Chapter 8:The Man With the Silver Hair

"Ow," I said as I turned and shifted under the sheets. Nina had struck me pretty good; my arm was scared from her vicious attack.

I opened my eyes as the sun shone throughout the house; I rubbed a hand to my eyes and pulled the sheets off my body.

"Its morning," I said covering a hand over my eyes. I pulled my kimono's sleeves through my arms and wobbled to my feet.

"Woah," My arm was still throbbing. "Why did Nina attack me," I thought to myself. I heard dad's voice outside. I shifted over to the back door and peered out. He was with Inuko and Nina, making them do more hard labour. Today is the last day of their punishment, well for Nina it was… Inuko still had a week. I think I'll talk to father later and see if he'll let Inuko off the hook.

"Hey, come on now, why the hell do I have to do… laundry, YUCK!" Nina shouted angrily.

"Because after your behaviour last night, I'll be sure to talk to your mother about it, you nearly killed Kikyko, so…." InuYasha crossed his arms, "… laundry, and you both have to make lunch for everyone." He added.

Nina rolled her eyes and pulled a white sheet over the rope. "Shut up Nina and stop arguing," Inuko hissed, he had dusting duty. He had a white clothe over his ears and his sleeves pulled up, and a large duster in his hands. I covered my mouth and tried not to laugh. He looked so cute like that.

I shifted away from the door and decided to go outside for some fresh air.

"Mmmmh, I need to get out of this house for a while," I said to myself. I closed my eyes took a deep breath and took a step towards the front door.

"AHHH, OUCH!" I shouted, I slammed right in to a man, and fell to the ground.

"I'm so sorry young lady," he said reaching his hand out to me. "Here let me help you," he added. I looked at him, and my cheeks turned a rosy pink. He was so beautiful, he looked almost like Uncle Sesshomaru, but his hair was longer, and pulled back in to a ribbon. He wore a white and blue checkered kimono, with armor over his chest. It looked almost like Sesshomaru's attire.

I reached my hands up to him. "My my, you are sure a lovely lady," he said pulling me up from the ground. I didn't know what to say to him, I stood motionless, like an idiot just looking at him. He was so young, he couldn't have been a normal man…. He had to have been a demon.

"Uhhh…" I managed to mutter.

He smiled and bowed down. "Ah, forgive me miss, my name is Nakamaru, Lord of the Eastern lands," he added placing a hand to his chest. I had forgotten how to bow, and awkwardly bent my head down to him.

"I'm Kiki-…." I was just about to finish my words when Inuko shouted at me. "Hey, what are you doing Kiki?" He came through the back door with folded clothes in his arms.

"Oh," he added looking over at the man in our doorway. "Hi there," Inuko said placing the clothes down in a basket, he took the bandana off his ears and came over to the man.

"Well hello, please forgive my intrusion, but is this the home of Lord InuYasha?" he asked, I was mesmerized by how humble and articulate he was. I was still blushing, when Inuko's eyes wandered to me. He pulled me by the arm around him. Surely this man wasn't going to hurt me, Inuko always thought otherwise.

"Yeah, it is…" Inuko added welcoming the man in. Nina and InuYasha had walked through the back door, still arguing, until Nina's eyes wandered to the man sitting in our home.

"Woah," she thought to herself, her face also went a rosy pink. I sat down next to Inuko without words and tried not to meet the man's gaze.

"Uh, who are you?" InuYasha said pointing to the man.

"Aye, forgive my intrusion Lord InuYasha, but I am Nakamaru from the Eastern lands," He introduced himself.

"I see, so what brings you here?" Father asked, crossing his arms over his sword, like he usually does.

"Does the priestess live in this home as well," the man asked looking around for anything that would signify a priestess lived in the house.

"Yes, Kagome my wife," father said, "She's out in the village with a few friends of ours, some village children are ill, she is helping them," he added.

"I see, I seek for her aid with some medicinal remedies, I require some junberry and the herb suki as well. I will pay a hefty price for them," said the man placing a bag of money on the floor between us.

"Ah, well thank you, but my wife will be late tonight, you are more than welcomed to stay until she comes back," father said, he didn't seem suspicious of the man or sensed anything evil about him.

Father usually never trusted anyone, but I guess he didn't feel anything bad from this man. I shifted my eyes to Nakamaru. He looked at me and smiled. I looked away blushing.

Inuko looked at me then eyed father down precariously.

"Father can I talk to you please," Inuko said standing, father did the same and followed him outside.

"What's the problem now Inuko?" Father asked sternly.

