Twist of time

I do not, nor will I ever own Inuyasha, but Istra is mine… mwhahahaha

Prologue

The jolt of pure electricity lifted the woman off the table, causing silky red wings to rip out of her shoulders.
“Were getting there, hit it again.” A solemn voice called from the doorway.
The second charge had the woman’s skin turning a golden rose and her hair turning from light auburn to the inky blackness of deepest night.
“Enough” the woman’s voice growled as she pushed herself away from the prods. “I am myself.”
Crossing his arms over his broad chest the man moved further into the room. He stopped near the table where she lay and looked carefully at her face. “Open your eyes.”
It wasn’t a request and the woman knew it. Her mouth kicked up on one side as she tried to swallow a smile as she lifted her sooty lashes.
The man let a sigh escape his lips as eyes the color of fresh blood met his.
“It took to long.”
Long canines peeked out from her lips as she smiled. “I’ll work on that.”
The man turned away from her mocking. “See that you do.”

Chapter One

“You better be using a coaster.” The gruff highlander called just as Istra plunked her coffee down on his antique mahogany table. A slow grin spread over her lips, “Oops.”
Brand snatched the mug off the table and thrust it back into her hands as he quickly wiped the beautiful wood. Throwing a coaster down he gestured for Istra to return her cup. “Istra you try my patience.”
“Right back at you your highness. So what brings me here on this beautiful morning?” she gestured to the sun reflection off the bay into Brand’s kitchen window.
Brand let out a long suffering sigh as he poured himself a cup of coffee and claimed the chair across from her.
“I’ve found you a new partner.” he stated carefully inspecting his mug that stated ‘it’s good to be the king’ with a picture of Mel Brooks on it.
Istra coughed. “I beg your pardon, you what?”
Reluctantly, Brand met her eyes, “I’ve found you a new partner, with things being as they are you need someone to go with you.”
Placing her hands on the table Istra leaned forward. “I like the partner I have.”
Massaging his temples Brand closed his eyes, “Of course you do, I can never go with you.”
Istra raised her eyebrows. “Exactly.”
Brand leaned back his hands dropping to his lap. “Istra you are the last of the free ancients, I don’t think you comprehend how valuable you are. We don’t want to send missions after you.”
“I may be the last ancient, but I have always taken care of myself and those around me. Just because I’m the last free one doesn’t change that fact.”
“Istra I just want to protect you.” Brand met her vibrant green eyes.
“But not for the right reasons my liege.”
Brand had the sense to look guilty. “I can’t help how I feel Istra.”
Istra shook her head, “Neither can I, so forget my partner and give me my mission Brand.”
Seeing the look of determination in her eyes Brand sighed, throwing a packet down in front of her, “Prepare, you leave within the hour.”
Istra could hide the excitement as she reached for the papers. “Thank you Brand.”
The highlander shrugged as he stood pushing his chair carefully under the table. “It would of done me no good argue, I know the conditions of your loyalty.”
Istra lifted her serious green eyes to his sapphire ones. “Whenever you are ready my lord you can try to change them.”
Brand had to fight against the chill that threatened his body. “No Istra, as of now I cannot beat you.”
Istra lifted a brow, watching him carefully. “I don’t know what you have planned my lord, but I stand by my contract.”
A stiff nod was her reply as he turned on his heel and left the room.
Istra turned back to the folder, flipping it open she ran her fingers over the pages as she read. This mission was going to be fun.


