Taro's eyes slowly blinked open instead of being in the well hut he was surrounded by large trees. Instantly Taro jumped to his feet and looked at his surroundings. A rustling in the branches cause Taro to panic he tried to grab the sword's hilt, but found the sword missing. Taro hearing the rustling get louder he balled his hands into fists. But what popped out of the bushes was something he did not expect. Out of the bushes popped out a head of a girl. "Who are you?" Taro asked.

She starred at him for a few seconds then giggled, "My name is Shini. Now who are you?"

Taro started to speak, but as she walked out of the bushes he found himself speechless. "New question what are you?"

He noticed the boy was silent as the girl spoke again, "I'm a fox demon. But that doesn't matter, now answer my question!"

"Taro."

"Okay Taro, you wouldn't happen to be looking for this," She pulled out the blade that he found in the well, "would you?" Taro nodded. She swung it around for a few seconds then heard voices coming near and dropped the blade and disappeared. Strange girl, Taro thought as he picked up the blade and slid it back into its sheath. Then just as he sheathed the blade had he heard someone approach.

He looked and saw two kids one about nine years old the other about his age running while yelling something as they approached him the girl looked at him and asked, "What are you doing here; you don't look like a demon."

"I found myself here; I don't know how I got here."

The boy stepped forward, "Do you have a name?"

Taro was starting to get tired off this, "Taro. Why did you ask why I'm here?"

This time the girl replied, "Humans aren't usually allowed around here, but we don't have to worry because our parents are demon slayers."

The boy slapped his hand onto her mouth. "Announce it to the whole world why don't you, in case you haven't noticed our parents aren't around." Then the two realized Taro was standing there obviously bored. "Our names are Miyatsu, and Miku." Taro was starting to walk off when he heard more noises; I'm starting to sense a pattern here.

Taro grabbed the kids by their waist then jumped into the bushes; they stared as saw it was a woman and monk running toward the well.

Taro watched as the woman threw the weapon that was twice her size, then the man beating the attacking men with his staff. They're experienced fighters, I can tell because they have their own style and they fight in sync. Taro thought to himself, but was despaired as the woman became unarmed and the monk beaten. Shortly they were tied with ropes and were being carried away. Taro jumped out of the bushes leaving the two behind and followed the men working to stay as quiet as possible. But then the woman caught him in the corner of her eye, and seemed to be surprised. Taro raised his finger to his lips to signal to be quiet. She seemed to understand and Taro watched as they disappear behind what appeared to be fortress wall.

Taro went back to the kids and found the girl crying in the boys arms. "What's wrong?" Taro asked. The boy looked up afraid, "Those two were our parents, and if they were caught then we're doomed, because we're still in training."

Taro couldn't help but feel sorry then the good side of himself got the best of him, "I'll get them out." The girl yelled, "How? I doubt that you can use that sword."

Taro's sympathy for her lowered, "I'll find away, just stay here until its safe." Taro walked away and stood in the field in front of the fortress trying to find a way in.

Then his ideas swarmed to a stop when he heard a ruckus from the gate, they were dragging a new prisoner and they seemed to be giving them a hard time. Taro took the chance and slipped into the building. The building was bigger on the inside than what it looked like on the outside; the guards finally brought the prisoner down and started to bring them in. Taro hid himself behind an unusually large vase. He watched as they dragged them in, but to his surprised to find it was a girl. After a good fifteen minutes they dragged her into another room. Taro came out from behind the vase and snuck around the fortress and he passed the room where the girl had been dragged into and listened, "Please, stop this. I don't want you hurt!" a female voice cried.

Then a much lower voice spoke, "Yes, if you are going to end this, the time is now."

There was a silence the girl's voice spoke. Taro pressed his ear closer to the door. "How…how can I…" the girl's voice was trembling, "How can I stay with someone who is on the same side that murdered my FATHER!"

There was silence then the man's voice spoke, "I raised you, took care of you. You are my pride and I do feel for you, but answer me this, 'where did you learn this.'"

The girl's voice spoke once more, but with more confidence. "A village near Battlefield Mountain, an old hermit told me everything that happened that day. How my father and his army strode into battle though obviously outnumbered by the demon's army. Though even with the odds against him he fought with determination to live," her voice fell short then spoke softer, "But without success."

