Sorry for the late update! :D It was holidays and I had zero time to write, but I'm back. Enjoy the update 3

"I don't trust her." Inuyasha leaned against the wall of Kaede's hut, crossing his arms sternly.

"You don't think she's a half demon?" Kagome stirred the vegetable mixture in the earthenware pot. The two of them were on dinner duty for the group, which meant Kagome cooked and Inuyasha watched.

"I do, I do think she's half… I can smell it on her now, I don't know how I missed it before." He turned his head, "But I don't believe she has no memory. I don't trust her, Kagome."

"Why? It's not the most extraordinary thing we've seen, what makes it so hard to believe?"

"The jewel shard."

"Is that all you can focus on?"

"Shut up." His lip curled, "I don't trust her near you, Kagome."

She sent him a warning glare, "I can take care of myself."

"Like hell."

She chose to ignore his muttered comment, "If she's here to hurt us, why hasn't she? She's had all day." He didn't respond, she sighed. "I understand you're nervous, Inuyasha. We know nothing about her… But if we were cautious of everyone with ties to it we wouldn't have our friends, would we?"

"Keh. Whatever."

"Besides, she's spent the majority of the day away from us. Seems like she doesn't want to be near us anyways." Kagome filled a bowl with the steaming stew. "She's been in the forest all day, why don't you go talk to her yourself? And bring her this, while you're at it. Her fever only just broke, she has to stay healthy."

She smiled and extended the bowl towards him. Damn Kagome, too trusting. As usual. Even with those thoughts threatening to become words, he snatched the bowl from her.

He stalked off towards the woods, named aptly after him. He could smell her, her scent was similar to honey and earth. She hadn't strayed far, but remained out of sight all day after her revelation. She had sprinted into the woods, leaving the rest of them staring at one another stupidly. They had decided to let her run, to give her time, and as long as she stayed in claw's reach Inuyasha could concede to part with the jewel shard for a day.

He found her in the clearing next to his tree, the one where he had been pinned to for fifty years before Kagome released him. She was panting, on the floor, the sharp smell of sweat stinging his nose. He put the bowl on the ground, standing his ground. "Kagome wants you to eat."

"No." She stood and flipped her head away from him, her cheeks pink and her breath coming in hard gasps. "No eating."

"Look, I don't give a shit if you live or die." But Kagome made this for you. "But I was told to make you eat, so I'll be damned if I leave without doing it."

She sent him a glare, the longer she remained awake the more willful she became. It was as if a personality was slowly filling her body, her eyes less and less empty. "I don't want it."

"You're going to eat it. Deal with it." His voice came out as a growl, he was moments away from wrenching her jaw open and pouring the entire bowl down her throat. "Besides, you can't figure anything out about yourself unless you get stronger."

Her voice hitched, "I know that." She didn't calm her piercing glare, but she stalked towards the bowl, grabbing it and returning to her previous position stubbornly. She stared down into the broth as if it held answers, looking between the boiled roots to see if her past lay in the pheasant stock.

He turned to leave, but she interrupted him. "What am I?"

"Why the fuck would I know?" His voice was grating, she winced as if his words rubbed against her skin. He turned back to look at her. "You really know nothing?"

"I wish I did. I'm not even sure of my name." The sun was setting and the forest was growing dark, the moon rising to take the place of its partner. "I've spent hours trying to see if I have any power at all, but I can't do anything. I feel as if I'm empty, as if I should be dead." She paused, taking a small sip of the soup. "Maybe I am dead."

Inuyasha's ears twitched, his head cocking to the side. "I don't smell it on you."

"My hands smell of earth, I can't get rid of the scent. I don't smell like blood and flesh, I smell like dirt and honey." She grimaced, "And this goddamned shard pulses in my head, I won't be able to remember a thing if I continue like this."

"I'll take the jewel off you, no charge." His voice was laced with sarcasm, but he took a step towards her nonetheless.

"It's yours. I don't want it."

Perhaps it was her lack of desire for the jewel that kept it pure, the demonic aura around her was only faint and not threatening.

"Perfect."

"But- before you take it, I want you to do me a favor." She took a step back, keeping the distance between them the same. "I want you to take me to where you found me. Then I'll give it to you."

"Done."

Her ears pricked at his answer, surprised. "Really?"

"Yeah. We'll go tomorrow."

"O-Ok." She took a moment to steady herself, to keep her face blank. "Tomorrow morning."

He waited for her, turning halfway as if to invite her to walk back with him. She ran towards him, stumbling, she was like a deer learning to walk on its gangly legs. Inuyasha rolled his eyes, the girl was hopeless. When she relinquished her jewel shard she would be powerless, even more-so than she already appeared to be. At least she won't be a target anymore.

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