“Is she dead?” a little girl’s voice whispered as Istra felt a gentle prodding of her shoulder.
“Don’t touch it Rin.” A high squeak demanded. “It could have diseases.”
Immediately the prodding stopped. Istra tried to hold back her groan but her body hurt too much.
Immediately, the voice returned. “See she is alive! Master Jaken, go get her some water.”
“Rin! Don’t you dare tell me what to do, I am the high servant-“
“Pllllease master Jaken!” the girls voice pleaded as Istra felt something soft brush the stickiness off her face. Daring to crack an eye open Istra whimpered at the brightness of the day.
A shadow crossed her face and she dared to open her eyes a bit more. “It’s ok,” the girls voice whispered. “He’s gone.”
Istra focused on the face seeing a young girl with a wild mass of dark hair with one spiky pigtail on the side. “My name is Rin.” The little girl frowned as she dabbed what seemed to be part of her tattered kimono at the wound on Istra’s forehead. “Don’t worry I’ll take care of you.”
Istra tried to speak, to tell the girl to get away, that it was dangerous for her to be around but found herself falling into the void of darkness where she could leave her battered body alone for a while.

Something soft and warm covered her as she fought her way through the peaceful darkness and back into consciousness. She sighed as she felt the pains her body had suffered hit her at full force. Opening her eyes slowly she found night had fallen and someone had made a small fire. The girl was sitting beside her and looked over when she saw Istra’s eyes open.
“Are you feeling better?” she asked kneeling next by Istra’s face a wooden cup cradled carefully in her tiny hands. “Here drink some water. Then we’ll see if you can eat something.”
Istra found herself frowning in confusion at how someone so young could be so intelligent. So when the girl lifted her head to help her drink she swallowed a few mouthfuls, the cool water causing her dry throat to feel even more intense as she took the cup in one shaking hand and downed the contents.
“That’s good” Rin replied scurrying over to a bucket at the other side of the fire. Removing a cloth from the top she dipped the cup back in and offered Istra another glass.
After finishing Istra pushed away Rin’s offer of more. Smiling gently Istra shook her head. “I’ll get sick if I drink more.” She whispered.
Rin nodded thoughtfully setting the cup carefully on a stump to her left. “I cleaned all your wounds the best I could.” She stated proudly.
Istra nodded realizing that she indeed was much cleaner than she was. “Thank you.”
Rin grinned. “Your welcome, but I couldn’t help but worry that you might get sick from them so I sent Master Jaken to find my lord to see if he could make you better.”
Istra nodded, hating that she felt so weak. “Is your lord a healer?”
Rin shrugged, “Well not usually, but he saved me so I was thinking he might be able to save you. You don’t have to worry though, I’ll protect you till then.”
“Thank you very much Lady Rin.”
Rin blushed. “Oh I’m not a Lady, I’m just Rin, oh what’s your name?”
Istra smiled at the kindheartedness of the child. “My name is Istra and I am from the land in the West.”
Rin’s eyes widened. “Truly? How rare, I have never met someone from that far away. Is it as beautiful as it is here?”
Istra took a painful breath yet hid it from her new caretaker. “It is, in a different way though.” She took a deep breath. “I want to thank you for saving me Rin, but I need to ask you to leave me here, you see someone is after me and I wouldn’t want you injured on my account.”
Rin’s soft features knit in a frown. “My lord would never allow anything to happen to me so don’t be afraid. I couldn’t leave you alone Lady Istra.”
“But Rin, you don’t understand. They will kill you and try their best to kill me.”
Rin’s jaw tightened in a look of determination. “I will not leave you Lady Istra.”
Istra had to fight the smile that tugged at her heart. “You are a brave woman Rin.”
Rin grinned widely. “I am? I so want to be brave like my lord!”
Istra winked at her fighting to keep the smile on her face as pain tore her up from inside. “I think I need to rest some more Rin, but please if you hear someone coming run and hide. Don’t worry about me.”
Rin frowned but nodded reluctantly. “I’ll wake you when my lord gets here.”
Istra reached out and patted the girl’s tiny hand with the last of her strength, right before the world returned to black she felt the tiny fingers lace through hers and for the first time in centuries she was comforted.

