-Disclaimer: I do not own any of Inuyasha and Co., I only own Yukiko

The return of an old friend; I told you so!

Everyone listened in shock as Shippo told the story of their lives for the past month or so. From their meeting Miroku, all the way to the last fight with Inuyasha's half brother Sesshomaru, and the unlocking of the Wind Scar. They hadn't realized how much had really happened in so short a time, but more importantly why he was eagerly explaining it all to this woman that Sango and Miroku only just met about an hour ago.

Flashback

Everyone, but Inuyasha waved happily to Kagome as she"barrowed" Kirara to go home. She only needed to restock up on some medicine; seeing as how the last few battles had nearly obliterated their supply. They trudged on to follow her, but wound up following Inuyasha instead.

He was walking on like the rest of them when his head lifted up, his nose twitched and then he just ran off. Everyone called after him while following, curious as to what was wrong. Until of course they saw exactly what was wrong. They got there just in time to see a young, bloodied, but beautiful woman pass out while clinging onto a very normal looking scythe.

Inuyasha's enraged roar broke the group out of their mind stupor as about twenty hebi demons emerged out of the trees to pounce and finish off the young woman. The said demons had gray or black lightly scaled skin, with slit eyes and noses. Some had normal snakes for hair in a very Medusa fashion, and others bald heads with silver helmets. The Hebi demons had no legs but their torso continued on to from a tail. They did, however, have arms and hands each finger holding a green poison claw. Of course, a serpentine tongue flicked back and forth tasting the air around them.

The shard hunters all spring into action quickly killing them all, only to be amazed at the battles end to see Inuyasha gently picking up the wounded woman. Sango and Miroku looked on in awe as Shippo jumped onto the hanyou's shoulder looking at the woman worriedly.

"Is she going to be alright, Inuyasha? She looks like she's hurt worse than the last time."

The Taijiya and Houshi looked on with more curiosity, for obviously they had met the unconscious woman before.

"Keh stupid wench, I told her she should a traveled with us when she left, it's her own fault."

"Inuyasha! You can't just leave Yukiko here look at her!"

"I'm not leav'in her runt! Now get off my back" and with that Inuyasha threw Shippo off his shoulder and started to walk off with the woman on his back, and her scythe in hand.

With nothing other than to follow him the three did so, two still curious, but willing to wait until the woman was treated.

Sango was the one that had to treat 'Yukiko', Miroku had offered but everyone decided that it would be best if she did it, especially after Inuyasha wacked him over the head. The boys started a fire since they realized that they would have to stay the night and it was moving towards dusk anyway.

Amazingly, she woke in about 2 hours and in that time Shippo was able to relay some of what had happened with their last encounter, but with no help from Inuyasha, he was only able to tell them about the parts he saw personally or what Kagome had told him.

The taijiya and houshi leaned into Shippo's story with interest as he revealed she was saved before by Inuyasha from a root demon, when she was human like now. You see Yukiko was a very rare type of hanyou, or so they believed. At random for three days she turns into a human, but none of the group has gotten to see her in her true form yet. Also, it was when Urasuae had kidnapped Kagome and taken Kikyo's remains, they found out the witch had also taken Yukiko's scythe. With that said, she and Inuyasha worked together to retrieve what had been taken from both; before she left in search of her two brothers.

The first thing Yukiko got when she woke up was a strange, but handsome Houshi holding her hands and asking if she would like to bare his children, but before she could hit the man for his boldness, another strange but beautiful woman hit him over the head with a very large boomerang. Then she looked around the pouting man to see Inuyasha and Shippo staring at her. She blinked a few times in confusion. Then in her own sweet and melodic voice breathed out her question.

"Inuyasha?...Shippo?..."

The two who were not use to the mystery woman's voice almost melted as it washed over them like a serenade of birds and bells.

Shippo was the first to answer her.

"I warned him not to touch you when you first wake up, that he could get strangled, but he didn't listen."

She blinked again as she realized that she had never fully apologized for nearly killing Shippo when she has woke from her fight hazed dream.

"I'm sorry for any inconvenience this might have had. For you Shippo, I'm sorry that you would have such knowledge of my sleeping habits. But where are the hebi demons?"

"Keh, I killed them of course. Who else is going to clean up after your messes." Was Inuyasha huffed response.

"You act as if you are better than me, or familiar Hanyou." She glared, but her cold eyes held a small amount of fondness. "Where is Kagome, and…Oh!" She seemed to realize that there were other people in the party now, and that she was being rude without a cause. "I'm terribly sorry, my name is Yukiko, and I apologize for wasting your time in helping me."

The two blinked and then looked at each other, then back at the woman who had somehow retrieved her scythe without them seeing. Miroku waved his hands in front of him in a polite jester, and Sango assured her that it was not a waste of time, when aiding someone, and certainly no one that were friends with Kagome and Inuyasha. She replied that they were not friends merely knew each other from the past.

