A/N: Hey everyone! Thank you so much for the amazing reviews! They fuel me! I am officially on vacation for the summer, so I am hoping that will mean more updates! I will be trying my best :)

Na': Mother

Firangi

Chapter 29: Na'

"What is dis?"

"Do not touch those!"

Before Sesshomaru even had the chance to wrap his chubby, putty fingers around the plant, his mother slapped his hand away. Hatsu's eyes were wide opened, her amber orbs darting around as she wrapped her fingers around her son's wrist, attempting to access the damages. She turned it, flipped it, twisted it, but she saw no sign of a scratch or of a white ooze. Relief seemed to wash over her and she relaxed while she let go of his hand. She tilted her head forward, her bangs swiping to the side, covering the dark blue moon that she proudly wore on her forehead. All that was visible were the two magenta stripes that were painted on each of her cheeks.

"You must never touch these plants," she said as she pointed at the flower. It almost seemed inoffensive, green stems with white flowers blooming at the top. The thing that made it so deadly were the silver thorns that covered the plant.

"What is it?"

"Mala Mujer."

His eyes stared at it, despite his mother's warning, and he wondered how something so small could hurt him. He was stronger than a plant.

Hatsu seemed to understand her son's dilemma rather quickly and her expression of worry transformed into a smile. "It is poison. The thorns will turn your skin red with blisters and you see that?" she asked as she pointed at the white liquid oozing out of the flowers. Sesshomaru nodded, enthralled. "It is its sap. It will turn you blind."

"I am strong, mama."

Her smile grew and her eyes sparkled as she reached out for her son. She gently cupped his cheek with her hand, caressing his chubby cheeks with the tip of her thumb. "I know you are. But even you are not immune to its poison. Promise me you will not touch it."

He nodded. "I promise."

She leaned forward, her white hair fawning around her narrow face and she pressed her plucked red lips to his forehead, right beside his blue moon. "That is a good boy. Now, come, your father must be waiting for us."

Hatsu grabbed her hay basket from the luscious green grass and rose her feet. The brown fur around her waist was stained from the dirt but she simply brushed it off. She also rubbed away the stains that covered the black markings she had over the back of her hands. She extended her hand to Sesshomaru, her pink rounded sphere earring jingling as she did so. He wasted no time in slipping his small hand in his mother's. She began walking and he followed. However, while she stared ahead, he stared back at the flower.

Tiny things could not be dangerous. His Father thought him that he could not be afraid; you had to be wise but you could not let fear show. A good leader was never afraid. He was not over confident but he did not fear. If he did, his people would fear as well and then, chaos would follow. It was important that the people believed in him. He needed to be strong now so that they would know he was ready to lead them.

Sesshomaru knew he was strong. His mother told him so. However, he trusted her. When he hurt himself, his mother was by his side. During the cold nights, where darkness seemed like an enemy, she wrapped her arms around him and soothed him to sleep. Sometimes, his father would leave. His mother always stayed, she never lied.

He relished in the warmth her hand provided and squeezed tighter. His mother knew everything.

He wanted to be strong like his Father but…wise like her.

"Sesshomaru?"

The sound of his father's voice snapped Sesshomaru back into reality. He tore his eyes away from the small white plant that stood at his feet. It held his attention much like it had when he was a child. He had not seen it since that time with his mother. It was not close to the village, it was much further, deep into the trees where most of the herbs grew. Memories of his first mother were rare and far apart. Once she passed away and joined the gods, Izayoi replaced her and took over in a way that erased all memories of Hatsu. He never minded; it was the way it was done. Yet, he found himself clinging to the memory of her smile, her eyes and her shine.

She warned him about those.

He made a huge step, avoiding to step anywhere near the flower.

"I am fine, Father."

Inutaisho nodded, although he clearly remained uncertain about his son's ability to be in this fight. He had been trailing behind and a few moments ago, he had appeared lost in his thoughts. He might have agreed to rapidly to this. Perhaps the best course of action would have been to bring Inuyasha along and leave Sesshomaru behind. Both tasks were important; fighting and protecting. The problem was, he no longer knew which task his sons could perform the best. He was not even certain he was the warrior he once was. He lost his reason for fighting, he lost his heart - twice. He was fighting…for revenge. He was fighting to honor his Izayoi. It could not bring her back but it was all he could cling on to for the time being. His son were reckless and stubborn but - they did not need him as they used to in the past.

