Chap. 2 A/n disclaimer: As much as I hate to admit it, I do not own Inuyasha and friends. With that said, let's get on with it.

We reached the camp in what seemed like record timing. There was nothing really special about the camp. Though it smelled strongly of meat. I kept getting strange looks from passers. I didn't think much of it. I was used to strange looks. I did notice that there were fewer humans than I expected. I wondered if there were more at the village.

I lead Laquisha to my tent, where Jaken was surprised at my quick return.

"Oh, my lord, you're back earlier than expected. Rin will be pleased."

"Yes, well, is Herupa around? I need her to show Laquisha around and tell her what is required."

"She is at the hot springs near by. Last time I checked, your brother, Inuyasha was getting ready to head down there."

"Take Laquisha to him. I have business to attend to."

"Yes, my lord."

The little frog - like demon bowed himself out and motioned for me to follow. He led me to a tent and a young looking; white haired boy with dog- ears came out. This boy was about my age, probably a bit older.

"What do you want?" he asked the little demon, eyeing me suspiciously.

"Lord Sesshoumaru has ordered you to take this girl to the hot springs to find Sango. You were heading that way, yes?"

"Yes" he muttered, "Ok, come on then."

He nodded to me and headed off into the woods. After following a small trail for a while, out of nowhere came an arrow. I caught it just as it barely missed my head. We reached a small clearing with a hot springs in the middle. There were only two girls there (with bathing suits on.). One was shorter and girlish looking with wavy black hair. The other had bright red hair and looked more mature.

"What do you think you're doing? Trying to take my head of?!" I exclaimed.

"Oh, sorry, I thought you were a demon. But I suppose I wouldn't have minded if it had hit HIM. It would have saved us the trouble of telling him to go away." The red - head replied glaring at Inuyasha.

Inuyasha returned the look.

"Feh, I was just leaving anyway."

He turned and stocked off.

"Charming..." I muttered.

"I know, isn't he?" the younger one said.

"Don't mind him, he's always like that" said Ms. Red.

"Is he now? Well, I just got the misfortune of having to train with him." "Oh, you're that girl from the trading village." Ms. Red stated, shooting a look at her friend. "My name's Herupa and my friend here is Kagome. You're earlier than expected. Other wise I would have been there to greet you. That's pretty much my job. I greet new slaves and show them around, tell what's required of them and all that crap. Fun, huh? That's not my only job, but the other one's boring. Speaking of jobs, what job did Sesshoumaru land you with?"

"Head of security. That's why I'm training with Mr. Dog-ears."

"Head of security?! But you're so young!"

"I'm eighteen, thank you very much."

"Yah, that's what I'm saying, young. The last person he got for security chief, barely lasted a month. He died of an unknown cause. You're to young to go out like that."

"I can look out for myself, and it takes a lot to kill me."

"If you say so, but you couldn't pay me enough to take your job."

I shrugged my shoulders.

"So, are you done? I'd kind of like to talk to you face to face."

"Yah... sorry... let me get dressed first. I'll meet you back at camp."

"Ok, see ya later."

I turned and left. As soon as I had gotten back into camp, I heard a voice say,

"So you're the new slave?"

I turned to see Mr. Dog-ears.

"Yah, what of it?"

"You look, um, different from what expected."

"I'm taking that as a bad thing."

"Well, not really, you look human... but... you don't smell human."

"So?"

"What's the deal with that?"

"That's for me to know and you to never find out."

"Watch your tongue."

"Feh, why should I?"

"Because I just might rip it out."

"Ooo... tough guy. You talk big, but can you back it up?"

He lunged the same time I jumped into a nearby tree.

"Where'd you learn a move like that?!" he asked

"I lived in a tough neighborhood."

"Obviously. You've got a cut on your lip."

My hand went to my lip. I had forgotten about the little incident with my brother this morning.

"What of it?"

"Nothing." He said with a frustrated sigh. "You know... you're really tiring."

"I get that a lot."

"I'm sure you do."

Who was this girl? She had no feature indicating that she was demon, yet she smelled and had moves like one. Her mischievous eyes hid the fact that she had a lot of pain in her past. And where did she get the courage to give off comebacks like that? Either she was really brave or really stupid. Probably both.

"What's your name?" I asked. She looked me up and down, then jumped from the tree and brushed her pants off.

