Disclaimer: Inuyasha and the Walking Dead belong to their respective owner which, unfortunately, is not me.


Dangers Known


Daryl had hoped that when he laid down that night, sleep would come quick. His muscles throbbed with a dull ache and his eyelids were heavy but, he found being surrounded by multiple unknowns made sleep difficult. He shifted irritably, turning his back to the perimeter and scanned the temporary camp. It was quiet with the exception of the occasional restless turning. Piercing blue eyes glared into the darkness, noticing the absence of the lone woman that traveled with them. Her presence had been pressing at the edges of his mind despite the warning bells that insisted his attention remain on his surroundings.

Scanning the bodies huddled within the perimeter created by thin wire and tin cans, Daryl confirmed that Kagome wasn't among them. The woman was odd. She had trailed silently behind them like a shadow all day. She never engaged anyone or approached them. By time everyone set out to prepare the small clearing they would be making camp, the woman still hadn't joined them.

Initially, Daryl assumed she would settle in once everything was set up, but that had been hours ago and there was still no sign of her. An irritated grunt passed his lips as he moved to stand. No one took notice as he shouldered his crossbow, slipped beneath the perimeter wire, avoiding the tin cans, and moved into the dense foliage.

"Broad prob'ly got herself killed," He snorted, pulling branches out of his path. The dry wood creaked in protest, snapping back into place as soon as he released it. Daryl winced at the noise that seemed magnified in the stillness of the night, the moonlight streaming through the canopy above only served to cast ominous shadows on the ground below.

The night was sweltering and humid. A thin layer of sweat coated his skin, regardless, an eerie feeling crept down his spine, causing goosebumps to rise on his flesh.

The crack of wood echoed behind him. Daryl turned on his heel, bracing the butt of his crossbow against his shoulder with practiced ease, leveling the sight on a shadowed figure hovering at the treeline. He hesitated for a moment in uncertainty, finger paused on the trigger. He watched as long hair waved like a banner in the breeze. From the distance, the features were obscured by the darkness. Daryl lowered his bow just the slightest bit, eyes narrowing in a vain attempt to pierce through the shadows.

"Kagome?" His low, rough voice tore through the space. Everything was silent for a moment before the grotesque, raspy sound of bones grinding and tendons stretching reached his ears. The figure moved toward him, stepping into a beam of light and revealing a young girl whose chest had been blown apart. Rotting flesh hung in ribbons from splintered bones. She was long gone, so, without another thought, Daryl aimed and released an arrow.

The corpse dropped with a dull thud. Everything was still for a moment before a faint sound drew his attention above and toward the swaying branches. His muscles tensed at the familiar creak of a string being pulled taut.

A quiet twang sounded and he reflexively dove to take cover behind the nearest tree, cursing just as an arrow sailed passed his face. Another thud sounded behind him. Cautiously, crouching low and keeping the tree between himself and the archer, Daryl turned to see another downed walker mere feet from where he'd been standing.

"Daryl?" The soft voice of the woman he'd come searching for called out to him. Daryl straightened up as a shadowed figure dropped down from above. Relief and aggravation filled him at the sight of her.

"Damn girl, watch where you're shooting." Daryl growled. A light giggle left curled lips as Kagome moved toward the walker.

"Relax. You were never in any danger." She looked at him with laughing blue eyes before she began inspecting her work. Kagome kneeled at the head of the corpse and raised her hands in prayer. She remained there a moment, bathed in the moonlight with Daryl peering at her curiously.

"What're you doin'?"

There was a pause before she lowered her hands to her lap, fingers curling into the material there.

"I'm praying for his soul to rest peacefully,"

"Lady, it's just a meat sack. That thing don't have no soul."

"Maybe not anymore," She interrupted him. Kagome's eyes gleamed up at him, her pale skin luminescent under the light of the moon.

"But this body, broken and morbid as it is now," Her words were punctuated by the sick squelch the corpse made as she removed the arrow from it's eye.

"This body once housed a soul. A person with wishes and fears, dreams and secrets," She inspected the arrow for damage before depositing it into the quiver on her back. Standing, she came face-to-face with Daryl's striking blue eyes. His lips were drawn into a thin line. He was skeptical, but remained silent.

"You should go back to camp, get some rest." She moved to turn away but was stopped by Daryl's light grip laced around her wrist.

"Where you think you're goin'? You can't sleep out here alone. It's dangerous," A somber smile appeared on Kagome's face. Somehow the expression looked wrong on her soft features.

"The world is full of danger. Some places more than others."

Daryl could hear the words that remained unspoken. People. People had become just as dangerous as the living dead and they were far more unpredictable. The dead were simple. They sought to consume and nothing else. The living, in comparison, were infinitely more complicated; they always had been. They often withheld or disguised any unsavory motives. Kagome tugged on her hand bringing Daryl's attention back toward her. He allowed her to slip free without further resistance. He gave a nod of understanding and Kagome returned the gesture with a soothing smile.

Daryl watched her walk away until her silhouette disappeared into the darkness of the surrounding trees. With a tired sigh, he collected his own arrow from the downed corpse and made his way toward the camp.

Ducking under the perimeter wire, Daryl's eyes caught sight of Len's alert gaze over the short distance between them. Daryl was barely inside the perimeter before Len was sneering down at him, attempting to use his height to his advantage.

"You run off to go see that sweet ass?" The man's course voice demanded, moving toward him. "I already told you, she's been claimed. Now, how's about you tell me where she's hidin', hmm?" Len leaned down, a crooked grin adorning his leathered face. Daryl pushed passed the man and moved toward his chosen sleeping area.

"I didn't see nothin' but a couple walkers. I put 'em down. She's pro'ly dead anyhow." Daryl answered while getting comfortable on the hard ground, using his sack as a pillow.

"Nah, she ain't dead yet. Blood runs hot in that one." Len let out a laugh, leering over Daryl's relaxed form.

"They're the best ones. Yeah, the fighters," Len palmed his dick over the fabric of his jeans with a groan. "She's gonna be a hot fuck."

Daryl kept his face neutral, detached from his disgusted thoughts and shifted to lay on his side, facing away from the disturbed man behind him. Daryl heard as the man laughed and finally moved away, presumably back to his own designated resting spot.

Daryl needed to make a plan. He needed to find Beth, or Rick, or anyone but he didn't know where to start. There was no way to know where everyone had scattered. Or where the car with the cross had taken Beth. Daryl was stressed and worn. It took him a while to calm his raging thoughts, but with what was guaranteed to be a stressful day come the next morning, Daryl forced himself into a dreamless sleep.


I'm sorry this update was so slow coming but my grandmother died recently and I've had a hard time getting motivated to write. I think I'm starting to get a rhythm. Hopefully. I have a few stories I've been considering such as a crossover with a gender bent Ariel from The Little Mermaid. And I've been watching reruns of House so I thought something involving that crossover would be fun. And I don't think there are nearly enough Miroku/Kagome pairings. So gotta throw that in as well as a Kohaku/Kag. Another that's been on my mind has been a Twilight cross. I kinda have something started but I'm not sure who Kagome should be paired with.. I'll be putting a poll up on my bio if anyone's interested in sharing their thoughts.

Enough of that. I really appreciate all the support whether it's in the form of favs or reviews. Let me know what you think of this newest chapter and I hope to have the next up soon.