Warnings for this chapter: instances and discussions of racialized discrimination and violence (towards half-demons), negative self-perceptions, threats of death by violence and fire, and attempted murder

Inuyasha's pacing grew more pronounced as darkness approached. Miroku's eyes darted between him and Sango, who was looking on in confusion from her place on the floor of the storehouse. It was obvious that she knew something was wrong, and she had subtly attempted to pry the information from Miroku several times through extensive eyebrow cues. But Miroku knew it wasn't his place to say anything, not unless Inuyasha asked him to.

Tensions had been high all day. Though Inuyasha, Miroku, and Sango had all napped intermittently, Kirara's wheezing breath and the fear of Naraku's forces finding them kept them on edge. Sango was still reeling from seeing Kohaku again, and they were all alarmed about the revelation regarding Tessaiga. As the sun dipped over the horizon, Inuyasha stopped pacing and sighed.

"You're a slayer," Inuyasha said, spinning around to face Sango.

"…Yes," Sango agreed, after it was obvious that Inuyasha wasn't going to continue right away.

"You must know a little about hanyou."

Her eyes narrowed and she glanced at Miroku in confusion. "A little? Why?"

Inuyasha huffed and dropped to a cross-legged position in front of her. "All hanyou have a period of vulnerability where they turn mortal, mine's the night of the new moon, and I hate it."

"Oh," Sango nodded, before the realization of their situation hit her. "Oh…"

"We should be safe for the night," Miroku jumped in reassuringly. "I can't imagine that Naraku will be attacking us anytime soon."

"It's still not an ideal situation," Sango said, prompting a snort from Inuyasha. "What can we do? Should we take cover in a cave and seal off the entrance? Or find some other defensible position? I'm more than ready to keep watch."

Inuyasha's eyes shone and he floundered a little. "I think we're fine," he eventually managed, though his expression was soft. "I'd appreciate you not telling anyone, but we don't need to really worry about it."

Miroku hid his smile in the palm of his hands as he practically beamed with pride. As the hut slowly darkened, lit only by the flames of their small fire, he watched as Inuyasha's eyes slowly darkened, followed by his hair. The past two new moons, he hadn't witnessed the transformation, and suffice to say it was stunning. Inuyasha's claws retreated into blunt human nails, and his ears shrunk and sank down the sides of his head. He looked younger as a mortal, and smaller, somehow. Inuyasha stared at the wall throughout the change, but he didn't move. The other occupants of the storehouse were struck.

Sango tore her eyes away from Inuyasha and leaned towards Miroku, whispering "I have questions."

"Later," he replied, equally quiet, and she nodded. Inuyasha rolled his eyes at them.

"He still smells almost the same," Shippo reported from his seat beside Sango. "It's a little different, but it's still his scent."

All three of them nodded in interest, sharing the same 'huh' expression. Miroku didn't miss that Inuyasha's shoulders were hunched and he refused to meet their eyes. He leaned his staff against his shoulder and sat back against the wall, letting Inuyasha know that he would stay with him all night. Sango shot Miroku a questioning look and he shook his head. She was recovering from significant injuries, and needed her rest.

It was some time later, when Shippo was snoring on Miroku's lap and Sango was just drifting off, that an exclamation of "Aha!" rang through the hut. Everyone jumped, and Kirara began coughing as her lungs constricted. They all stared at the two-tail in alarm as she gasped for her breath, eventually settling down again. Sango placed her hand on Kirara's side and turned her attention to the newcomer, who was currently attached to Inuyasha's cheek.

"Myoga?" Inuyasha asked in irritation, brushing the flea from his face. "What're you doing here?"

"It's the night of the new moon!" Myoga said, as though it were obvious. "I've been looking for you all day."

Inuyasha looked struck, especially when the flea didn't follow up with pressing news or a call to action. He settled down on Inuyasha's shoulder and surveyed them all, apparently content with his presence.

"A lot has happened since we last saw you," Miroku said thoughtfully. "But most pressing at the moment is Kirara. She was poisoned by Naraku's miasma. Is there any way you could suck the poison from her blood, as you did with Inuyasha before?"

All eyes snapped to the flea, desperately hopeful. He shook his head. "If it's a poison strong enough to affect a demon this badly, then I can't safely drink from her. Besides, she's too small in this form to lose enough blood to make a difference."

Sango's fingers clenched in Kirara's fur, and the twin-tail mewed softly in response. Myoga's reply had crushed hope she didn't even know she had. After regaining and losing Kohaku so quickly, Sango knew she couldn't survive losing Kirara as well. But what could they do? She tucked herself gently around the twin-tail, listening to her laboured breathing and the quiet conversation flowing between Miroku and Myoga.