Who does this guy think he is? I mean, what an asshole! Yah, so maybe he's Sesshoumaru's half brother, but who cares. It doesn't give him the right to be like that. I sighed and answered his question. "My name's Laquisha. Yours?" "Laquisha?" "Yah. What about it?" "Laquisha......... from that trading village?" "YES. Why do you want to know? "My name's Inuyasha... Do you remember me? I lived close and we used to play together when we where younger......... that is until my mom died and my dad moved me away." "Inuyasha? OH YEAH!" I snapped my fingers. "I knew you looked familiar! God! I didn't know you were a lord's son! Man you grew up!" "Look who's talking. I thought you were dead!"

"Hey, you ready?" asked Herupa, who had just showed up.

"Yah, sure. See ya later, Dog-ears!" I called teasingly.

"The name's Inuyasha!" he called after us.

"I know!" I called back laughing.

I heard him mutter something like, "What a bitch." I found that funny.

"So I see you and Inuyasha were getting along." "Yah, actually, we're old friends."

"Well, that'll make life easier for you. It's good to have friends in high places around here."

"I bet. But he did try to kill me before he figured out who I was."

"Well, with a fast mouth like that, I'm not surprised. He's not used to people mouthing of to him. People fear him."

"People fear a dog like THAT?"

"Duh! Are you brain-dead or something? Last person who got HIM mad found themselves missing a head."

"Ooo, I'm so scared."

"You really are brain-dead aren't you?"

"Maybe."

That gave her something to laugh about.

"So, you need to hear the rules. Ok, don't speak until spoken too, when called to Lord Sesshoumaru, kneel before him and don't get up 'till told to do so, never go to Lord Sesshoumaru unless called or make an appointment, and if you run away, better get yourself a death certificate ahead of time, 'cause if they catch you.... it's off with your head."

"I guess I'm gonna have a lot of enemies, huh?"

"As chief of security, naturally, but don't sweat it. If you need help, my door's always open."

"Is that your way of offering friendship?"

"Yah, I guess."

"Well, the offer is accepted with thanks."

"You're welcome."

"So, I suppose I have other duties other than catching other slaves."

"Yup. Unless you're chosen for a personal slave, you've got regular duties. You know, visiting the guards, surveying the lands... easy stuff. If it weren't for all the enemies you're gonna make, you'd probably have the best job around."

"Fun. So, what are the chances of becoming a personal servant?"

"Well, for you, pretty good, but you don't want the job."

"Why?"

"The only one who is missing a personal... is Sesshoumaru."

"And just why are the chances for me good?!"

"Oh, come on! Did you see the way he was looking at you?"

"Hell no! He's the lord of the western lands!"

"I guess you have a point, but you are very pretty."

"That still doesn't change the fact that he won't want me."

"Yah, sure." She said with a roll of her eyes.

I shook my head. He seemed not to be interested. But was he really? Why do I care? What am I, a schoolgirl with a crush? I don't think so.

I was in the woods. I couldn't see who was there, nor did I know why I was following her. Her voice was familiar and she was humming a tune that I had long forgotten. All I could see was the trees around and a blue light moving away from me. Eventually I got to a clearing. At the end of the clearing was a great, stone wall. I approached it and heard voices whispering, "Call forth your birth right." I gathered up my strength and used the lightning attack that my mother had taught me to hit the wall. A part of the wall disappeared and revealed stairs. I followed the stairs, only to find my mother standing in a strange blue light. She said,

"I'll be waiting for you, my moon and stars."

And then...

I shot up strait in bed. It had been a dream. I wasn't in the woods. I was in the tent with Herupa and Kagome lying on their mats just feet away. I noticed tears were coming from my eyes. I wiped them away ferociously. I hated crying. It made me feel week and pitiful.

Knowing I wouldn't be getting any more sleep tonight, got up, got dressed, and left. Sitting in a tree, staring at the moon always made me feel better. I found a tree that suited me and climbed it. I went over the dream in my mind. I supposed it was telling me how to get to my mother's crypt, but why? Why after all these years did it decide to show itself? Was it because I had just turned eighteen at midnight? Whatever it was it was pretty weird. The fact that my mother was talking to me was very weird. I wonder what that was all about.

I heard a rustle in the bushes. I looked down and saw Inuyasha.

"Didn't mean to disturb you. I'll go."

"No wait. You don't have to. It's not like I own the tree."

