I do not own Inuyasha

Ch. 2

Kohaku was still running. Running through woods and it was getting dark. Freedom had a bittersweet taste when you had on thin clothing that was still wet from the river and it was getting cold.

Kohaku had to keep going to keep his limbs from freezing. "Keep on moving Kohaku, keep on moving," he said to himself.

aawwwoooooooooo

"Wolves," he said, stopping.

aawwwoooooooooo

"Oh please no wolves. I can do without wolves. Keep going," and so he did, picking up his pace as he did.

So he kept running. For several days. How you say? Perseverance. The will to live. Not wanting to get caught. That sort of thing. Of course for food, whenever he saw a farm, he stole from their food stores. Thank the Lord God that he was nice enough to leave a coin from the purse he stole and gave it to those farmers he stole from.

Once day about midmorning he came across another farm. They had their clothing out to dry. So as a distraction he set loose the sheep that they kept in a pen. With the farmer busy, Kohaku once again stole, this time clothing so he could keep warm and boots because he had no shoes.

He went some distance away and put on the nice thick wool clothing. Aww, even the boots are lined with wool, he thought in ecstasy as he slid them on, instantly warming his cold feet.

Then he was on his way again, moving at a better pace than before. Soon the woods began to thin and it became more open. Kohaku was feeling more confident that he was far enough away from that dreaded prison that he found a nearby tavern.

A nice hot beverage was definitely needed. Going in he went straight to the bar. "Hello good man. I would like some of your best please," he said to the man behind the bar. "Do you have money?" the bartender asked a little suspiciously. Kohaku proudly took out the stolen purse and made it jingle. The bartender grunted and turned around and poured the young man some of his best made honey mead.

Kohaku place a couple coins on the counter before taking his drink. He took a swig. Aww, that hit the spot. Then he turned around to look about the room. He took another swig.

There were several people about the room, all in cloaks and hoods. "So what brings you to these parts," a complete stranger said to his left. Kohaku looked at the stranger, and like everyone else he was cloaked and hooded. "Well funny you should ask sir. It is rather a strange and long tale," Kohaku said. "I've got time," said the stranger. Kohaku figured it wouldn't hurt to tell his tale since he was days away from Aquila.

"Well first picture a man who was taken prisoner and sent to an inescapable prison. Mind, it wasn't easy but this man managed to do it by slithering through the grime and muck of their sewers," Kohaku continued, taking another drink.

"That is quite a feat there, Kohaku Mausu," the stranger said letting his hood fall. Kohaku paused mid drink and looked at the stranger and recognized the captain of the guard. Kohaku gulped audibly. He bolted.

"Guards!"

There were five clustered around a table next to the exit. They immediately jumped up and blocked his way out by grabbing him by his upper arms. Kohaku struggled to loosen their grips, but they were nice and tight like vices.

"Now the king himself ordered me to bring you in alive…," said the captain, leaving his sentence hanging, "so he can kill you himself." Kohaku started to shake, but with a last bit of courage he could muster he said, "Well unfortunately for you I have to decline." The captain quirked his eyebrow just as Kohaku lifted himself with the help of the unsuspecting soldiers and kicked the captain right in the nose, officially breaking it.

The soldiers holding Kohaku were so shocked that they loosened their hold just enough for Kohaku to wrench himself free. After that it became complete mayhem. Kohaku tried to escape with his life. He ran under and over tables, tried to use the bar as an escape. It was no use.

What everyone failed to realize was the new stranger that had arrived, watching the whole scene unfold. The stranger quietly unsheathed his sword and hid it underneath his cloak, just as the soldiers managed to catch Kohaku and punch him in the stomach for good measure.

Kohaku was spluttering a little from the punch, but once he regained his composure he looked and saw a bloody nosed captain. He looked pissed.

"Now you are going to pay for that," he said taking out his sword, "with your life."

"I thought you said you had to take me back alive?!" Kohaku cried out. The captain huffed, raised his sword and brought it down.

Kohaku closed his eyes tight.

CLANG!

Kohaku reopened his eyes to see the captain's sword, but also someone else's sword preventing the captains from ending Kohaku's life. The man on the end of the sword was big, tall and broad. His hood was down and all he could see was long silver hair.

"Sesshomaru!" exclaimed the captain looking into gold eyes he had not seen in two years. "Captain Vouko," Sesshomaru said in return.

"Boy," Sesshomaru addressing Kohaku. "Y-y-yes?" Kohaku quietly. "Leave, now."

Kohaku didn't need telling twice, the soldiers holding him were no longer holding him. They were so shocked in seeing their former captain that they forgot about their current task. So without further ado, Kohaku ran full hilt out of the tavern and didn't look back.

"Why you son of a-" the captain was suddenly cut off by a punch in the jaw. Then more mayhem ensued. Guard after guard attacked him, but were easily dealt with. Sesshomaru had no problem taking care of them. Once done, he looked at all the knocked out guards and then ran out of the tavern, leaving the mess behind.

His horse was waiting patiently for him. Sesshomaru jumped on his back and started to ride in the direction Kohaku went. He quickly caught up to the thief.

Kohaku was running as fast as he could until he heard hooves pounding in the ground. He turned just enough to see the stranger coming right for him. Oh shit!

He sped up as fast as his legs could carry him, but before he knew it he felt himself being lifted up and laid down across the horn of the saddle. Greatly uncomfortable position.

It was a while before Sesshomaru decided to slow down and reposition Kohaku to sit in the back of him. Then Sesshomaru let out a sigh and lifted his right arm to the sky. Coming towards them was the most beautiful hawk he had ever seen. Once landing on his hand, the hawk "screamed" in welcome and with that Sesshomaru pushed his stead forward, hoping to find a place to stay before nightfall.

