked down at her and laughed.

“I guess we should get cleaned up before Rin and Jaken get back.”

She laughed with him. “Yeah I don’t want to give that toad another excuse for mocking me.”

Sesshomaru held out his hand to her and she took it. He hulled her up and into his arms. He hugged her and she just leaned into the hug, burying her face into his chest.

“Don’t ever scare me like that again.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Come on we should get cleaned up.” He let her go and turned around to get their clothes. Then he grabbed her around the waist and ran for the trees in a blur of speed people would have thought they were imagining it. Aniu hung to his neck as he dragged her through the forest. When they came to a hot spring she just sighed in anticipation of the hot water and soaking in it for a good long time.

*****

Aniu leaned against Sesshomaru while letting the hot water take away all her problems. She was sitting in front of him her legs on either side of her body and the back of her head resting against his chest. He rubbed her arms and shoulders while she stroked his legs. They had been sitting like this for fifteen minutes before either one was willing to talk.

“Aniu?”

“Yes.”

“Do you know what happened last night?”

Aniu frowned. “I remember you saying, ‘What is that?’ then nothing.”

Sesshomaru was quiet for so long Aniu was getting nervous.

“Sesshomaru did something happen after I passed out?”

He shook his head sending part of his hair over his shoulder. Aniu grabbed part of it and stroked it. She knew he liked the attention to his hair whenever he needed a little comfort.

He sighed. “Yes.”

“Tell me what happened,” Aniu said calmly.

Sesshomaru tilted his head back a little. “Well that thing that was in your stomach was trying to eat you from the inside out.” Aniu’s stomach clenched at the thought of being eaten.

“How do you know?” She asked softly.

“When we killed it, it was full of your blood. Did you eat anything earlier in the day?”

Aniu thought about that for a minute. “No. I was too worried about the transformation that I didn’t eat anything.”

“What happened after you left the camp?”

“I walked to the river and sat by the edge as the sun set behind the mountains and my power left.” She shivered.

He hugged her close but still urging her to go on.

“I was getting up to go back to you when I was attacked by Hakudoshi.”

Sesshomaru frowned. “When I found you, you were cut up by Inuyasha, your blood dripping from his claws. There was no Hakudoshi there.”

“Hakudoshi must have taken me to Inuyasha to force you and Inuyasha to kill each other. But what I want to know is how did that thing get in my stomach?”

Sesshomaru was quiet as he thought about the trap set up between Inuyasha and himself. “Are you sure Inuyasha wouldn’t harm you?”

Aniu rubbed her shoulder where Inuyasha had clawed her. It had already healed but still hurt because it was a demon’s cut so it would heal fast on the outside and slow on the inside. “Yes. I think we need to talk to Inuyasha about why I was cut up by his claws, though. But I think that flesh thing my have been jammed into the cut on my back that Hakudoshi made.”

Sesshomaru nodded. “I don’t want to go to Inuyasha. If you trust him that much then I’ll let it go this time.”

“But…”

“No. We are not going to him unless he is our last option. Alright?”

She nodded and Sesshomaru sighed digging his face into her hair. He took a deep breath filling his senses with her scent. How could he face that bastard half-breed after finding out he was wrong?

*****