A Gathering of Crows by ShadyMinion

Chapter One

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha -_-

Chapter One

This was pathetic. The Great Sesshoumaru lay dying in some backwater woods on the fringes of my own lands. I lay, with my back leaning against an old, dried up well, my remaining hand pressed against the deep wound through my abdomen. I had lost my left arm in the battle. Poison was coursing its way through my system, inhibiting my natural healing abilities. My clothes were torn and stained with my blood, and the blood of my enemy. Though I had defeated my opponent, it is a bitter and short lived victory if I die soon after.

I had been ambushed as I made my routine patrol. My assailant was a mid-level lizard-youkai, who was powerful enough to take a ningen form. However, he displayed an unusual amount of strength, as if his own abilities had somehow been enhanced. Even still, it would not have been a difficult task for me to defeat him, if the coward had fought in an honorable fight. Instead, he had lain in wait and attacked me while I was not at full strength. My body had still been recovering from an illness that had recently afflicted my citadel and had not even spared the Great Sesshoumaru.

His cowardice had further showed no bounds as he had cast a dampening spell around my persons. No doubt he had the assistance of some dark miko. It lead me to believe that his employer was a being of great wealth and stature, yet too spineless to do their own dirty work. Perhaps it was some rival lord. Alas, there is no further point in pondering my assassination. My vision dims...

~*~

My body had awoken long before my eyes had opened. I lay on a soft mattress, swathed in delicate cloth. Bright morning sunlight streamed in freely, aggravating my sensitive vision. The room I was placed in was clean smelling and gave off a warm aura. I had no idea where I was.

I sat up, and was pleasantly surprised at the ease of which I could accomplish the task. There was no pain from my wounds, the slight fatigue would be expected though. My vision swam, my body still weak from recovery. Still, I was impatient to know my location, and the identity of the persons who would dare aid this Sesshoumaru.

I brought my hands up to cover my eyes. I was dehydrated. Beside me I saw a table with a pitcher of water and a cup beside it. Sniffing for any poison, which I realized would be counter-productive of the person who saved me, I found the water to be clear and clean, and pleasantly chilled. I eagerly poured my self a glass. It took me a moment for me to realize, that though I held the glass steady with one hand, there was another grasped around the handle of the pitcher, tilting it to pour. The revelation almost made me drop the pitcher.

Quickly, I set the pitcher down the marvel at my newly reacquired appendage. Opening up the sleeping yukata, I pulled down the shoulder. My inquiring hand met with only smooth, flawless skin. There wasn't even a scar. I traced an invisible line around the mid-bicep where it had been severed. Now I was more than curious about my savior. By all rights I should have been dead, but here I sat, completely healed, and quite alive.

Sipping the water carefully so as to not make myself ill, I drank my fill. Readjusting the yukata, I tied the sash tightly about my waist and stood slowly. Making sure that I would not do something undignified such as stumble, I waited until my body adjusted to what I was asking of it, and walked toward the shoji screen.

The sight that met my eyes was breathtaking. A huge garden sprawled across my field of vision in endless beauty. Colorful and delicate flowers, many of which I had never seen before, grew in tidy bunches in almost random patterns. Neatly pruned shrubs lined rings of flowers creating a labyrinth which in no way limited the garden, but rather leant to the illusion that the garden was boundless. Clear ponds dotted the expanse, decorated with white lilies and water flowers. Beautiful orchids hung from low trees and wallflowers followed an invisible path. Lush, springy grass filled in all the areas which were not inhabited by flowers or other greenery.

The whole place gave off a wonderfully pleasant scent. I inhaled deeply, enjoying the freshness. It was then that a strikingly different scent tickled my senses. It was a light fragrant scent of winter, clean snow, and crushed blossoms. It was the most refreshing, if not unique, scent I had ever smelled.

I followed the scent, hoping it would lead me to the person who had brought me here. As I walked deeper into the garden, a gentle sound teased at my ears. It was a haunting melody that was strangely alluring at the same time. Hiding my impatience and curiosity, I would not hurry forward to locate the source, but continue with my slow, measured pace as always.

It seemed to take an eternity, the garden growing larger the deeper into it I traveled. Finally, I rounded a slope and found a valley-like depression. Relaxing in the center, cushioned amidst a clutch of tiny, exquisitely colored flowers, sat a young, unmistakably human girl. She was kneeling with her fingers caressing the delicate blooms. She was clothed in a billowy gown of filmy white and pure silk. On her shoulder perched a bird of jet black. It was from her mouth that the heavenly sound spilled.

I watched the girl in stunned silence for a few minutes before she raised her bowed head, clear sapphire eyes met his. I noticed that she wore a dark cloth wrapped around her neck, coming to the mid of her neck and dipping low to between her collarbone. A silver ring adorned the front of the dark silk. She smiled before turning to look at the blossoms, running her fingers over the petals, never pausing her divine melody.

She was waiting for me to approach her, Sesshoumaru realized. Displeased at being told what to do, but appearing unaffected, I made my way toward her, almost appearing to glide in my careful steps. I stood to my full regal height before her, casting her into my shadow.

She continued to sing, pretending to be unaware of my presence. As her song ended, she slowly got to her feet, brushing her skirt lightly to free it of wrinkles. She gave me a blinding smile, lips perfectly curved over sparkling teeth. "Welcome to this humble abode, my lord." She said softly.