Miroku recounted their adventures with the Water God in broad strokes and Mushin's temple in the fewest possible words. Inuyasha interrupted to add that Miroku was an idiot, but then his tone grew more serious.

"I unleashed this golden wave of power from Tessaiga that destroyed a hundred demons," he told the flea. "I did it with much smaller attacks in the past, and I saw Sesshomaru use it when we last saw him, but I've never been able to replicate it."

Myoga hummed and nodded. "I found out a little about Tessaiga's true power when I first learned about the sword, but I'm not sure how to help you. I'll ask around and see if I can find more information."

They both nodded appreciatively and continued on to their encounter at Naraku's castle. It was too early for Myoga to have heard anything about Naraku's fate or whereabouts, but he promised to keep an ear out for that as well.

"That bastard must have found a way to take his Jewel shards with him when he left," Inuyasha sighed. "Who knows how many he has now?"

"It could be any amount," Miroku said. "We only have a quarter of the Jewel, after all."

Inuyasha frowned. "Please, we have a third, at least."

Miroku pulled the shard from his robes, and they both peered at it intently. It was a solid chunk, no denying it, but it was still barely more than a wedge of the sphere. Miroku met Inuyasha's eyes with a weary smile. It was their third new moon together, almost three months of searching for the Jewel shards. In some ways, it had gone by in a blur. In others, it felt like a lifetime. Miroku found it difficult to remember a world in which he didn't know Inuyasha. He certainly didn't want to.

Inuyasha sighed and leaned back against the wall. "We'll take things as they come. Naraku makes everything more complicated, but our goal is still the same. We just need to survive until then."

They both glanced at Kirara and frowned. Inuyasha didn't need his sense of smell to know that she was getting worse. Her breathing had gotten harsher ever since the castle, and she was shivering against Sango, occasionally twitching in pain.

"We need to find some way to help her," Inuyasha said. "She's a good fighter and loyal friend. She's been such a good help – it's the least we can do." His eyes flickered over to Miroku. "And she's pack."

"We could try taking her to Kaede's," Miroku suggested. "Though I don't know if she would have anything that could work against this level of miasma. And I don't know how we could get to the village in time to make a difference."

"Could you summon Hachi?" Inuyasha asked.

"Yes, but it usually takes him a day or so to find me," Miroku frowned. "And then at least half a day to get to Kaede's."

"It's worth a shot," Inuyasha said, though his voice was thick with frustration.

"There may be another option," Myoga piped up from his shoulder. "I know of a garden of herbs not too far from here that's rumoured to cure any poison."

Inuyasha growled quietly. "And you didn't mention this earlier because…?"

"It's said to be protected by an absolutely ferocious demon."

Inuyasha and Miroku shared an exasperated look. "Of course it is." Inuyasha shook his head. "I don't care. We need to help her."

"Please," Sango murmured softly from across the fire. "I'll do whatever it takes."

"Can you take us there?" Miroku asked Myoga, and the flea nodded.

"No way," Inuyasha interrupted. "You all are staying here. I'm going alone."

"I have to come," Sango insisted. "Other than Kohaku, Kirara is all I have left."

"And we have no idea how powerful this demon is," Miroku added. "We're coming with you."

"Sango, you're injured, and Miroku, you're exhausted from the battle – don't deny it!" Inuyasha snapped. "You've reeked of stress ever since you used that much spiritual power. And you both breathed in Naraku's toxins."

"So did you!" Miroku countered. "Besides, you don't know which herbs to pick. And if we all come, we can defeat the demon quicker, and Kirara will be there with us so we won't waste time on a return journey."

"Fine!" Inuyasha growled. "But you're going to hang back and let me do the fighting. No one's getting killed."

"On that note, we should wait until morning to leave," Miroku said.

Inuyasha opened his mouth and promptly closed it again, glancing away and snarling to himself. Miroku sighed quietly. He hadn't meant to remind Inuyasha of his vulnerability, he was simply worried. He felt eyes on him and saw Sango looking at him, an unreadable expression on her face. He raised his brows and she gave him a sad smile.

Sango watched the two of them, and the strange tension that had been growing between them for weeks. It had taken her a while to figure out their dynamic when she first joined their little group, and it had only grown more complex as she got to know them. Inuyasha's fierce need to protect Miroku was undeniable, but Miroku was constantly protecting Inuyasha, as well. She thought that Miroku was aware of the intimacy of their relationship, if his avoidance of her gaze was anything to go by. It warmed her heart, but it also made her nervous. What they had was more than a common friendship, but Sango didn't know where it would lead. She hoped that they would be able to navigate it without heartbreak.