"I don't like the way he looks at Kikyko, and I think…. She likes him," Inuko said crossing his arms.

"I don't feel anything bad from this man and besides Kikyko is too young to be thinking about any of that right now, just keep an eye on her that's all…" InuYasha said placing a hand to Inuko's shoulder.

InuYasha passed him and went back inside. Both Nina and I were admiring the man's features. He looked over at me, and noticed the blood on my kimono.

"My dear, are you bleeding?" he asked placing a hand over my blood covered kimono. Father came to my side and sat down. He placed a hand against my arm, but before he could pull me close to him, the man's hand glowed against my arm.

Both Nina and I were in shock, "There your arm is healed," he said tapping his hand to my kimono.

"What?" Father said cautiously. Inuko came behind me and pulled my kimono down; my sleeve fell off my arm. "It's gone, the wound is healed," Inuko said, he looked over at the man with extreme caution in his eyes.

"How did you do that, are you a sorcerer," Nina asked curiously.

"No, I am a healer, and possess the power of the Eastern lands" the man said. Father's arm dropped mine.

"Nina, stay with Kikyko the night," Father said looking at Nina. Nina couldn't say anything but nod. "Sure," she said almost a half whisper.

"Sesshomaru will be by tomorrow for you," father said looking at her. Nina sighed when she realized she was leaving tomorrow… I wondered why she was not her usual spiteful self.

"Do you mean Lord Sesshomaru of the Western Lands?" the man said.

"Yes, do you know him?" Inuko asked sitting next to father.

"Aye, he is one of my enemies, he destroyed my entire army and all the people of my court, I am a noble lord and I do not like battles… but I was forced to defend my lands," the man said. Nina and I both looked at him with awe. This man, was a noble man? And Sesshomaru was his enemy? I really hope they don't encounter each other.

"Sounds like him," Father said, "He's ruthless and destructive, he's not afraid to destroy anything or anyone around him, but he's changed now… a lot actually," father added.

"I see, this was many many years ago, I have not seen Sesshomaru since," the man said looking over at me. Father's eyes followed his gaze.

"I see," was all father said to him.

I blushed again and turned my eyes to Inuko. I could tell Inuko was agitated with this man; he kept tapping his fingers against the floor. Nina scowled at Inuko, he definitely was annoying me.

It was then when I heard mother's voice outside; she was talking to Sango, as she went on her way with her daughters.

"Oh?" Mother said, as she entered our home.

"Kagome," Father said with a smile. I looked at her, and smiled.

"Welcome home mother," I said. I got up and came to my mother's side to take the basket from her arms.

"No Kikyko, don't touch the basket," she told me holding a hand up to me. "Please let me take it from you," I said to her. She shifted the basket away from me.

"You are allergic to the suki plant remember, I can't let you touch the basket," mother reminded me.

"Oh, right..." I said stepping aside. Mother put the basket down next to her bow and arrows and sat down next to father.

I sat back down behind Inuko and Next to Nina.

"Oh I see, well of course, I can make you some junberry and suki, yes…" Mother said attentively as the man spoke of his request.

"It will take a full day however, the plants need to boil over night and they will be ready by morning," mother said looking at her basket.

"Thank you," the man said standing to his feet. "I will not disturb your work then, I shall spend the night outside," the man said. "No, it's alright your more than welcomed to stay here," mother said, father nodded at her. Inuko seemed angry by this; I placed a hand to his shoulder.

"I'm sure its harmless," I said smiling at him. Inuko hissed at me.

"It's not you I'm worried about, its him," he whispered at me.

"InuYasha, Inuko… I need to work outside, Kikyko won't be able to smell the suki plant," mother said. Inuko grumbled under his breath and stood to his feet, he took mothers basket out the back door.

Father and the gentleman followed behind him.

"Stay inside okay, Nina you stay with her," mother said disappearing through the back door.

I sighed deeply.

"Wow, what a gorgeous man," Nina was blushing a bright red.

"Huh? What?" I said to her, she's never said anything like that before.

"Yeah, he is gorgeous," I answered.

"He's a demon, and a man, couldn't you tell?" she asked looking at me.

"A demon and a man? Like Uncle Sesshomaru?" I asked her curiously.

"Yes, well of course you wouldn't smell his scent, but…. He is a demon and a man," she said again.

I covered my arms over my stomach and laughed loudly. She hissed and scowled at me. "What's so funny?" she protested angrily.

"The fact… that you're capable of liking someone," I said laughing.