The man was tall, taller than most men of his time with silvery white hair that hung to his calves. He made his way toward the sleeping individual’s without making a single sound. Only Istra’s eyes caught his every move. Just as he came within touching distance of the little girl Istra rolled to her feet thrusting the little girl behind her and leveling a broad sword at the man’s chest.
“Leave.” She demanded her voice low and full of promise.
“I have never seen a sword like this before.” The man commented causally his handsome face a mask only slight interest as two magenta slashes on each cheek and a slivery blue half moon marked him as a powerful demon.
Istra bit her lip as her body rebelled against her war posture.
“ I told you to leave. I will not let you harm this girl.”
The man’s eyes flicked up toward hers letting her see the color as a molten gold. “I do not wish her any harm.”
Istra tensed, clearly not believing him.
“Lord Sesshomaru!” The little girl cried moving to stand between Istra and the white lord. She gave Istra a confused look before looking back to her Lord.
Istra visibly melted. “T-this is your lord?”
Rin nodded proudly. “Of course.”
“So your safe.” Istra sighed as she stuck her sword in the soft earth using it to hold herself upright.
Rin nodded. “Lady Istra, are you feeling better? You’re standing now.”
Istra only nodded as a cold sweat broke out over her entire body.
Sesshomaru eyed the woman distantly; there was something about her that didn’t seem right. Looking her over his eyes narrowed. She was very different, she smelled like the spicy sweetness of lilies, not the like stench of human or demon flesh. Mentally shaking that thought away he frowned.
“What happened to you?” he asked his voice an even flow of disinterest.
Istra’s green eyes snapped to his. “I was attacked by a demon, one using a poison I have not yet experienced.”
One snowy brow lifted as he glanced over the wounds on her face and neck. He ruled out immediately that she could be mortal when he saw the severity of the wounds. No mortal could live a deep wound to the neck.
Sesshomaru gestured to the ground and Istra gratefully sank down onto it leaning her back up against a tree. Coming closer, Sesshomaru bent to examine the wounds. At first Istra strove to look him in the eye, yet she failed when he came too close. She fought a blush under the weight of his gaze.
“It is a poison from a panther demon” He stated coolly, leaning back to look her in the eye. “I can heal it with an antidote I carry in my saliva.” He explained. Then before the words had even a moment to sink in he leaned in and placed his mouth over the deepest wound in her neck.
Blinking, Istra gasped a deep breath. Just when she was about to reprimand the demon she felt the deep pain that was raging inside her dissipate. The hot pain was being drawn out as a cool touch soothed all the traces.
Sesshomaru lifted his head and moved to the next wound, gently he removed all the toxins from her system stopping once he cleansed and healed the wound in her forehead.
Feeling herself again Istra met the demon’s eye. “My thanks Lord.”
Sesshomaru rose to his feet in one graceful motion sparing her only a stiff nod before turning and walking away.
Istra turned her perplexed eyes on Rin who was humming happily while picking up all her belongings and putting them in a small bag. “Hurry we have to go.” She smiled cheerfully.
Istra frowned. “Not a very friendly is he?”
Rin giggled. “Lord Sesshomaru is just different Lady Istra. Now get ready we need to follow him.”
Istra pushed to her feet looking down to see her dress in tatters where she fought the demon. The demon, she had almost forgotten her mission. “Rin, I’m not going to be going with you. I have some things I need to do.”
Rin frowned. “I can’t protect you Lady Istra if you’re not with us.”
Istra’s heart turned over at the little girls words. “It’s alright Rin I’m better now.”
“But-“ The girl started her eyes full of hurt. “I need to protect you Istra.”
Istra felt herself melt, sighing she slid her broad sword into her scabbard and took up the fur pelt that Rin had covered her with. “Alright Rin, I’ll come. Do you by any chance know a monk with a hole in his hand?”
Istra was surprised to see Rin’s face light up. “Why yes Lady Istra, Lady Kagome’s friend is both a monk and has a hole in his hand.”
“Can we go see him?” Istra asked as she tied the blanket in a saclike bundle around her shoulders placing Rin’s belongings in it.
A frown marred Rin’s face as she looked to where her lord had walked. “Lord Sesshomaru does not like Lady Kagome’s friends.”
“Rotten luck” Istra mumbled as they followed where the white lord led.