The slightest breeze blew in from the West, carrying the lightest and sweetest of floral scents. It swirled, lazily without a care, catching a bit of the bright rays of the sun to warm it's tantalizing scent before dropping down among the forest trees, only to ripple across the top of a small stream and ascent back up and swirl around a tall figure, followed by two smaller ones.

His amber eyes shifted to the left, the direction from which the warm, late summer scent had come from, but his pace did not slow. For the briefest of moments, a very distant sensation tugged at the back of his mind. Something familiar and warm, something... something he should remember. It bothered him, though why, he could not fathom. It was consequential however, and had no barring on his current goal, so it was pushed aside and forgotten, just like the leaves beneath his feet.

"Oh!" The small voice from behind him caught his attention, but he still did not slow. If she had something to say, she would say it. He was listening, but again, he had no intention of deviating from his course. The tiny voice was followed by a growling noise. This finally brought the proud figure to a stop. He sighed inwardly.

"Rin. If you require food, go and find it. Jaken, go with her." Lord Sesshomaru's voice came out smooth and even toned as ever. The giggle that came from the child following him told him that she was grateful for the release to do as she needed.
"Yes my Lord," she chimed ever so lightly before the sound of her scampering off informed him that there was no point in answering.
"U..uh m'lord? Mighten I..."
"Jaken. Why are you still here?"

That was all that was needed. With that, the tell tail sign of the imp entering into a panicked state, followed by the running of small feet entered into Sesshomaru's ears. For some odd reason, he didn't mind either of the two that had chosen to follow him, yet there were days that his patients with them grew thin. With another inward sigh, this one of relief, he began down the path he was on once more. Though he wouldn't make it far, all things considered.

Only minutes later, the inuyouki came a stop at the edge of a grassy hill, overlooking a valley. It was a small clearing, but enough to give him a view of the lands below. It was only then, in that moment of silence, that he became aware of the small nagging sensation in the back of his mind once more. Another light breeze tickled his senses once more and his eyes shifted to the left once more. This time, narrowed ever so slightly in annoyance. He definitely knew that scent, but for the life of him, he couldn't figure out from where. He did not enjoy the sensation he was having in the least. There was no reason that he, Lord Sesshomaru, should have any problem with recollection. And yet...

Golden Amber eyes cast themselves skywards, before he turned around, and began back down to where he had parted directions with Rin and Jaken. How irritating.

This was insanity. The actions of one with a death wish. Amaya had spent her trip contemplating what exactly it was she was supposed to do upon her return to the island. Thus far, she had found only one answer, and she did not enjoy it. The female youki stood silently, on the shore and stared off into the distance. Her eyes of gold danced restlessly over the landscape before her as memories flooded back into her mind. Her mouth grew incredibly dry as she remembered so many people of a time long since past. How many centuries had she spent on the continent?

Suddenly she inhaled deeply and closed her eyes. She was being as silly and sentimental as a human. At least that was what her late mentor would have said. That caused her to smile ever so slightly. In that respect, she was indeed an oddity in the demon world. Amaya, for as calm and collected as she was, was oddly emotional.

Exhaling slowly, the youki outcast took another step forward, and further into Japan for the first time in several years. Her heart seemed to skip a beat both in joy and fear. Would she be cut down on contact or was there anyone even left to remember who she was at all. It had been a few hundred years after all. Of course, by demon standards, that was a blink of an eye. For a moment, her calm seemed to break and Amaya turned back in the direction she'd come from, then turned back again. Before she knew what she was doing, she was going in circles between the two directions - her mind going in circles to match. Finally she stopped, and laughed at herself. Perhaps she was losing her mind. Forcing herself to focus up once more, and be more mindful of her surroundings, Amaya squared her shoulders and set off.

She hadn't slept at all the night before, or the night before that for that matter. Instead, Amaya had spent the nights questioning herself. Was going home really the right thing to do? For all she knew, she'd be killed on sight. While the Inu no Taisho would have taken the time to hear her side of things at the very least, she couldn't speak for his son. Amaya stopped walking at that thought, and her nose crinkled up in slight irritation. Even now, the thought of that stubborn, prideful, arrogant man irritated her to know end. "Sesshomaru," she mumbled under her breath. "You would have to be eldest." With a small frown, she continued on her way.

Amaya had dealt with him in the past. In fact, the two may have even been close once. But that was dead and gone. While by all rights, she was nobility, by the end, Sesshomaru had thought otherwise. Her father was a Lord, and she had inherited his station upon his death. The young son of the great Inu no Taisho, however, viewed everyone, and everything to be beneath him. Especially Amaya. She was far worse than anyone else, but she never had figured out why. And that, was where the problem lay - with Lord Sesshomaru. Her return to Japan would in fact stir talk, and talk had a habit of finding it's way to him. It had been centuries since Amaya had been forced to flee her home for the sake of her life. Though the order wasn't given by Sesshomaru, she saw absolutely no reason why he would take the time to hear her out.

"Idiot." Amaya was already angry with him, and her journey back home had only begun. "Arrogant bastard!" She clenched her jaw tightly and shot a bolt of light towards a tree branch. It cracked dangerously before falling over, sending a flock of birds into the air out of surprise and fright. Near instantly, the veil of calm draped over her once more and she inhaled deeply, straightened her shoulders, and continued walking.

(Three days later...)

"Hey that's mine!" A small voice of a child sounded through the clearing in an most desperate manner.
"Don't be so stingy," came the muffled response.
"Kagome..." Shippo whined as he looked up at her with large, sad eyes.
"Inuyasha, don't be so mean," she stated as she looked over at the half-demon, who now had his face stuffed to the brim with ramen.
"Wha' I do?"
"And stop talking with your mouth full!"
"Wha'ever," came the still muffled response as Inuyasha shoveled more noodles in his mouth.