"What I am a girl you know, I do…. Never mind," she hissed and crossed her arms looking away from me. I couldn't stop laughing at her for some reason. I saw a smirk touch her lips.

"He's mine," she taunted jumping to her feet. "Hey not fair, I can't go outside," I shouted at her as she darted out the door.

"Nina….." I shouted to her. I sighed and sat down near the door. The afternoon went by quickly, it took four hours for my mom to prep, clean, cut and boil the leaves and berries. They had to boil over night properly for the remedies to be formed in to a paste.

I had leaned against the door and fallen asleep. I woke up in the middle of the night shivering. "It's so cold," I said to myself in almost a whisper. Father had slept sitting near mother to one side of the room. Inuko and Nina slept near me.

The man however, was nowhere to be seen. I looked around for any sight of him, I pulled my kimono over my shoulders, I stood to my feet and reached for a white sheet from the basket.

I slide my shoes on and quietly shifted my feet to the front door. My eyes widened and I covered a hand to my mouth, I was in utter shock and disbelief. Nina was right; this man… was a demon. He was a large wolf demon, similar to Sesshomaru when he changed into a dog demon, but he wasn't as big. He was white, and had beautiful long hair. I gasped in disbelief.

He looked over at me; he almost looked like he was smiling. I stumbled backwards and fell to the floor. "W-what is he…" I said to myself.

"You better get back to bed,"

I jumped to my feet startled. Inuko threw his red haori around my shoulders.

"I'm sorry," I whispered at him. "You're shivering," he said placing an arm around my shoulders. He pulled me back to the sheets. I was so cold; I thought my mind was playing tricks on me. I wasn't sure if the wolf demon I saw was real or not, I shifted under the sheets so that I was looking at the door as the wind blew. I kept seeing the white fur of the demon blow against the wind.

"Wow," I mumbled to myself and closed my eyes.

"Kiki," someone was shaking me. I mumbled and turned around. "Kiki honey," mom's voice woke me. "Whhaatt.." I muttered. "Honey we are going to the village, there has been some demon's who got loose in the village, Sango and Miroku are there helping, all of us are going… you'll stay with Nina and Inuko," she said looking at me. She tapped a hand to my cheek.

"Okkayy…" I said pulling the sheets over me.

"Don't touch the remedies they are almost done, so don't touch them okay…" she said as she disappeared with father and the man out the door.

"Ah,wait…" I sat up quickly. I wasn't sure if the wolf I saw yesterday was real or not. I threw the sheets off me and Inuko's haori, and ran to the door. I had to see for myself if the man was a man, or a demon.

The man smiled at me and walked with father following behind mother. I blushed. He was definitely a man, no way was he a demon.

"HEY… WHAT THE HELL," I heard Nina's voice bellow. "Throw your stuff on someone else," she hissed throwing the blanket and haori to the side.

"Aaah, sorry Nina," I said picking up Inuko's haori from the ground.

"Hey don't get my clothes dirty," he took the haori from my arms.

"How can you stand her smell," Nina said covering a hand to her mouth. "Seriously her smell is stronger today," she hissed under her breath.

"Hey nothing is wrong with my smell," I shouted at her angrily. Inuko sniffed the air. "Nothing is wrong with Kiki," He said picking up the sheets.

"Help me clean up," He looked over at Nina. "Teh, anything is better then sitting in the same room as her, are you seriously telling me you can't smell her scent stronger today," She said picking up her sheets.

"Nina, really Kikyko smells fine," he said folding his sheets.

"THE GIRL IS IN HEAT COULDN'T YOU TELL," she shouted angrily. I blushed and looked away; I was so embarrassed she actually said that.

"WHAT THE HELL Nina, that's my sister you're talking about," Inuko shook a fist at her and was fuming angry.

"Ugh, disgusting humans and their stupid emotions," she threw her hands in to the air and threw her sheets at me.

"Hey," I shouted at her throwing them back.

"Your scent is everywhere, what the hell is wrong with you," Nina stepped towards me, and threw her sheets at me again.

"I'm not in heat… or whatever," I was very embarrassed she could even think that.

"Okay ENOUGH!" Inuko said coming between us. "My sister is way to young to fall in love with anyone, she's only sixteen, she's not old enough yet…." Inuko said nervously. I knew he hated talking about stuff like this. Heck he hasn't even properly told Haku he loved her, she's said it, but the jerk hasn't said it back.

"Right… I'm too young huh? Your one to talk, you haven't even told your own girlfriend you…" he placed his hand over my mouth shutting me up.