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It was almost dark by the time they came upon a small farm. They went to what looked like the main house and both men dismounted.

"Who's there? What do you want?" called a man who had just opened the front door of the house. Sesshomaru turned toward the voice and answered, "We are humble travelers and looking for a place to stay the night." "And we'd be happy to compensate you for the inconvenience," Kohaku said, jingling yet again the stolen purse.

"Barn," was all the farmer said before closing the door again.

"Warm welcome," Kohaku said nonchalantly. Sesshomaru walked past him, the hawk still on his hand. "Bring the horse," he said in passing.

"Yes captain," Kohaku said quietly. He looked toward the horse, who looked as formidable as it's owner. Kohaku grabbed the reigns and started to tug the horse towards the barn. The horse wouldn't budge. "Come on girl, let's go," Kohaku said trying to encourage the horse to move forward.

"His name is AhUn," Sesshomaru said from the entrance of the barn. He had placed his hawk inside and he had taken off his cloak. "Ah, well come on AhUn," Kohaku tried again and finally the horse started to move. Sesshomaru opened the door to the barn wider to accommodate his horse and silently closed it behind him. Kohaku led AhUn to an empty stall. Kohaku proceeded then to take off the saddle bags, but what he didn't expect was for them to be grabbed from behind.

Kohaku quickly turned around to see Sesshomaru staring right back at him with a hard stare, the saddle bags already over his shoulders. "Now you listen real good," Sesshomaru said low, catching Kohaku's whole attention. "First unsaddle my horse, brush, feed and water him. Next go out and gather fire wood. Tonight you will sleep with one eye open. I'm pretty sure more guards will be coming for you. Watch your back because I'm not going to. Understood?" Kohaku nodded his head in understanding and with that Sesshomaru left him and went to a separate room. Kohaku heard some rustling, a few screeches from the hawk and then silence.

So Kohaku did as Sesshomaru instructed. Quite reluctantly, but there was one phrase that kept passing through his mind all the while, What does this man that I have never met before in my life, want with me?

He'd probably not get his answer that night, so once he was done with AhUn, he went out in the twilight to gather fire wood. What he didn't notice was a streak of white darting from the barn to the woods that surrounded the small farm.

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It was taking Kohaku forever to collect fire wood. It was getting dark faster than he anticipated. Then a thought came to mind. Well more than one.

Why am I doing this? Why am I listening to him? He's not the boss of me!

Then finally fed up with all that had happened today, he threw down what he had collected, and turned to leave.

snap.

Hearing that made Kohaku pause. "Who's there?" Kohaku asked to the darkness. rustle…rustle…rustle. With that Kohaku high tailed it out of there and headed as fast as he could to the barn. He had a faint sense that whatever was out there was chasing him.

Huffing and puffing he made back to the farm, leaning against a corner of the barn. Suddenly a hand grabbed him from behind and when Kohaku turned he saw the face of the farmer, with an ax in his hand. Kohaku was preparing himself for the final blow, but out of the corner of his eyes he saw white. Both the men turned just in time to see a big white wolf racing towards them. Just as the wolf launched itself, Kohaku tugged himself free of the farmer, just in time to see the wolf latch onto his throat, ripping it out.

Kohaku ran back to the barn as fast as he could and shut the door. "Captain? Captain!" Kohaku cried out, but Sesshomaru was nowhere to be seen. At this point he was hyperventilating trying in vain to search for the former captain of the guard.

awwwoooooooo

In a split second decision Kohaku hurriedly looked for a weapon and found the captain's double crossbow. Grabbing it and an arrow, he found a crack in the wood, and loaded the weapon. He waited in anticipation for the wolf to come into sight.

Once he did though, the wolf was drenched in the farmer's blood, well not completely, but close enough. Kohaku got ready to shoot. Then a gentle hand grabbed his arm. "What-?" and then Kohaku was struck dumb.

What held his arm was a delicate hand. He followed that hand to the most beautiful woman he had ever seen in his short life. Most of her was hidden in the oversized cloak she was wearing, but anybody who was blind could tell that she was a beauty beyond compare.

Then she brought a finger to her lips, signaling him to be quiet.

awwwwwooooo

They both turned to the wolf making noise outside. Then the woman turned and started walking toward the entrance. Then finally coming out of his stupor, Kohaku realized what she was about to do when she went to unlatch the door to the barn.

Dropping the crossbow, Kohaku said, "Wait miss. Miss! There is a wolf out there. A big wolf. I just saw him devour that farmer with one lunge and-" The woman turned quickly and shushed him again. "I know," she simple said and stepped out of the barn.

What Kohaku saw next was nothing to what he was expecting. The woman stepped closer to the wolf and Kohaku expected the wolf to attack her outright, but both wolf and woman approached each other like old friends.

"Okay. I must not be seeing what I think I am seeing because if that is so I must be dreaming. Maybe I'm awake thinking I'm dreaming, dreaming that I'm awake, thinking I'm dreaming," Kohaku rambled on to himself.

"You are."

Kohaku barely heard her, but he understood what she said. He started to hyperventilate again. Turning he slammed the barn door, barred it, and went to the ladder that led to the loft. Once there he couldn't get over what he saw.

"I did not just see that happen. I did not just see that happen," he kept saying to himself. Taking one last look outside, he was just in time to see the woman and wolf disappear out of sight.

With that Kohaku finally had it and fainted.

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A/N And the winner goes to ChouRan! LadyHawke is the answer. I was kind of worried that nobody would guess right or even guess at all.

So ChouRan you get one of my digital homemade cookies complete with digital chocolate chips. Yay!

So here is the next chapter so you know what that means READ AND REVIEW!