Chapter Two

"My name's Xianghua." She stated proudly, teetering on the branch from the added weight of InuYasha, who was a mere foot or so away from her.

Kagome smiled up at her. "That's a really pretty name. Are you a… elf… youkai?" She guessed, cocking her head to the side.

Xianghua shrugged. "Close. Elf-kitsune. I'm a mixed breed I guess you could say."

InuYasha scowled, raising an eyebrow at the girl. "I thought elves and kitsunes hated each other or somethin'."

Xianghua nodded; all too vivid memories of her past assaulting her… "They do. I'm basically a roamer. Elves hate me, kitsunes hate me, and people hate me because I'm youkai."

InuYasha grew quiet at that, and Xianghua jumped down from the branch, landing neatly on her feet. "I'm a warrior now."

"Warrior? Keh. You don't look like much." InuYasha grumbled out. Kagome scowled up at him.

"Osuwari."

The branch creaked and broke, sending InuYasha careening towards the ground. He landed with a thud, and Xianghua brought her hand to her mouth to cover her amusement. She didn't understand how the command could control him like that, but she was thankful for it. She really didn't want to get into a verbal war at the moment...

"Are the two of you… together?" Xianghua questioned, her curiosity getting the best of her. Kagome stood and walked off without a sound, and InuYasha scoffed. "Like I'd ever get with that bossy wench."

Xianghua's gaze rose to where Kagome was, her back was to them and she was speeding up to a light run. InuYasha followed her gaze and scowled, getting to his feet and taking off after her. Xianghua sighed, doubting his words. If he really didn't care, he wouldn't have chased after her, would he have? The way Kagome had taken off like that though… was she in love with the hanyou?

Not five minutes had passed before another pair entered the small clearing. There was a definite demon slayer there, wearing traditional clothing. She raised an eyebrow, catching the eye of the monk. He raised a lecherous eyebrow in return, smirking slightly. "Good afternoon, woman. Bear my children?"

She laughed at the absurdity. "Well that's a little old fashioned don't you think?" Her thoughts corrupted what she was about to say- ever since she woke up everything seemed a little… archaic. Not that she minded, she was highly amused by the man's antics.

He shrugged. "Of course not." The slayer glared at him and smacked him on the head with the back of her palm.

"Sorry about Miroku. Who are you anyway?"

She nodded in acknowledgement. "My name's Xianghua...I'm an elf-kitsune." The slayer raised an eyebrow, but didn't comment on the odd pairing.

"I see. Um, have you seen any… strange people come through here lately? There's a girl with black hair and blue eyes, and a boy with white hair, dog ears, and gold eyes. Sound familiar?"

She jerked her thumb over her shoulder in the direction the two had run off. "That way, they probably didn't get too far."

The slayer nodded her thanks and hefted an unconscious Miroku over her thin shoulder. Xianghua left soon after, walking east with no real destination in mind. She kind of hoped that the mysterious hanyou and the woman would make up, even though she knew it was none of her business and she would probably never see the pair again. She walked for days before she finally let herself rest, her body weary and aching from nonstop movement. She leaned against a tree and closed her eyes, finally succumbing to the sleep that plagued her.

-!!-

"Pretty lady!"

"Let's go, Rin! Our lord will not wait for you and your childish antics! He is already impatient!"

"Hey, she's awake!"

Xianghua opened her eyes to bright brown ones staring right at her. The owner, a young girl, was perched right next to her, her black hair hanging over her shoulders with a small portion of it thrown into a small side ponytail. She was wearing an orange kimono of sorts, and behind her, there was a small toad-like gremlin with big yellow eyes and an ugly beak.

"Who are you two?"

"Rin's name is Rin, and that's Master Jaken!"

"Are you two alone?"

"No! We're traveling with lord Sesshoumaru!"

"Rin!" The toad complained, sticking his hand under her nose and stifling her next sentence.

"Lord Sesshoumaru?" Xianghua questioned, raising a pointed eyebrow.

Jaken turned to stare at her, his eyes wide and his mouth opened. "H-have you not heard of him?"

Xianghua shrugged. "I have. I'm just wondering why he's with a human girl." From what she had heard, the infamous youkai hated humans, not that she blamed him. They smelled funny, and were far too weak and vulnerable. They were tolerable, but not nearly tolerable enough to have one as a "pet".

Rin's face had fallen and she shoved Jaken away from her. "I'll always be by lord Sesshoumaru's side! Forever!"

Xianghua smiled wearily, still exhausted. Her eyes drifted closed and she sighed. 'Why am I so tired?' She wondered vaguely, cracking an eye open at the pair. They seemed safe enough… With that thought in mind, she gave in to sleep, oblivious to the danger rapidly approaching…