Even when speaking, her voice was gorgeous. I quickly shook such thoughts from my head. Invoking an icy tone, I shot her an intimidating an frosty glare. "How long have I been here?"

"One night." She answered smiling.

A short period of time. I was pleased, I would soon be able to return to my home.

"Where am I?"

The girl gave a deep bow, the bird on her shoulder fluttering to keep it's perch. "Forgive me, my lord, but I am not at liberty to discuss such. But may it please you to know, that you are in the home of another great lord."

My eyes narrowed. "Who?" I demanded.

Again, my question was answered with a deep bow. "I apologize, but I am not allowed to reveal that to you my lord."

Concealing my growing frustration, I decided to try a different approach. "May I ask, then, to whom do I owe the pleasure of being saved by?"

A mysterious emotion flitted briefly through the girl's expressive eyes. "You saved yourself, my lord."

A muscle in my jaw twitched. This girl was damnably irritable. I wanted answers and this slip of a girl would withhold such information from me. "Girl," I growled, "I am quite aware of my own abilities. I cannot heal such grievous wounds and regenerate an arm in a single night. Beyond that, I know the extent of my injuries. I was dying."

The girl's expression darkened and her smile faded. "My lord, you did die."

I clenched my jaw. "So, you mean to tell me that I resurrected myself from the dead?"

The girl turned to face the bird on her shoulder. With one finger, she gently stroked it's head. The bird closed it's eyes and tilted it's head in pleasure. "My lord, you were not ready to die. Though you had, at the time, resigned yourself to death, your time had not come." She returned her gaze to mine. Her eyes, a sparkling, deep blue now. "Is there anyone you love?"

"This Sesshoumaru loves no one and is loved by no one."

"But I'm sure that there is someone who would be grieved by your passing. Someone who would mourn your loss."

"Girl, you speak nonsense."

"I see." She paused her stroking and gazed at me sadly.

I was disgusted. I wanted no one's pity, especially that of this irritable siren before me. Striking out with one hand, I wrapped my long fingers around her throat, reveling in my returning strength and her own fragile flesh beneath my hand. "Now, wench, you'll answer my questions truthfully. How did I get here and how have all my wounds been healed so quickly."

She hung limply in my grasp. The bird glaring and squawking at me angrily. I batted away the nuisance. I focused my steely gaze on her soft, watery eyes. I could scent no fear from her, I tightened my grip. "Answer me now." I growled.

"My lord," she replied calmly, her voice strained from the pressure I was applying to her vocal cords, "it was I who found you by the Bone Eater's Well. You were already dead. I brought you to the home of my lord to heal you."

"What do you mean, I was already dead?"

"Your soul had separated from your body, but it had not yet departed. You were not ready to die."

"You can return souls to their bodies?"

"If there is reason enough, and with the blessing of whom I serve, I am blessed with that ability, my lord."

"Whom do you serve?"

"I have two masters. The lord of which I am bound to, and the beings of which I have been bound to." She inclined her head toward the dark colored bird who was clawing at his hand.

"You serve a ratty bird?"

Her eyes flashed for a moment. "My lord," she said respectfully, but with an edge of steel in her voice, "the crows are the guides of souls. With their power, I was able to return you to the world of the living."

"Did you not say before that I resurrected myself?"

"Yes, without your will to live, the task would have been impossible. However, the crows will only respond to the pure emotion of love. Your love kept your soul bound to this world and allowed me to aid you."

She wasn't lying. I could scent a lie even before it was uttered. Yet her scent remained pure and untainted as she answered. I loosened my grip, but did not let go.

"The wounds?"

"I am skilled in the practice of healing."

My eyes narrowed. I had come across many healers in my many years, but never one who was able to heal with such talent and precision. I would not mention that to her. It was unimaginable to have come across such a proficient healer.

"How did you come across my persons?"

"I could feel your pain. I have the ability to sense auras."

I released the girl abruptly. She fell to the ground with a soft thud. Her bird fluttered back to her shoulder. "Rubbish." I muttered. I stalked back from the direction I had come. "I desire to have my belongings returned to me. I wish to inhibit you no further with my presence. I shall depart from here as soon as possible and return to my citadel."

The girl might believe what she said, but I would have none of it. I was resurrected through the power of love. I had to refrain from rolling my eyes. Who did this girl think she was fooling. She was naught but a naïve spiritualist who was skilled in the art of healing, nothing more.

"I shall see to it, my lord," was the quiet reply from behind me.

ODM: Um...this is my first posted IY fic. I'm insanely nervous -_- Oh well, please review, I like to hear feedback. I'm not the best writer so any comments or suggestions are welcome, not to mention helpful ^-^. Oh, and you can be as brutally honest as you, like, hahhaha. By the way, I'm sorry if the characters are a little OOC, but I'm trying. I used to write GW and Furuba fics, so IY is a lil difficult for me. Hahahah, has anyone noticed the similarities between Ayame and Sesshoumaru? They're both older brothers and polar opposites of their younger brothers, not to mention that their younger sibling is also in love with the main character. Hahahahah. Ok, enough ramblings. Someone please review and I'll post the next chapter. I'm insecure like that. XD

Ack! I just noticed some errors so I fixed them up, I think that's all. Keep reviewing please.