Hi! This is my 1st fan fiction on ff.net. Sorry, but this story is on www.inuyasha.net too. That's a fan fiction site for Inuyasha and there a lot of amazing stories on there!. Well, here's the story!

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"Ouch!" Inuyasha exclaimed. "Kagome, why did you trip me!?"

"I didn't trip you! Why do you always blame it on me?"

Sango and Mirouku arrived. "What's the commotion about?"

"You 2 are always fighting." Shippo sighs, knowing it's going to be a long day.

"Besides, I was behind you Inuyasha. You must have tripped!"

Sango; "tripped, huh?" She studies the ground. "What's this mound?"

"Don't touch it Sango, it might be a monster!"

Kagome,"d-did that mound just move!?"

"Huh, now you're seeing things! What's it gonna be next?"

"Shut up Inuyasha!"(Kagome)

Mirouku "uh.. guys?"

"Why should I shut up? You're the troublemaker!"

"Who's calling who a trouble maker?"

"Guys! The mound definitely moved. I saw it myself." Sango and Shippo nodding their agreement.

"You guys are all seeing things, I'll prove it myself!" Inuyasha tries vainly to salvage his pride. Kagome fearfully watches as Inuyasha brushes off the leaves and uncovers...black hair!? "What the...?" Inuyasha backs away. A curious Sango takes his place. She carefully brushed the leaves away.

"Oh, my..." She exclaims as the mound turns out to be a young girl about 16 years old. Unfortunately, she had high chiseled cheekbones which made her face seem oddly distant, and beautiful. Which Mirouku notices immediately with his experienced eye.

"Well now, she appears harmless enough. Let's make camp here. Until she wakes up."

"What do you think this is!? A holiday vacation? We don't have any time to waste! We have to get more crystal shards before Naraku or some other demon gets his dirty hands on the jewel shards!" Inuyasha angrily says to Mirouku. Just then the strange girl woke up.

"Where am I?" She asked immediately.

"In the Forest of the Serpent." A worried Sango replies. She didn't know why, but her usual weariness melted away at the sight of the defenseless girl. Must be my brother's death catching up with me again... she thinks sadly. "What's your name? You shouldn't be out alone in this forest. It's dangerous."

"I'm Haiko, and I was separated from my trading clan as they were going to the Mon (means dream in Chinese)Sea." As she said this Sango was stuck by the sadness she saw in Haiko's eye's, as she mentioned the sea.

What happened to her? Kagome wondered as she noticed the sadness too. "Hmm... we can take you to the Mon Sea. I think we're headed thereabouts too." Mirouku said with a solemn expression.

"What do you think you're doing!? Inviting a total stranger to join us like that!?" Inuyasha says. But now Kagome was curious about the mysterious maiden.

"Inuyasha, it's bad manners to say no to someone in need. Besides, we are going that way. We can just drop her off." Kagome says.

"I agree with Mirouku and Kagome, it's the least we can do."

"Count me in in too!" Shippo says. She's so pretty... he caught himself thinking. He turned around quickly so none of the group caught him blushing. Luckily, the group was in a heated debate against Inuyasha.

"4 to 1 Inuyasha. She's coming." Kagome declares.

"Oh, THANK YOU!" Haiko exclaims.

"Well, if you must. But it is the duty of a monk to help those in need. I really do not find I have a choice. Unlike my companions, I have a religious duty to uphold." Mirouku self proclaims. "I am Mirouku. My dog-eared companion is named Inuyasha."

"I'm Kagome."

"And I'm Shippo!"

"You can call me Sango" Sango says smiling. "Watch out for Mirouku, he's really very dirty around women. Even though he's monk."

Mirouku exclaims indignantly "I'm a monk. I am not allowed that conduct."

"Yeah, yeah, we all know the truth already 'kay? You can drop the holy monk act." An annoyed Inuyasha says to Mirouku.

Haiko smiles. She just knows she will enjoy traveling with her new companions. Maybe... just maybe... they can help me. She thought sadly.

To be continued...