Sesshomaru didn't know how much time had passed since he last saw Akiko – or any other human for that matter – but he figured it'd been a long enough span for them to make amends. He hoped.

An autumn gale delivered him to the fringes of Akiko's village by sunset. Somehow, though, the area seemed different, more…desolate.

Whatever. Sesshomaru shrugged off the unease. Now we can set things straight, and maybe still be friends.

"Akiko!" Sesshomaru called. He walked into the fields where some young girls still worked. "Have any of you seen Akiko?"

The children stared at him. "You sure you got the right village?"

"Yes, this is where Akiko lives. I remember perfectly."

"Well," piped another, "I guess I could get her for you." The girl took a deep breath. "MOM! Hey, MOOOM!"

Mom?!

"Some weirdo's out here t' see ya! Sez he 'members you or somethin'!"

An older woman in her forties stormed out of the hut. "Masae! What have I told you about shou—" Akiko froze in mid-sentence with her mouth still agape.

"So do you know him?"

"Masae," Akiko swallowed. "Take your sisters inside and stay there."

"Aw, but—"

"DO IT!"

When her children were in the house, Akiko turned back to the unexpected guest. "What are you doing here?"

Sesshomaru blinked. "I came to say hi, but what happened to you? How'd you get so…?"

"I'm human, Sesshomaru! It's what happens to us! We age!"

The daiyokai backed away, he hadn't anticipated such an outburst. Or change.

"Akiko," he began, "I'm sorry…I didn't realize…"

She inhaled. Staring at Sesshomaru she appeared completely in control once more.

Geez, humans were weird!

Akiko's gaze weighed on him, he'd barely aged since the day she met him. "Yes, Sesshomaru, I'm sorry for overreacting when I last saw you, and maybe for right now." She sighed. "Look, you'd better go."

"What for?"

Akiko's face flushed again. "It's not like the old days any more. Lately, we've had no shortage of bandits or demons, it's probably from trading with the Mainland, but I know the others might see you as a threat."

Sesshomaru was about to defy her again for the heck of it when a voice yelled, "Akiko! Who's that?"

"It looks like a demon!" shouted another.

"Sesshomaru, GO!" Akiko shoved him the final yards out of the village bounds.

He spun around. "Wait, I wanted to tell you –"

"There he be!"

Sesshomaru felt a tap on his right leg. He glanced with just enough time to see the firestick's fuse blow.

He yelped piteously as the shrapnel dug into his leg and sent him careering into the dirt.

"Sesshomaru!"

"Move, woman! We've got him!"

Sesshomaru staggered to his feet and dashed between the trees.

"Don't celebrate, idiots! The damn yokai's escapin'!"

"After him!"

Torches were lit, horses mounted, Sesshomaru was running – the hunt was on.