Sokai Kara Kaimei: Hope out of Darkness

Untitled


A/N: Hi all here is chapter two. It was suppose to have been out tuesday but
I have been busy with my six year old, she got a stomach virus so everything
got put on hold. (Even Captive Soul)



Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of it's characters.


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Chapter two: Encounter, and Home?

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Early morning light along with a slight chill roused Liana from sleep.
She opened her eyes to see the dying embers of the fire she had
made the night before. Looking down, she found Maru sleeping soundly,
his little nose buried within her clothes. He had rooted some during the
night. With a gentle smile, she smoothed a fingertip over
his soft cheek . "We must go on little one."

Liana stood, grimacing as her muscles groaned at the motion. The inner
bark of the old tree had not been kind. Taking a deep breath, she stepped out
into the dew ridden air, holding her bundle closer while wrapping him tighter.


Damp sand cushioned her bare feet as she started down the path.
The sunrise finally brought full warming light, drying the dew
and brightening the multicolored leaves that wavered in the delicate
morning breeze. Soon, the now-dusty path narrowed as the
trees closed in on both sides. Suddenly, the hairs on the back of
her neck prickled. She stopped, looking ahead. Maru squirmed but made
no sound and then stilled completely. Liana looked down into bright
green eyes that were peering up at her, watching intently, almost
as if they were trying to tell her something.

An echoing crunch grabbed her attention, making her look up.

She froze.

There, in the middle of the pathway, several paces ahead,
stood a very tall dark-haired wolf youkai with his arms crossed.
A feral grin lit his strikingly boyish features as he uncrossed his
arms and began walking toward her.

Liana backed up a step.


His low growl grated before forming words. "Do not move, human."


She swallowed down her panic, willing herself not to run. Running always
provoked hunting youkai, excited them. If she fled, he would chase her in
a heartbeat.


The wolf stopped only two paces away. Bright blue eyes glanced at the
bundle in her arms. "You are an inu youkai's bitch." It seemed more of
a statement than a question.

Not knowing what answer to give, she remained silent.

The feral grin fell to confusion.
"Do you not speak, human?"


Liana nodded. "I can speak."


He raised one clawed hand, reaching for the bundle in her arms.


Gripping her baby tighter, Liana shook her head. "Please, do not hurt him.
If you spare himwillwill give myself to you without a fight."


His short laugh rasped the air. "I do no bargains with humans."

Then to her worried dismay, he pushed back the tuft of fur.

For several moments, he studied her child before lowering his
hand.


He backed up a step. "You are headed for the human village to the north?"

Liana nodded, knowing he could smell it if she lied.


The wolf youkai's gaze turned hard. "You and your mutt will not make it past
this mountain alive. There are birds of prey hunting up ahead." He peered
past her, down the path from whence she came. "You come from the
south, from the Southern Lands?"




"Yes, I did."




His dark brows furrowed in solemn thought. "You are....from the Death Lands....
No youkai come back...from those lands..."


Slowly, his attention fell back to the bundle in her arms. "But this...hanyou...
has..."


The wolf's features lightened some as he backed up a few more paces.
"I have much respect for youkai or hanyou that survives the Death Lands."


He turned, hong ong black hair flipping with the movement while he
pointed to a not-so-worn pathway branching off from the one she was on.
"Follow the veiled path. It goes around their hunting grounds."


With a quick glance back, he winked. "Be wary, human."


In a blink, he was gone, a sprint of a run that rushed into a whirlwind,
disappearing in the direction she had intended to go.



Liana observed the much darker trail. It seemed more like a hole
carved into the underbrush than a traveler's path.

She looked down at Maru, hoping for a sign as to which direction
she should take but instead found him yawning.

Shaking her head at the absurd notion, Liana took the dark pathway.
If the wolf youkai had meant them harm, he would have eaten them.


Liana followed the shadowed trail for most of the day until it once again
met up with the lightened dusty pathway she had been on previously.


Sighing in relief, she traveled on.



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Over the next three days Liana stuck to the powdery path. Over hills and through
the underbrush she trekked, stopping at times for food and at night to light a
fire and rest. Fortune smiled on her for she had found fish
in small streams and an abundance of nuts, late summer berries, and mushrooms
within the forest.

By the end of the forth day, her journey came to a halt near the top of
a steep hillside. Sunlight warmed her shoulders and back as she peered down
into a green valley. Large square fields of crops stretched along the
sloping hillsides, tapering off to vast square rice flats that surrounded what
appeared to be a small human village. Wisps of smoke curled up fsomesome
of the thatched roofs. Beyond the village, a somewhat foreboding expanse of
thick forest reached to the horizon.


With a hopeful sigh, she began walking down the hillside.


