The Pretator and His Prey by Kinyta

Wondering Souls

The Predator and His Prey

By: Kinyta

Disclaimer: I do not, I repeat, do not own Inuyasha and characters.

Author's note: This is just an idea that I have been toying with for a while. Hope it is okay.

Chapter One: Wondering Souls

She was wondering again. Why? She did not know; though she wished to. Last she remembered she had been at her home with her family and friends surrounding her while they celebrated the birth of her youngest brother.

Being the oldest, at sixteen winters, of eight children she alone was aloud to stay up and drink from the sake bottles, which were being passed around. This was for a few reasons. For one she was responsible enough to know her limit and two her parents were showing her off trying to get her married. She though had had no desire to leave her home just yet. That night there was a lot of celebration and she had almost reached her limit, which was saying a lot because she had a limit that most men envied. All that she remembered was waking up, with just a few scraps and bruises, in the middle of her destroyed home. No one was left. Not one being was in her sight. No one else had survived.

That had been a year ago, and all she could piece together was that her family had been ambushed by one of her father's few enemies. How she survived she didn't know. But once her father's enemy had found out she was alive he sent an assassin after her. She was now had to stay one step ahead to stay alive.

Shaking herself out of her many thoughts she found it was almost nightfall. Looking forward she saw the village. It was time for a rest. She easily found the village miko's chi and followed it to the middle of the town. While walking she had taken off her canvas bag so that she may pay for her room if she could find one with the miko. She had to at least try.

***

He was tracking her again. He had gotten close enough to touch her and yet something had always gotten in the way, always. He was known as the best assassin but he couldn't kill this simple girl. 'What's wrong with me?' he thought. 'Why can't I kill this silly girl?' He now knew most of her moves but she still seemed to surprise him. He also wondered why she was sought but had come up with nothing.

He quickly snapped out of his musings when he heard the village. They were all gossiping about the girl who had arrived the night before. 'Great. I arrived to late to get her.' He sighed. Somehow she was able to go faster then him. 'How I'll never know.' with that he jumped into the trees. Looking at the village he knew that they were protected by a miko. 'That's no good. She's in there and there is no way I'm getting in.' Sighing again he leaned back as he watched the bustling village from his viewing point at the edge of the forest.

***

She could sense him again. She sighed. 'I wonder what will happen now,' went though her mind. She sat up knowing she wasn't going to get anymore sleep with him within sensing rang. 'I wonder if either of us will ever be out of this cat and mouse game,' the thought came, and went with the wind. She shook her head to rid it of such thoughts. It was time to get up and she knew it. 'At least he can't come into this village.' With that in mind she went in search of the one who made it so.

***

Vinala was working in her garden, gathering the herbs she had growing there, when her guest walked straight towards her. She stood up and asked, "Finally up are we?" Her guest seemed startled but quickly regained her composer. She was a pretty young thing, with her long black hair pulled back and her tan skin. She wore a black cape and hood over a simple traveling kimono. Vinala wondered where she came from but pushed it to the back of her mind. After all, her guest was answering her question.

"I'm sorry to inconvenience you," she was saying, "I just have been traveling for a while and needed a rest."

"Oh don't mention it. Your fine, besides I haven't had a guest in ages." She looked at the girl once more and realized that she didn't have a name to go with that brown-eyed face. " But could you state your name again? It seems to have slipped my mind." She seemed startled but answered anyway.

"I have no name." Was her simple statement. That was all she offered and Vinala understood subconsciously that that was all she would get. There was a small pause then the girl said, "I must leave soon. Are you sure that you wont take any of my merchandise?"

"No. I have all I need here." With that the girl turned to leave and was not stopped. She would never be here again.

***

She had her bag on her back again and her back facing the village. Whispering the spell she had learned to keep herself hidden she moved on. She knew full well that the villagers would not remember her. It was time to leave. 'I guess it's time to see Kaede again.' So she headed west to Inuyasha's forest to see the only beings that knew she even existed.

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Author's Note: I'm still working on 'Renewing Hope' but got a little side tracked during class. Please forgive me. Any way, ja ne.