He jumped to the nearest branch and we sat in silence. I decided to make conversation.

"Couldn't sleep?"

"No, you?"

"Nope, had a weird dream."

"Me too."

"Hmm."

"What's your favorite thing about the moon?"

It was a weird question, but I answered. I assumed he was trying to make conversation too.

"Its light. A long time ago, when my mom was still alive, I used to sit with her in our favorite oak tree and just stare at the moon. If I'd look up at my mom, I could see the light reflect in her eyes. It was the nicest times that I had with my mother. It was where we could get away from the world and just......... be. There was something magical about the light of the moon. There still is."

There was a sadness in her voice. A longing. She wanted to be with her mother. I knew the feeling. I had lost my own mother at a young age, as well. I climbed over to her branch to comfort my old friend. I draped an arm over her shoulder in a brotherly embrace.

To my surprise, she placed her arm around me so we were side by side, comfortably. We just sat there, watching the moon go down.

"Hey, you remember all those tricks we pulled on my brother?" she asked after awhile.

"Yah. That was always fun, but you always got in big trouble for it. And you'd have a good cry on my shoulder about it, then we'd do it all over again."

"Yah, you were more of a brother to me than my real brother ever was." "Yah, I thought I'd never see you again when we said goodbye that last time. Ever since then, I never got very close to anyone. It feels good to have a friend again."

"Yah, I know how you feel." She sighed... and then... silence again.

Eventually her head slumped onto my shoulder and she fell asleep. I just sat there, listening to her deep breathing and thought to myself. It was like finding my sister after a great fire. After feeling that you lost her to the flames. I'd never let anything happen to her. Ever. And that was a promise I'd never forget. Unfortunately, the sun slowly came up. This meant we would be leaving soon. I felt her stir. She was attempting to wake. She took a deep breath and opened her eyes. She looked over at me; surprised I was still there.

"Oh, I didn't mean to fall asleep. Um, thanks for staying with me. If you hadn't I probably would have fell out of the tree. I shouldn't fall asleep in that position. I have better balance if I'm stretched out against the branch." "No problem."

I sat there for a moment. I liked have an older brother figure that wasn't abusive. Feeling bored, I flicked one of his little dog-ears.

"Ow! What was that for?!" he exclaimed.

"Because it's fun and I haven't been able to do it in forever." I replied.

Fortunately, before he could reply, there was rustling in the bushes. Not wanting to be seen with my master's half brother, I jumped to the closest branch. Herupa, Kagome, and some other girl came out of the brush.

"There you are! We've been looking all over for you! Come on, we're gonna be leaving soon. " Herupa exclaimed.

Inuyasha jumped down and took of through the brush, looking hurried.

"And just what have you two been up to?" the girl asked.

"We were just talking! God! Can't I do anything without being questioned?"

"Don't mind her, she's got a sick mind."

"Right..."

I jumped down, yawned, and stretched.

"I take it you didn't get much sleep last night." Herupa said.

"Couldn't sleep." I replied.

"Why?" Asked the girl with a mischievous smile.

"Oh, yuck! How could you think of something like that?!" I exclaimed.

"Very easily, believe me." Kagome said.

We started walking back to camp. When we got there everyone was packing. We packed quickly and followed everyone. I saw Inuyasha up ahead. He looked back and I winked and looked away. Out of the corner of my eye I saw his confused look, but I knew I shouldn't make eye contact. I was pretty sure there was a rule against it. If Sesshoumaru saw us, he'd probably get mad or something. Besides, I didn't need anyone getting ideas. He was friend and nothing else. I really didn't need people poking and prying. I hated that. Maybe I could avoid him. No, how could you avoid someone who practically owned the place where you were living. Damn, I picked the wrong person to be friends with. Lord almighty, I have bad luck with things like this. Oh well.
She didn't make eye contact, although she did wink at me. Females are so confusing sometimes, it's sad. Well, she couldn't hide from me forever. She was probably afraid of what the others would think if we were seen together. Sesshoumaru wouldn't understand, and the slaves wouldn't be as easily convinced. Even if it was completely innocent.
A/n Ok, I know this chapter was pretty long, but oh well. When I get an idea I just can't stop typing. I hope this chapter wasn't as boring as the last one. By the way, reviews are welcome. Preferably praise, but flames are ok too. They help me learn about what I'm doing' wrong. Thanks!