He turned his head and looked ahead, where Byakuya was, and removed his attention from his son. There was no communication between him and Byakuya - the man refused to be very talkative. Unfortunately that brought problems; yes perhaps they were more warriors than the last time an attack took place but they were not more prepared. If they did not come up with an attack and defensive plan, they would be just as lost as before. They had to communicate before they gave away their position. After all, the Nekos' location was completely unknown to them. It was most likely another trap and they could not afford to lose for a second time.

"Stop," Inutaisho said out loud, in a language only he and Byakuya understood.

Both men came to a halt which forced warriors from both sides to do the same as their leaders. Byakuya turned around, the forceful wind pushing his long hair into his face, hiding the glare he was giving Inutaisho. "Why?" he asked in a harsh tone.

"They trap us. We think."

"Plan?"

"Yes."

"What is plan?"

He did not know. It was what they needed to figure out together. Although it might be a difficult task considering that even though they could communicate, they were quite limited. When they first headed out, he felt confident, filled with rage, but now that the cloud covering his mind was dissipating, he was not as certain that all of this remained the best of plan. Perhaps they should have stayed back a bit longer and plan it out. Although they left warriors in the village, was it enough? Perhaps…perhaps it was time to turn back - for the first time.

"We go back."

"Back?" Byakuya exclaimed, the surprise in his voice more than obvious.

The silver inuyoukais were apparently supposed to be the strongest ones and yet, he went to turn his back on this fight and go back like cowards? They could not do that! They killed his daughter, they took from him. They finally had enough men power to take them down! The kamis approved of this merging for a reason and it certainly was not to give up. No, he refused to listen to that nonsense.

"We go."

"Back."

Byakuya's eyes narrowed. "No."

Inutaisho sighed; at least now it confirmed his suspicions that the man could not be a good leader. Inutaisho had more than one element affecting his judgement but even he knew it was best to walk away from this. They could not afford to make the same mistake again. He would not allow it; he lost too many men in this war.

"We have. No plan. Trap."

Byakuya sighed heavily as he stared around him. All that surrounded them was quietness, which he had to admit was fairly strange. There was the chirping of the birds, the wind blowing through the leaves and the sound of them breathing. No hint of their enemies' presence. It was rather suspicious. They were so close when Inuyasha brought back a girl - they should have found them by now. Unless Inutaisho was right; they were heading for a trap. Perhaps they were already in it and it was too late to go back, to late turn around and save themselves. A tremble shook his body and he closed his eyes, trying to listen to the forest, to the hints it might give away.

But, it remained silent. If he agreed to Inutaisho's plan, if he went against what he originally wanted, he would be showing everyone that Inutaisho was superior to him. His plan to take over the tribe still stood. His daughter might have refused to help him but he did not need her help to accomplish his goal. Also, there was clearly something going on behind his back; he might not have asked but he was not fooled by Sesshomaru's re-grown arm. Something did this and he wanted to know why. The only problem was, provoking Inutaisho while they might be in the middle of a war was not an excellent idea. He had to keep his rage in check.

Although did he want to pay the price of giving in? Did he want to display even more weakness than he already had?

"We go back," he finally conceded.

Inutaisho let a smile formed on his lips, a hint of fang showing.

Revenge would have to wait another day.

-F-

"Inuyasha! That is dangerous! You must never go there by yourself."

"Sess'maru goes!"

"Your brother is older."

Izayoi raised a hand and ruffled the top of his hair. "He is older. He can defend himself." He should not go either…but despite how many times she attempted to stop him, he went anyway. Sesshomaru was a good boy but he had a problem with rules and restrictions. He always seemed to think he knew what was best. She supposed it was a quality that transcended the kamis and came from his first mother, her sister. Sometimes, she did not have it in her heart to yell at him. He saw her death with his own eyes and the ghost of death was not one easily forgotten.

Sesshomaru was her own, her flesh and blood, but on some days, she felt like he never belonged to her.

"Not fair," Inuyasha whined while he crossed his arms in front of his chest, the pout on his face very obvious.

His older brother got to do many more things than him. Sometimes he took him along - and he was the only one who did that - but there were a few places were Inuyasha was not allowed to go. And Sesshomaru went regardless of that fact! He was strong too! He was a warrior, he could defend himself. He was sure that he could win in a fight against his brother. He should be allowed to go and train away in the forest past the river as well.

Nobody trusted him.