"Keh" was Inuyasha's response, and a teary eyed Shippo started to sniffle.

"But I thought we were your friends after that!" everyone looked at her and saw she had a strange, almost sisterly look on her face. She looked away for a moment and sighed, then looked back and gave Shippo a smile, but everyone except Shippo noted that the warmness did not reach her eyes fully. What could have happened to her to make her eyes hold such a cold gaze?

"I suppose I could indulge you and claim to be a friend, but only this once; you should feel privileged that I would act in such a way." Everyone, but Inuyasha laughed at her antics and that was when she made the mistake of asking if she had missed anything while they had parted. Hence Shippo's long speech and the confusion.

Flashback End

Even Inuyasha was startled by how trusting the brat had become just because she agreed to be his friend. They knew almost nothing about her, except she was a weird hanyou, had two brothers, loved that scythe, and could see the Sacred Jewel Shards. Of course Kagome trusted her, and he wanted to because they had more in common, and to see if her life was like his growing up, but DAMN SHIPPO!

When Shippo finally finished she stared at him with a thoughtful face for a moment then made a giggling type of laugh. She nodded, and praised him for such a good story and recap of their adventured.

"Inuyasha I have a gift for Kagome, but I guess you should have it until she returns." She pulled out of her sleeve what looked like a fourth of the jewel shard clumped as one. "This is all I was able to find after our parting, and I have no need of it now." She tossed the shard to a stunned Inuyasha, who failed to catch it due to Miroku's swift thinking. The houshi's face was twisted in thought as he gazed deeply into the Shikon fragment.

"Why would you forfeit such a piece of the Shikon no tama to us? Do you not want to keep it with you?" Miroku asked more than slightly taken aback; even more so when she shook her head, no.

"I have no need for it; I have already repaired my soul with that part of it and no longer need it." She offered the stunned people. Then she smiled at them, such a beautiful smile, and they all wondered what she looked like in her demon form or for that matter what kind of demon she was. However, before anyone could ask she was up and walking away.

"HEY! Where do you think you're going?" She turned her gaze over her shoulder to look at the perturbed, red clad hanyou.

"I appreciate you taking care of my wounds, but I must be going, I have a mission of my own to complete." Her words still held in the air in a beautiful yet eerie way.

"I know better than anyone what it means to search for a lost sibling, but don't you think that you should rest first, you can't help your brothers if you are dead." Sango offered, only to recede when she saw the look Yukiko gave her.

"You think I would be so weak as to fall at the hands of some random demon or human before finding my brothers?" her voice was dangerous now, and somehow reminded them strangely of Sesshomaru in arrogance and coldness.

"That is not what she said Yukiko, she was merely saying that you should stay here and rest until you are fit for travel. Your injuries were pretty bad, and it would make more since to allow us to keep you company until you have healed completely. I know that you don't want to have to depend on us for help, but you should take us up on our offer. Kagome will not be returning for a few more days at the least, and we could use your help to look for the Jewel shards, and we could also help you look for your brothers, that is all." Miroku always does have a way with words. She stood there clenching her fists and grinding her teeth for a bit, then looked at Inuyasha and huffed, but turned back to lay down.

Everyone knew she wasn't happy about needing help and bothering them, but she did need to do so. However one more question was asked before everyone decided it was time to go to bed.

"What happened with you and those hebi demons anyway?" Inuyasha was the brave one to ask.

"They did not enjoy the fact that I would not give them my jewel shards or mate with them, but instead killed their leader and took his shard. However, in the middle of me slaughtering them all I turned human, I guess I need to train more in my human form then I have been."

And with that she rolled over and fell asleep. Miroku had a million more questions burning in his head, but knew she need the rest more then she let on. He sighed and looked over to Sango who was watching the woman with sad eyes. He knew she was thinking of Kohaku. He wondered to himself if see would let him comfort her tonight, a lecherous smirk splayed his face.

Amazingly, Shippo approached to see if he could cuddle with the mysterious woman only to have him scooped up with an "eep!" and be cuddled by her.

Sango truly felt for Yukiko, knowing the pain and loss of one brother, she couldn't think how painful it would be to have two taken from her. However, she was hoping that Yukiko was right and they were alive, and merely kidnapped, and that she could find them.

Lastly Inuyasha, all he could think of was how cold her eyes were. Just like his use to be, but far worse. Not even his brother had eyes that cold, and painful. She tried to show compassion and emotion, but whatever past she held would not allow her eyes to hold such frivolous hopes. But why?

She hated to sleep, nothing but nightmares ever welcomed her in that dark place. An evil laugh, a painful scream, and her brother's tears, she truly had been cursed by her father even if he finally lay in the sea where she slew him. Her body shook and trembled as she relived her horrible childhood where no one could stop her father from his twisted fantasies and her mother cared nothing for anyone but her own self torture.

A/N: hebi snake if you didn't know. Please review. Thank you. Bows