It did not take her long until she found herself standing at the door of the
first wooden hut. Biting her lower lip, L sil silently prayed this village would
accept her. Maybe they would give her a small hut or place to stay for work.

Liana pulled her long brown hair to drape over her left shoulder, effectively
covering her baby's face from view.

After making sure he was hidden, she rapped on the hanging mat.

Some moments later, a hand pushed the mat aside. A man emerged, one
with a partially shaved forehead, black hair and cold eyes. "What is it, girl?"


Swallowing, Liana bowed low and stepped back, keeping her
eyes downcast. "Greetings, May perchance I speak with the
village elder?"


"That be I. My name be Kenkoe."

Liana fell to one knee, blatantly bowing lower in
respect. "Oh, high village leader, I am a distant traveler and have
no home. I humbly ask for a place to stay in trade for work. I know
how to cook, clean, and sew garments."


The man stepped forward. "Rise, girl."


She stood while staring at the tips of his
sandals.

"Look up, girl."


Liana looked up to the man who had come within a pace of her.


Dark brown eyes studied her face before falling to the bundle in her arms.
"You have an infant?"

Betraying no emotion, she gave a nod.


"Is it yours?"


"Yes, I birthed my baby six days ago."


Kenkoe leaned forward, looming over her, reaching a large tanned hand
out to her baby. She wanted so much to step away but remained still, quiend cnd calm.
Callused fingers lightly moved her hair aside.


A scowl darkened his weathered features. "A hanyou."

His His glare of contempt hardened on her. "You be a youkai's wench. What
makes you think we want your kind of filth here?"


Liana backed up from the man, her heart sinking as fear took root. She did
not like the look in this man's eyes. Just as she was about to bow and
leave, another man walked up to stand beside Kenkoe.

The younger male motioned to her with his chin. "Who be this, Kenkoe-sama?"


Kenkoe blatantly pointed at her. "This youkai's mate along with her mutt
has desecrated the soil of our village with her tainted presence."


The new comer raised a dark brow. "This be a youkai's mate? This
human girl?"

Shaking her head, Liana backed up another step, holding her baby tighter.
"I mean you no disrespect. I only asked for a place to stay and work to
earn my keep."

The village leader shook his head. "You are not welcome here, girl, not with
that hanyou bastard in your arms. Do away with the filthy half-breed demon and
you may stay."


Swallowing hard, Liana backed up again, warily watching the two males
while bowing slightly. "Forgive my trespassing into your village. I will
be leaving now."

With that, Liana turned to go but halted in her tracks. A small group
of villagers had gathered up behind her.


Several of the males glared darkly while most of the fem sta stared in
disgust. Some of the villagers were bending down and picking up rocks.


Liana quickly glanced to either side.
Seeing an opening to her right, she bolted down the dirt roadway
that led through the village and into the shadowy forest.


Heavy footfalls along with angry shouts chased her. Something heavy
hit her shoulder. Grimacing at the sharp pain, she ran on, desperately
trying to shield her child from the rocks, sticks, and dirt clods that were
raining all around. Finally, she ducked into the underbrush of the thick forest.
Breath burned in her chest and sharp briars tore at anklankles as she darted
back and forth between the thick trees, leaving the angered villagers behind.

Staying in the thickness of the underbrush, Liana kept close to the
dirt pathway within the shadowy wood. She stumbled once on a root, falling
to one knee. She grunted at the impact. The sprint had taken its toll on her already
weary muscles. Breathing hard, she bowed her head, fully kneeling
on the cool moss. Thankfully, the violent shouts faded.

When she was sure the villagers had given up their desire to stone
her to death, Liana stood. Wearily, she stepped onto the dirt pathway that
led deeper into the forest. Spying a large maple tree, she staggered to
it then sat down on its grassy base.


While catching her breath, she looked down at Maru. He was sleeping.
Liana humphed with a small smile. "My little quiet one. I do believe you could
sleep through a thunder storm."
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Good place to stop. Hope all who read enjoyed.


Review responses: This was my first chap of Liana and Maru's story
and I am so happy to have such a great response! Thank you so
so so much for the reviews! Huggles, Ras.


Riomi: Thanks for the complement. *blushes*


snowcat: I am glad you think the name is beautiful. Ied ted to
give meaning while making it fit with their parents.

Dragon. *smiles* those are some very interesting ideas that
are definitely worth exploring and very well may be part of the future.
The little tuft of furr for his attire sounds good. I may use it.
^_-.

Lady Knightstar: Thank you for the complement. ^_^.

New Fan. I do definitely intend to tie them all together.
I am beginning to like the tie ins. I just hope everyone can see my
little clue and almost invisable hints I place in the storylines.

And to everyone else who reviewed. Big thank yous!
Klara
Khellendrosthedragon

dragonflyelj
GenesisEve