Izayoi's expression saddened as she watched her son's amber eyes fill with tears. Although he did not allow a single one of them to fall, the sadness shook his body like an earthquake and it broke her heart. She had no intention of making him miserable; she simply wanted to keep him safe. "You could come with me," she proposed.

Immediately, she seemed to gain his attention as his ears perked up. The corner of his mouth twitched but he never fully turned his head. Instead he kept staring away from her, his chubby fingers tingling. "Go where?"

"I have to go outside the village and gather some special herbs. There is a cave, far from here. We could go together."

The path there was safe. She usually went alone, dwelling into the foliage, hiding herself from prying eyes. It was not far but it was rather difficult to locate. The different plants did wonder to mask auras and some of the most powerful remedies could be found there. It was a special place her mother shared with her and her alone. Not even Hatsu knew of it. Now, Izayoi would be able to share it with Inuyasha and Inuyasha alone.

"That's not for a war-ior."

Perhaps he was right; herbs were not exactly the most exciting thing but… "You can kill someone with the right plant."

And that did it.

Inuyasha completely turned around, his arms dropping by his sides. "You can?"

She chortled, the sound rumbling from her chest. "Of course! It can be a weapon. Maybe if you learn enough, you could accompany your brother one day."

"I could?"

She nodded. "If you prepare yourself well enough, I do not see why not." It would be a long time from now, once he would be a full fledged warrior but, she would wait before shattering his little illusions. She knew it was not easy being the second child. Everything would go to Sesshomaru and not much would be left for Inuyasha. She knew it was their way of life and she had no problems with that. However, it did not help the burden her son had to carry. She had the same loneliness inside of her while she grew up. Hatsu was powerful and beautiful. Every male wished to mate her. And once she did get mated and it was to their leader…all options of a future were taken away from Izayoi. She had to remain pure and untaken in the eventuality that a catastrophe was bestowed upon her sister. Unfortunately, such fate occurred.

Her sister was taken from her and she had to take her place. She was nervous, a wreck, but she went through with it. She had not gotten to know much about Inutaisho but he always seemed to treat her sister kindly. The years proved her right. He was always gentle with her, allowing her to open up like a flower finally budding in the sun. Her life changed the moment she became his mate and she would never go back to her lonely world again.

She could use her experience to make her son's life better. She wanted him to know he mattered even if he would not be showered in titles like his older brother. She did not want to see resentment growing in his heart. He deserved to remain happy and pure.

Izayoi grabbed Inuyasha's hand in hers and began leading him away from the tribe's limits.

The whole time, she was mesmerized by his smile and the happiness twinkling in his eyes.

Inuyasha stared ahead, his eyes clouded by a darkness. A stern expression took hold of his features and his ears were perked up, waiting to hear a sound, a ruffling of the leaves. More warriors left than stayed. It meant they had to be extra careful; he would not have a repeat of what took place the last time. He would protect his people, he would protect her. Saving everyone was on his list but making sure she remained safe was the top priority. His brother proved yet again then he was a lousy mate; instead of remaining with his mate, he left the tribe, he left her in the care of another male. If he still had his Kagure, if Kagome was his, he would never leave. It was why he stayed.

He would prove he was better, he would prove that he deserved her.

Right now, she was with her sister and he would leave her be. He knew all these attacks represented bad memories for her and he did not want her to be more shaken than she already was. Last time, he came on too strong and he would not be making the same mistake again. Although, he was dying to comfort her but - no, no, he would take it slow and he would make her fall for him the right way. He intended on showing her how a proper mate acted and soon enough she would come to the right conclusion all by herself. Nonetheless, it might not hurt to get slightly closer to her. It would permit him to reach her side faster in case of an attack.

Patience was key.

Meanwhile, Kagome was sitting on the ground, her sister by her side. Rin was resting her head on Kagome's shoulder, her heart thumping with concern. As long as they remained close by, neither would be scared of losing the other. Their fingers were intertwined, resting upon Rin's knee.

"I pray Father will return to us."

Kagome's feelings towards her Father were mixed but she still prayed for the same thing as her sister. He brought war, he brought conflict but he was her family and she had no desire to see another dead body - enough people perished already. It was time for peace. She also hoped Inutaisho would come back; he had suffered enough. He could not lose anymore. Sometimes, she swore she could hear the screams of pain in his heart. And then, there was him. Sesshomaru. He ran towards danger as though he was not at a disadvantage. She knew how glad he was that he recovered part of his arm but was it enough? He was strong, she never doubted that but - they lost so many already…

"Perhaps he will die."