Kagome sighed. It simply was not worth it at that point. She shook her head and rummaged around in her pack before pulling out more ramen for the small fox demon. "Here you go Shippo." She smiled at him as he took the offered food happily. Her gaze then settled on Inuyasha again. It was amazing just how much ramen he could put away. Actually, that held true for any sort of food. She seriously wondered if he had a hole in his stomach. Or a wind tunnel. Kagome glanced at Miroku and smirked to herself before taking a bite of her own food.

Her eyes turned skyward for a moment. It was so pretty. So unlike the sky of her time. This was clear, and held the richest and most amazing colors. It left her to wonder just how necessary the way of the modern world was. It seemed to be overkill after spending time in the Feudal Era. Then again, some things were rather handy. Her chocolate brown eyes dropped to the spread of food she'd brought from home, and the first aid kit.

"So what's our next move?"
Kagome looked up at Songo and blinked, completely clueless. What was their next move? "Well," she started as she glanced at Inuyasha then back to Songo. "I suppose..."
"We go after the jewel shards and Naraku, that's what. Nothing's changed," Inuyasha interrupted.
"Well, yes," Songo started, trying to smooth things over before Kagome lost her patience. "But I was referring to our actual plan. Where do we go from here? All we know right now is that Naraku is no where to be found."
"I can't sense any jewel shards near by," Kagome offered as looked down again. Her hands folded in her lap. It wasn't any help, but she already knew the question was coming, so she mine as well get it out of the way.
"Well that's a lot of help," Inuyasha stated as he went to shovel the rest of his ramen into his mouth.
"I know that!" Kagome's fists clenched as her eyes landed on Inuyasha. It was clear that her patience were thin if not gone already. "But you were gonna ask anyway, so I said it!"
"Well you don't have to yell!"
"I'm not yelling!"
"Are too!"
"Am not!"
"Yes you are! You're yelling right now!"
That seemed to do it. Kagome's eyes narrowed before a shrill sound that formed the word 'sit' came rolling out of her mouth. In an instant, Inuyasha's face was on the ground and the remainder of his ramen was on his head. The rest of the group simply kept eating quietly there was no use getting involved. Especially when Kagome stood, turned on her heal, and started to march away before Inuyasha even had a chance to right himself. Once he did however, he grumbled, turned his back on the group, and sat there with his arms crossed looking rather indignant.

Kagome marched down the hill in a huff and into the forest. She had no intention of going far. She just wanted to get away from Inuyasha. He could be such a jerk! She blew a strand of black hair out of her eyes as she came to rest at the bottom of the small rise and stamped her foot. A mix between a growl and a frustrated noise rolled out of her throat. "Stupid Inuyasha! Why does he have to be so... so..." Another frustrated noise took the place of any intelligent words and she stamped her foot on the ground again. Her irritation quickly turned to curiosity however as a small noise caught her attention.

With eyes wide, the girl whirled around to find herself starring at a woman with long dark hair that was pulled up, revealing her slender neck, while a few strands were left displaced artfully around her delicate face. Her eyes were of the most magnificent gold color that nearly glowed, and the soft, barely visible pale blue marking that decorated her face only seemed to add to the effect. It was obvious she was a daiyouki, and a powerful one at that. Kagome froze in her steps. The woman did the same, but with a raised, curious brow. Then, just as suddenly, her gaze snapped back in the direction that Kagome had come from.

Amaya stared off into the distance. The scent that floated on the breeze was terribly familiar, and yet, not. In fact, it hung all over the human girl as well. She turned her eyes back towards Kagome and eyed her curiously. It was indeed a mixed scent. That of human and youki... that of an old friend, and a human was more like it. "Tell me girl, who have you come in contact with recently?"

Kagome took a step back. "W...what?"
"Who have you been in contact with? Who have you been around. Speak up." Even as Amaya spoke, she could tell there was something more than that. Something was different about this girl than most humans she came in contact with. Then it hit her. This girl had spiritual powers. Even more curious, if her memory, and her sense of smell served her well.
"Kagome!" Inuyasha's eyes landed on Amaya. "Thought I picked up on a powerful youki aura. Looks like I was right."

Amaya managed to step back just in time to see a flash of red, and silver hit the ground in front of her. A rather large blade was staring her in the face, but she remained ever so calm. No, it wasn't a calm that forced her to keep her composure. It was shock. The figure before her, was clearly the source of the semi-familiar scent. The silver hair, the amber eyes... and the sword. He looked and smelled like Inu no Taisho... mostly. There was also the distinct scent of human mixed with his blood. Had the situation been different, the entire thing would have been comical. She had never pictured Inutaisho with a hanyou offspring. Though even all of that combine wasn't as big of a give away as the blade that was now pointed directly at her. It wasn't the first time she'd seen that blade. Far from it. She would know it anywhere. "Tessaiga."

"What'd you say?" Inuyasha's expression darkened, and Amaya couldn't help but smile slightly.
"Tessaiga. Do you not know the name of the blade you wield?" The daiyouki tilted her head to the side, amusement playing in her golden eyes.
"Of course I know it! How the hell do you know it." He widened his stance slightly, keeping Kagome behind him, and away from Amaya.
"I knew the one who had it created." Amaya held up both hands, indicating she had no intention of drawing her own weapon.
"Huh? What're you talkin' about?" Inuyasha looked as if he would strike at any moment, but Amaya simply stood still.
"If you would kindly lower Tessaiga, I will tell you a story of the man I assume was your father." Amaya smiled softly, already guessing she'd struck a chord. At least she wouldn't be slaughtered as a traitor today.