Her voice stop for a minute then yelled, "And I can never get him back!" Taro heard her choking back tears.

"I still care for you and yes I knew your father died. But that gave me all the more reason to raise you. I will not kill you. But you will have to be held here. Get her out of my sight!"

Guards started toward the door with the girl and Taro managed to hide himself from sight, but as he started to follow the men to the dungeon he heard the woman speak, "Why? I love her. I love her with all my heart yet she still turns away."

"I too love her, but she has made her choice." Then Taro left the two and follows the guard as they dragged the girl away. As soon as the guards left Taro snuck into the dungeon and found the monk and the warrior woman.

"You're that boy from earlier." The woman said.

"Yeah, I'm here to get you out. Your kids are waiting." Taro whispered. Taro looked around for a key but was disturbed by a girl voice.

"They're with the guard who sits as the end on the dungeon hallway."

Taro looked around and saw the girl from earlier. "Hey, you're the girl who fought with the owner of this place."

The girl's eyes rose and looked at him, "So you're an eavesdropper."

Taro felt his face grow red, he pushed his anger aside and went out the door and saw that the guard was sleeping. Taro felt sweat on his neck, carefully he pulled the keys of the guards belt. Taro walked over and opened the door to the monk and woman's cell. Then opened the girl's cell just as it opened she disappeared and was already at the door.

Taro and the others were at the gate when out nowhere a man in fancy clothes spotted them and yelled, "Hey!" the woman and monk ran off to the wood where Taro instructed their children were.

The man approached Taro and the girl. "Please."

Then the girl jumped off and yelled, "I'm not going to kill you either. But you can't stop me."

The man turned to Taro then said, "You look familiar." Then the man's face turned serious, "You, no it couldn't be. You're gone." Taro jumped ran away before he could get better look.

Taro saw the man and woman hugging their children and felt for once he did something right. The woman stood, "Thank you. My name is Sango and this is my husband, Miroku. Do you have a name?"

"Taro. Do you think you could tell me how to get home?"

Sango and Miroku looked at each other then the Sango spoke, "Where do you live?"

"In a place far away."

Miroku stepped forward, "Did you try jumping through the well like Lady Kagome." Taro flinched at his mother's name.

Taro twitched at the mention of his mother, then trudged back to the well and then jumped down the well while closing his eye, but when he opened them he was still in the forest. Sango and Miroku looked at each other as their faces turned white. "You should ask the elder Kaede."

Taro, Sango, Miroku, and the twins were walking down the road when Taro asked, "Who was that girl from last night?"

"That was the Black Cat; she was raised by the great dog demon Sesshomaru. Her father was killed in the last battle of the Human-Demon war. He was on the human side and as far as anyone knows he was killed." Sango stated.

Taro looked puzzled, "Is the war over?"

"No, there haven't been many big battles since." Miroku sighed. "If my knowledge is correct your father was also in that battle."

Taro stopped walking, "My father?"

Sango looked back and said, "Yes, your father was here. But it isn't our place to say whether to say who he is or not. Yes, we are friends of your mother. We will tell you she met her husband here, but no one knows if he is still alive or not."

The rest of the trip was in silence, but as they approached the village they saw everything was in ruins. "No doubt the work of demons." Miroku growled.

"There is someone over there!" Miku yelled. Sango and Miroku ran over to hut that looked collapsed with a woman under the beam that supported the house.

"It is the Lady Kaede." Sango gasped.

Taro ran over and kneeled over the old woman. "You, you are." She gasped.

"He seeks a way home." Sango whispered.

The woman pondered for a moment and then started, "The way home will open when all is finished." Kaede gasped then she breathed out and stopped moving.

Miroku bowed his head, "She has left."

Taro then lost himself in thought; the way home will open when all is finished.

Taro watched as they finished burying the old woman. "What did she mean?"

Sango looked up at him and said, "Taro, you need to find out who your father is, and who your mother was."

Miroku nodded and added, "You will find what you need if you go to the passage between the mountains in which a battle took place. That was the last place you father was seen." Taro blinked and looked toward the mountain range.