At her sister's words, Kagome felt her blood freeze in her veins. "Die?"

"Your mate," she said with disdain.

She never truly trusted him and she never liked him. Rin saw her sister smile often, despite all the pains and the injuries she was put through but she refused to believe Kagome had found true happiness. Even onigumo warned her that Sesshomaru was hardly to be trusted. He even left her sister's side without saying goodbye. Rin lost a mate and she knew what it was like to love - to truly love. This was not it. Sesshomaru was a selfish man who did not deserve a kind female like her sister. Not only that but this place, this tribe, it was changing her sister. She knew her Father did not come up with the best plans and he did not always choose the right path but - Kagome still choose them instead of her own.

It was his doing.

"You wish for him to die?" Kagome inquired calmly.

"Yes. I wish for you to be free of him."

Long ago, Kagome would have been thrilled with that outcome. All she craved was home when she first arrived in this new tribe. However, things were different now. She was not sure where she belonged but - something told her it was not with her own. She was a stranger everywhere but some days it felt better to be a stranger at Sesshomaru's side than a stranger in her own tribe.

"I do not wish for his death."

"Look what has happened to you since you arrived here!" Rin said while squeezing her hand a little tighter.

"And look what happened to our family that stayed behind." Yes, awful things happened to her, things she could never get back but - perhaps her fate would have been even worst if she had stayed. "Not everything is bad."

She lived, she fought. Those were two things she was never allowed to do in her Father's presence. He had many rules for her and a plan all laid out. Here, even though she was Sesshomaru's mate she had more freedom. She grew and she slowly became her own person. It was a gift she was never allowed to have in the past.

Rin released Kagome's hand and laid it upon her stomach. "You will never have a pup." She did not mean to hurt her sister or inflict pain upon her but it was the harsh truth. Her mate did not look after her properly and now she had to pay the price.

The words hit Kagome like a slap in the face and before she knew it, she gripped her sister's wrist and squeezed until she yelped in pain and snatched her hand away. "I know that." Was there a reason why everyone needed to remind her she was barren? Was there a reason why they had to keep throwing her pain, her agony, right back into her face? She did not need to hear that sentence anymore. She was sick of hearing those words. Enough. "I will never have a pup and it is something I shall never forget." Tears were pooling in her eyes and despite her best efforts, a few slid down her cheeks, dripping down her mouth and leaving a salty taste behind.

"I am sorry," Rin said as she gently rubbed her bruised wrist. Her sister was not a violent person, at least not physically. Rin never got a taste of her strength before and she was forced to admit, she did not think Kagome had it in her. "I simply wish for what is best for you."

"Then let me decide what is best. I am tired of everyone choosing for me." Did they not believe her capable of making her own decisions? She was a grown woman, who once almost became a mother. If she would have been able to bear a child, she should be able to make decisions for herself.

"You are right," Rin said while biting her lip.

This was a time of war and danger; she had no reason to be fighting with her sister. These moments could be their last and she did not want hate to be the last thing they exchanged. If she had to pretend to like Sesshomaru, then so be it. There were many things Rin was willing to do for Kagome's sake.

"Thank you," Kagome replied while she rested her head on her sister's.

She knew Rin would not change her mind nor would she take back all the hurtful words she said. However, as long as she promised to not say them anymore, Kagome would ignore it. She needed comfort and at the moment, Rin, the only mother figure she had in her life until Izayoi, was the only one who could provide it.

Suddenly, the peacefulness and quietness the village had managed to find, evaporate while a surge of power whipped at them like lightening. Breathing became arduous and Kagome and Rin both wrapped hands around their respective throats, as though it would help soothe whatever was preventing the air from reaching their lungs. Kagome was the first to drop to her knees, gasping. A grey smoke filled the area, blocking their visions, rendering it impossible for them to see what was ahead. Kagome roamed her hands on the ground until finally, she found Rin's hand.

"Rin?" she called out. It felt like her sister but she could not be too careful; they were all victims of trickery in the past.

"Yes," her sister whispered prior to coughing.

