Forest and Sunlight

"Tsuki-Chan!" Kagome hurled herself forward and hugged the woman who stood so straight and proud. Her eyes were warm as she looked at Kagome and the girls. She circled her arms around Kagome's shoulders, which were now shaking in silent sobs.

Sesshoumaru was baffled. Who was this? And how did she know Kagome? Why was Kagome happy one instant then sad the next?

What in the hell was going on?

The woman held Kagome by the shoulders and pushed her back so she could look up into her face as she brushed away her tears. That's when something odd struck Sesshoumaru. She was shorter than Kagome. Probably about 5'3", she was more than a whole foot shorter than he was, but she had seemed tall as she walked in. So much so in fact that he had thought she could be an intimidating presence. She was dressed in black cotton pants and a black tang top under a yellow fleece. There was a pin hidden under her yellow shirt, but he couldn't quite see it. Her shoes were combat boots that laced up to her calf-which were very well shaped, he noted- Her hair was a dark brown and it cascaded down her back in a way that reminded him of melted chocolate. Her skin was pale, yet slightly tanned. And her eyes, when they turned to him, were deep hazel forests. The soft green of tree tops giving way to the brown of barks, and her pupils were black bottomless pits.

He was contemplating their color and he noticed that while they held warm affection as she looked at Kagome, when she lifted her head to greet the rest of them they snapped into a cold calculating glare. She looked over Sou, then Hana, and seemed to find nothing of great interest. Then her gaze passed over him and snagged, remaining on him for longer than the others.

His eyes were like cold sunlight. And that was particularly amazing to her. Almost as amazing as the hair she had noticed earlier. How in the hell did he keep it so damn silky? She wondered if she should just ask him what shampoo he used. She thought about that, 'Hey there mister who looks like he could snap my head off, mind teeling what shampoo you use that makes your hair so silky it's considered gay?' She sighed and shook her head, nudging Kagome, hinting her to introduce them. Kagome sniffed and smiled brightly.

"Sou-Kun, Hana-Chan, Sesshoumaru-San, this is Tsuki Utau, an old friend of mine." As if realising something, the woman-turned-demon looked at her friend with wide eyes. "Who died 18 years ago."

Now THAT left a very loud silence in its wake.

The girl chuckled nervously and fiddled with her pin. "Ah... you and your family aren't the only anomalies to the rules of death." The way she said it made it sound like a question, as if she was wondering if that was a good enough answer.

It wasn't.

Tsuki took off her boots and settled on the tatami mat by the low table. Kagome sat next to her and Inuyahsa came inside with Onikusu and sat across from her. Onikusu sat on her lap while the girls were on each side of her. Onikusu looked particularly happy as she rubbed his black puppy ears that she had somehow coaxed out of his black hair. The others followed suite, sitting around the table, eager to hear her tale. She sighed as she prepared to tell her story, and it didn't go unnoticed to Sou or Sesshoumaru that her eyes lingered hungrily on the shrimp.

"I did die 18 years ago, but something went wrong when I was being reborn, as it does each time. The hammer's stroke does not affect me, and thus I keep my memories of each life. Because of that, I can chose when to be reborn and where. I have kept my memories for about 72 lifetimes." She reached out to take a cup of green tea that Kagome offered her. "I knew about Kagome and Inuyasha, and I thought that, finally, for once, I could have friends who won't die and forget me, so I sought you out as soon as I could." Here she smiled at Kagome and her eyes were warm and soft once more.

Sesshoumaru and Sou folded their hands into their sleeves and looked at each other in unison. An interesting tale indeed, and hardly believable. However, they were not ones to talk, seeing as they were a family of demons disguised as humans. Sesshoumaru flicked his hand into the air, his barely concealed claws clicking slightly. "You know Kagome and Inuyahsa, I do not know you."

Tsuki turned her liquid eyes on the Taiyoukai, noting that this was the first time she had heard him talk. His voice was deep and rich, and his words were slow and calm. Not at all like the usual chittering of the Japanese race. She decided how best to answer him.

"You do not know me, but I know you have felt me before. I made it a point to avoid you, especially when I didn't know that Kagome and Inuyasha were youkai."

"You knew I was youkai." He narrowed his eyes and wondered if he had slipped up in the past.

"I did not know that you were youkai. I only knew that you would be sharp, and perhaps a liability to me. Unfortunately I only found out about the Shiruba Inus when my life cycle had come to an end. I promised Kagome I would seek her out in my next life cycle, and so here I am."

"You know that I sensed your aura. How?" This girl was proving to be interesting.

"I was close enough to see the way you tensed, and once you jumped onto the roof to scan."

"Hn."

Kagome and Hana looked at each other. Sesshoumaru was not known to talk so much unless he was insulting Inuyasha. Maybe Tsuki would be a good change for him. Meanwhile, Sou and Inuyasha were on the same line of thought. Inuyasha had caught his older half brother narrowing his eyes and the slight movement of his hand on the table that signified his irritation. This human girl had slipped out from under his nose, and he none the wiser.

Sesshoumaru felt the slight shift in the atmosphere around him and eyed his half brother and sister-in-law warily as they shared a look that told him they were agreeing on something. He had always wondered if marriage between youkai gave the couple a telepathic bond, because all they had to do to agree on something was lift a brow and smile or scowl and there was their whole conversation.

How droll.

Sou noticed that the girl was now eyeing the shrimp tempura with a longing in her eyes and he chuckled. He reached out and grabbed one, leaned over the table and smiled disarmingly at her. "Say 'aahh'!" He moved as if to place the shrimp in her mouth. Without warning Hana slapped him and Sesshoumaru snatched the shrimp away with his chopsticks, placing the 'defiled' piece on his own plate, then quickly grabbed hers and covered it with shrimp and sweet potato tempura. He gently placed the plate infront of her and closed his eyes, ignoring her warm smile and thanks, as well as the dubious stare he received from Inuyasha.

He was wondering if he should have beheaded the man after all. Yes, society would not condemn him for ridding the world of such a lecherous man. He was contemplating the many different ways he could kill the human when Tsuki's words registered in his mind.

"I kind of need a place to stay."

Kagome looked at Inuyasha and they had another one of their 'married moments'. Kagome smiled sadly. "The triplets take up all the room we have here."

"I would let you stay with me but..." Hana looked guiltily at Sou.

"But I'm taking up room in her apartment." Sou smiled cheerfully as he added that, earning him a quick nock on the head.

All eyes turned expectantly on Sesshoumaru. Only one thought went through his mind.

Hn... so I was set up.

A/N So second chapter! Kinda short and not too good, but I'll make it up I promise. By the way, when Tsuki chan mentions the "Hammer's stroke" she's talking about the legend of the hammer of forgetfulness you have to get hit with befre you are reborn. Review!!!!