"What… you are both idiots… you both disgust me," Nina hissed angrily, taking all her sheets out the back door.

"INUKO…" I shouted at him, I pulled his hand off my mouth. "Shhh… don't talk about that," he whispered at me. "Jerk," I said to him. I bent down and picked up my sheets and followed Nina outside.

Inuko followed behind us with his sheets.

"Why are you out here…" Nina hissed again. "Isn't Sesshomaru supposed to pick you up by now?" I taunted eyeing her down from the corner of my eye.

"Yeah but he'll probably be by later," Nina mumbled again, she stepped to the side away from me.

"Seriously Nina, nothing is wrong with my smell," I shouted at her.

"Yeah right and last night you were all 'uhhh he's so dreamy' eyed over the Lord," Nina protested folding her sheet over the rope. "Are you kidding me, you should've seen yourself, you were literally drooling over him," I threw in, just to piss her off.

Inuko rolled his eyes and went over to the other side of us. He pulled down the clothes from the other lines.

"Excuse me?" Nina turned to me, her body was rigid, she knocked over one of the pots mom was boiling herbs in.

"Oops," she said looking at the water seep from the pot. I looked down at the herb, "…. Nina, what… have you," before I could finish my words, I fell to the ground coughing.

"Kikyko…." Inuko ran to me and picked me up.

"Ah, uhhh… I'm sorry," Nina said picking up the pot and carefully slide the herbs in to it. She pushed the pot to the side.

"Let's get her inside," Inuko picked me up in his arms and ran into the house. "Will she be okay," Nina said nervously.

"She'll be okay, as long as she doesn't inhale the scent of the suki," He said he placed me carefully against a basket full of clothes. "Watch her, I need to make her an antidote," he said scrimmaging through mother's basket.

"I'm sorry," Nina said to me she sat in front of me cross legged looking at the ground. I coughed covering a hand to my mouth.

"RANCID," Nina shouted after a moment it startled me.

"What the hell are you making, it smells like raw meat and fish, with raw vegetables," Nina shouted at Inuko, who was boiling all the ingredients in a pot.

"Yup, it's something that will counter attack the suki," Inuko said breaking a carrot in half and throwing it into the pot. Nina slide over him and took another wiff.

"Are you kidding me, she didn't eat the suki she only smelt it," Nina covered a hand to her mouth.

"Yeah, smelling it and even eating it could kill her, she's severely allergic to it," Inuko said. He looked over at me, but I had passed out already.

"Aaahh, KIKI…"

"Ah, hey…" Nina crawled to me quickly and tapped a hand to my cheek trying to wake me up. Inuko poured some of the mixture into a bowl.

"Hold her up," Inuko said. Nina placed a hand to my back and held me up. I opened my eyes and looked at the bowl in Iuko's hand.

"It smells bad," I told him.

"Please drink it," he said holding the bowl to my mouth. I took a sip and cringed.

"DISGUSTING," I covered a hand to my mouth and swallowed.

"It'll help," He said.

I took another large sip and swallowed it quickly. It burned going down, but I already felt the suki smell leave my lungs.

"Whew, that was a close one," Inuko said taking in a deep sigh of relief. I took one more sip out of the bowl and placed it on the floor.

"This is so gross," I muttered trying not to throw up.

"Eh yeah the smell is bothering me too," Nina said covering her mouth.

I looked at Nina angrily. "Your so stupid," I told her, I had felt better but I was angry she even kicked the pot in the first place. "Are you trying to kill me," I hissed at her.

"Really?" Inuko said eyeing us down.

"You nearly died stupid and your arguing with me over accidently knocking the pot," she hissed again.

"Nina," a voice erupted from outside silencing our arguing.

I smiled, and staggered to my feet. Inuko held his hands against me helping me up. I hadn't seen Uncle Sesshomaru in a while, well it felt like a while, I was excited when I heard his voice.

"Sesshomaru," Nina said running to the door. Sesshomaru was waiting outside.

"Uncle Sesshomaru," I shouted at him. He hated when we called him Uncle, he never considered us his family anyway so he hated that title. He looked at me then back at Nina.

"Can you stay a little longer?" I asked him. Nina lifted an eyebrow at me.

"Hm, that scent," he said looking behind him. The voices of father, mother and the Lord were echoing, as they made it up the path in view of our home.

"Welcome home," I said with a beaming smile. I was just about to run to them, when Inuko's hand grabbed me and pulled me back. I looked at him, it's like he knew something was going to happen.