How could this have happened? They did not sense anyone! They did not even hear anyone coming! The nekos had an awful stench which meant… it could only be one person. Kagome's eyes widened and this time she could not breathe for an entirely new reason. Her face turned pallid, her hands clammed up and she felt the hair lift on the nape of her neck. It was him. The monster that took everything from her. He was the only one who did not have an odor. He was the only thing that could sneak past all their defences and ruin their lives little by little. He acted fast and cruelly and he took without mercy. He took her child from her just like he took Sesshomaru's arm.

Kagome wanted to move, she wanted to run but she was locked in place by her fear. She wanted to be strong, she wanted to fight him and defeat him but… she was not even able to rescue herself when she had strength. What would she do now? Alone, she was not strong enough but she refused to endanger someone's else life. It was because of her that Sesshomaru nearly lost everything he held dear and she would not let that happen to anyone else. The first thing she needed to do was get her sister away from her. People who remained near her tended to get hurt and she was not losing the only person she had left. Although it broke her heart, Kagome snatched her hand away from her sister's hold.

She heard Rin gasp but she shut her lips and remained silence.

"Kagome?"

She heard the fear, the hopelessness, that traveled through Rin's voice as she was desperate to find her but she refused to make a sound. Instead, she silently pushed her body away from hers in the hopes that it would go undetected by her older sister. Fortunately for her, it did not. The more she moved away, the quieter her sister's voice became. Nonetheless, Rin never stopped calling out for her. Once Kagome could no longer hear her, she stopped moving. It killed her to leave her alone since it might endanger her but it was worst if she stayed by her side. Kagura was killed trying to protect her. Sesshomaru was injured protecting her. Each time someone was near, they paid the price.

Rin was better off alone. That was the lie she had to keep repeating to herself.

Kagome tried to rely on her aura to feel those around her but from what she could tell, she was completely by herself. Perhaps that was a good thing. She touched around her and found there was a den right behind her. She let her fingers traveled until she touched the soft curtains and she pulled them back.

"Is anyone here?" she called out.

No answer.

The fog was beginning to burn her eyes and they watered, clouding her poor sight even more. She let herself drop on the ground, releasing the drapes from her hold. She sighed, resting her head against a heavy rock. She could not stay here, hiding while a fight was about to happen. The fog was only getting worst and she could still not breathe any easier. It was as though there was a fire in her lungs and it refused to be extinguished. She tried to breathe deeply once, then twice, but it only made matters worst. She gave up while she closed her eyes and tried to clear her mind enough to come up with a solution to her problem. Attacking while she was blinded was not a good idea. Staying her was worst.

What could she do?

As if on cue, an event triggered her reaction; something grabbed her.

The urge to scream formed inside of her but before she could utter a sound, a hand was clamped over her mouth. Then, strong arms wrapped around her waist, locking her in position and making it nearly impossible for her to move or escape. Panic settled in and she began fighting her attacker. At first, she was hitting him with her fists but then, she became deadlier. She let her claws scratch his flesh, tearing it apart, while she sizzled away his blood. It was not until he screamed and released her that a feeling of familiarity washed over her. She knew that voice.

"Fuck."

"I-Inuyasha?"

"Do not do that!" He yelped as he rubbed the side of his arms. They were bleeding and it did not seem as though the blood had any intention of stopping anytime soon. He knew she was feisty but he never expected her to be this dangerous. His body twitched in agony, the boiling of his blood making him dizzy. Why did she have to do that? How was he going to protect her if he did not have all of his abilities. It was already a miracle that he was able to find her. He had not been able to sense her despite how hard he tried.

"S-sorry," she said while her heart thumped in her chest.

He came so close to her and yet she never even had a clue he was there. Even while his arms were wrapped around her body, she still could not recognize him. She was not certain what the monster did but whatever it was, it affected all of their senses. Every time they were attacked, they prepared themselves better and yet, it was never enough. No matter what they did, they lost. She did not want to be negative but she saw very little hope for them. How could they fight enemies they could not see?

"You hurt?" he asked while resting his hand on her shoulder.

She shook her head. Although she could not see his whole face, she could see his body along with his jaw and a hint of his silver hair. Perhaps he could not see her either? Because of that, she chose to give him a verbal answer as well. "No."

He sighed, glad he was not too late. The fog took even him by surprise and by the time he realized what was happening, she was out of sight and he had no way of finding her. He felt his heart sink in his chest and he was certain he lost her forever. His sole responsibility was to look out for her and he nearly failed to do that. Although, they were hardly out of trouble but at least he was there to protect her if the situation required it. The fact that he found her was a sign of the kamis; he was doing the right thing. He used his hold on her to move her and but her behind him. Once he was shielding her from the outside with his body, he felt safer.

