Wind rustled through the trees in a light whisper that touched only the ears of those nearby. The branches of

the trees bent slowly in submission to the power that willed it to do so with not so much as an argument. The leaves swayed this

way and that, some even catching the breeze of the passing wind to ride it swiftly to a place unknown. Life danced in the tall

green grass of the forest floor and caused it swirl in time with the trees. Not a cloud of a single shape nor color marred the

clear sight of dark blue that stretched above the land like a blanket of unmatched strength. Stars shone brightly and twinkled to

any on-lookers they might have down below.

Beneath these very stars, in the open and quiet of the night, rested a group of people who were themselves a force to

be reckoned with. A strong half-demon, a kind human girl, a female demon exterminator, a lecherous monk, and lastly, a young

fox demon as well as a fire-cat. To those who did not know any better they seemed a group of untrained unlikely fools who

only happened to travel together, but to those who knew them there was far more. Each member of the group brought a quality

with them, that in the long run, helped them to defeat every monster and demon that they happened across.

On this particular night the group of travelers sat under the stars, gathered around a blazing fire of sparks and warmth.

The half-demon, Inu-Yasha sat leaning against a large tree with his hands folded snugly into his haori sleeves. The silver ears

atop his head twitched in agitation at the weak condition of his human companions. It seemed to him that whenever he felt as

though he could walk without trouble for hours to come, his friends needed to rest, eat, or sleep. This annoyed him beyond

reason, but he couldn't act upon his anger harshly because he knew that humans were different. It was not that fault of his

companions that they were not as strong as he wanted them to be.

The young woman, Kagome, sat quietly beside Inu-Yasha living seemingly in a word of her own imagining. She, unlike

the others whom she traveled with, was from the future. Her home was five hundred years away. This truth only bothered

Kagome when she dearly wish to return to her own home. On the day of her fifteenth birthday she had been pulled into the

Bone-Eaters' well by a demon named Mistress Centipede claiming that she possessed the infamous Shikon Jewel. At the time,

Kagome had not the slightest idea that she truly and honestly did have the jewel. Later, during a battle with the very demon that

had pulled her to this world, she met Inu-Yasha and learned that the jewel had been resting inside of her body. After Mistress

Centipede was defeated, and the jewel was refused to Inu-Yasha, it was shattered. Unfortunately the breaking of the Shikon

Jewel was none other than Kagome's fault. It had been an accident that she some times sorely wished had never occurred, but

other times she was thankful for her friends and life in the Feudal Era of Japan.

Sango lay across the brightly swirling fire from Kagome and Inu-Yasha thinking about nothing in particular. Her world

had been turned upside down and ripped to shreds before her very eyes only a short while ago and these facts tugged at her

heart. Her entire village of fellow demon exterminators had been destroyed, her whole family murdered. Her younger brother,

who had never shown any promise of becoming a spirited warrior, had been taken from her and now she was left alone.

Though she loved her friends dearly, there would always be a whole within her heart.

Miroku, rested only mere feet away from the demon exterminator. His eyes watched her intently, but he dare not make

a move for fear that he would be beaten to death by the likes of her and her giant boomerang, The void in Miroku's hand that

he had acquired at birth troubled him this night. He wondered if ever he would be rid of it and finally be able to settle down. His

life was a constant battle for his life. Only by defeating the vile and torturous demon, Naraku could his curse be lifted from and

his burden banished.

As the calming wind rushed past the campsite of the group Inu-Yasha's ears twitched uncontrollably. When the

movement persisted for the next few minutes, Kagome spoke up asking him if something was the matter. He didn't answer her

right away, but instead stared off into the darkness of the forest seemingly listening to the whispers of the swirling wind. To

anyone but Kagome Inu-Yasha looked as though he was sitting in his own silence, but she knew better. If she was right, and

she was almost certain that she was, he was listening to something that only he could hear, something that should not be there

for him to hear. She could tell it was bothering him, but before she could ask him again he stood up looking like he was about

to leave.

"Inu-Yasha, what's wrong?" She asked quietly not letting on that she was beginning to worry.

"Something's out there." He stated simply.

"Is it a demon?"

"No, it's human, but something isn't right." As soon as Inu-Yasha had finished his sentence he turned, once again, to

leave. A hand on his shoulder halted him suddenly and he knew that it was Kagome.

"I'm going with you."

Between the two of them, as they walked deeper into the darkness, there was silence. Neither said a word, or made so

much as a sound. Leaves brushed against them, mercilessly scraping unprotected skin, branches tor at their clothing and the

night whipped past them without caring that it did so. Stars shone dimly overhead above tree branches that stretched across the

darkened sky.

Soundlessly, Inu-Yasha pushed the bushes aside. The sat that lay before he and Kagome was a sad one. A young girl,

looking to be no older than Kagome herself, lay before them slumped against a tall tree. It's branches spread out above her,

blotting out any like that the stars may have provided. Her soft sobs echoed through the sleeping forest ringing in the ears of the

sky. It appeared that she had yet to notice the two people who had happened upon her. Carefully Inu-Yasha stepped forward

motioning to Kagome that she should stay back. Unnerved by his idle warning, Kagome brushed past him with ease and began

making her way to the girl seated at the tree.

With a shaking breath, Kagome placed a comforting hand on the girl's shoulder. Immediately her head bolted upright.

Unconsciously Inu-Yasha placed a clawed hand on the hilt of Tetsusaiga. Kagome tried vainly to lock her gaze with that of the

girl, but it seemed as if she wasn't seeing Kagome even though she sat plainly before her. The girl's eyes were a cloudy brown

that were nearly unreadable to Kagome, except for sadness. A depressing feeling seemed to radiate from the girl's shaking

body. All three of them remained in silence for quite some time. No one dared say a word, Inu-Yasha and Kagome feeling the

silence was too deep to be broken.

With a shuddering breath, the girl spoke. Her words were soft and unexpected, but they word heard.

"Mayu...?"