Now, he had to come up with a plan.

He expected to hear fighting or screaming but instead it was pure silence. There was a sizzling, like the crackling of a fire, that filled the air but no one spoke. Although that could be due to the fact that breathing was becoming laborious. The lack of oxygen was making it difficult for him to think straight. Also, now that he had Kagome's body behind him, touching him, it was not helping his case. He inhaled a few times, the best he could, he re-shifted his thinking to his priorities. He had to get them out of here. Part of him were screaming at him, telling him to run out there and try to save everyone but… no, it was not only about him. He had to think about her as well.

His brother was strong, he would never deny that, and he lost an arm. If Inuyasha lost a limb he would be no good to Kagome. If he did not get her out of the tribe before the air was no longer breathable, he might lose her and he would not survive another loss, not this soon.

"Stay here," he ordered, hoping the words would be simple enough for her to understand.

Kagome did not reply and she watched him lean forward. Her relationship with Inuyasha was complicated. She knew he was trustworthy but he did some actions that - she did not approve of and she was not sure if this closeness was appropriate. Perhaps he was not thinking of such things, but she was. Plus, she had to think of his safety. They might not be close, he provided her with comfort when she needed it, something she would not forget. She left her sister's side because she did not wish to see her injured because of her. It was the same thing with Inuyasha. He suffered a lot in the past little while, just as she had, and she could not have him lose anymore.

She had to stay away from him or she would put his life in danger.

Kagome leaned forward, hoping to get a glance at him. If he was distracted enough, she might have a chance at running away from him. She could not see his face but she knew he was not looking at her; it was her only chance. If she put enough distance between them, he would not be able to catch her. Kagome scrambled to her feet and began dashing away. She heard him scream behind her, much like her sister had done, but she pretended she did not hear him. She kept running and running, until she collapsed on the ground. There was not enough air available for her to keep up this kind of pace. Her body was covered in a thick layer of sweat and tears were pouring out of her eyes due to the smoke.

Smoke.

As realization came crashing upon her, her blue eyes widened. They became even more red and began pulsing with pain but she ignored all of that. The smoke, the air that was scarce; it was all due to a fire! It was not fog, it was smoke and ashes from a fire. It was burning; the tribe was burning. She did not know what he used to provoke this fire but from the look of it, it was spreading fast. Not only that but it was dulling everyone's sense. It was certain that he used some form of magic to create it. Their was only one question; why was he doing this? Why did he keep on attacking them and destroying them?

From what she gathered, they did not know whom it was. How could they have harmed him?

If the village was burning… she might need to find her sister. She needed to get her out of here. Her presence was dangerous to Rin but…what if her sister was not aware of the fire that threatened to destroy the tribe? She would get her out and then leave her side. Kagome used all the strength she had left to lift her body up from the ground. She ignored the symptoms that spread to her flesh and she ignored the torment that was inflicted upon her as though it felt like the flames were spreading through to her flesh. She remained on all fours and dragged herself around.

"Rin?" she coughed up. "Rin?"

This time she was the one calling out while obtaining no answers and it caused her heart to sink in her stomach. What if she was too late? She should not have left her side until she obtained more information about the situation. Why did she have to be so reckless? More tears poured out of her eyes but this time, it was not due to the smoke. Sadness caused her heart to swell and she gulped for air. Another death, another loss; it would kill her. If she lost everything she cared about, how could she possibly go on? Strength left her body while she kept dragging her knees against the ground, rocks digging into her skin, hacking at it, tearing the flesh and leaving filaments of blood behind.

"Rin?"

This time, a voice answered her, but it was not the one she expected.

"Kagome?"

Hands were on her body but she could not tell who it was. Her ears were buzzing and her eyes were nearly shut. "You left."

This was not her sister. This was not her language.

She wanted to fight whoever it was but a slumber was slowly claiming her as she felt like coughing up her lungs. Arms wrapped around her and before she knew it, her chest was pressed against warm, sweaty back. Then, her arms were thrown around a neck and foreign arms hooked themselves beneath her legs.

"I know where to take you."

Her head fell forward, nuzzling the stranger's shoulder.

For the first time, her assaulted nose detected a scent.

One thought slipped into her mind before unconsciousness claimed her; Inuyasha.

-F-