She glanced up again to see Inuyasha none-too-gently nudging Miroku back against the wall by a hand on his shoulder, muttering "Sleep, you're tired."

"I'm not going to let you stay up all night alone," Miroku whispered back.

There was a huff of annoyance, and Inuyasha shifted over to sit beside Miroku. He maneuvered the monk's head into his lap, meeting little resistance. One of Inuyasha's hands came to rest on Miroku's head, curled loosely in his hair and holding him in place. Some of the tension bled from Miroku's shoulders and he closed his eyes. Inuyasha's gaze lifted to Sango's, and there was a flash of apprehension in those eyes. She gave him a reassuring smile and he looked away.

Miroku woke just before dawn, a warm weight on the side of his head. He looked up to see Inuyasha blinking down at him. The hanyou's fingers brushed over his brow before pulling back with a small smile. Inuyasha's hair was slowly lightening, his eyes growing warm and golden. His lips curled back into a toothy grin, his dog ears twitching as they picked up the new sounds around them. He was back.

They prepared to leave right away. Shippo woke and sleepily asked when Myoga had appeared. They filled him in on the plan and he instantly perked up, desperate to help Kirara. The poor little twin-tail was looking worse than ever. The pressure of time weighed heavily on all of their shoulders.

"I'm sure I can recognize the herbs from what Kaede taught me," Shippo said confidently as they followed Myoga's directions. "And I know how to make a poultice, too!"

"I know a little from making poisons," Sango added. "We can figure it out between us."

Even though she was moving stiffly from her injuries, which had barely begun to heal, Sango insisted on carrying Kirara. Inuyasha insisted that he carry Hiraikotsu in turn, saying that in her condition, Sango would be weighed down by the weapon and only slow them down. Miroku and Sango both nodded at this reasoning, pretending no to see the concerned look in the hanyou's eyes.

They had been walking at a fair pace for half the day when Inuyasha noticed that Sango was lagging behind. He instantly slowed his pace and watched her closely. Her breathing was laboured and stress was heavy in her scent. He sighed.

"You shouldn't've come," he said. "You're still under the effects of the miasma."

"All the more reason to get the herbs quickly," Sango muttered, walking straight past him.

"I'll keep an eye on her," Miroku promised as Inuyasha moved by his side.

"And who's gonna keep an eye on you?" Inuyasha shot back. "You humans are so stubborn."

"And you're not?" Miroku asked innocently, earning himself a light whack on the ear.

They continued following the dirt path through the open fields. A light breeze tugged at their clothes and clouds rolled across the late summer sky. It was a testament to how worried he was that Shippo didn't chase any of the butterflies or grasshoppers that moved through the grassy field. They kept their pace fast and light, intent on reaching this garden before dark. Eventually they came to the edge of a forest, though the path continued through the woods. Inuyasha slowed to a stop, his ears pricked as he sniffed the air.

A group of villagers were carrying a wooden pallet with the corpse of a young woman on top, covered with a blanket. Inuyasha frowned, the scent of blood and demon coming from the woman's body. Was this the work of the demon that protected the garden?

"Third one this week," one of the men was muttering.

"I tell you, it's Jinenji!" another spat.

"Of course it is!" a third growled. "Who else would it be but that monster? We can't let him get away with this."

"But what do we do?" yet another asked.

"So who's Jinenji?" Inuyasha asked, talking in front of their small procession. "Some kind of demon?"

"Another demon!" one of the men shouted.

"Why should we tell you?" another asked, glaring at him.

"We mean you no harm," Miroku said, coming to stand by Inuyasha's side. "We have experience in removing dangerous demons from villages such as yours, and would be willing to lend you our assistance."

"Why?" the man asked, eyes darting suspiciously between them. "What do you want out of it?"

"Two of our party are inflicted with poison from a miasma," Miroku continued calmly, shifting a little to hide his friends further from view. "We heard that there is a garden around these parts with medicinal herbs that might help them."

"Medicinal herbs?" one of the villagers echoed, exchanging glances with the man beside him.

"You mean Jinenji's, then?" the other asked.

"Jinenji's the one that killed this poor woman!" the first said accusingly.

"Jinenji lives at the edge of our village with his mother," another finally explained. "He's a giant, ferocious demon and he guards the herbs."

"Those plants of his work, sure enough, but lately I- that is to say, he-" one of the men said, trailing off and glancing between his companions.

"Lately he's gotten himself a taste for human flesh," the other continued for him.

Inuyasha's eyes narrowed. "Show us where he lives."

They first followed the men to the village, where they returned the woman to her family. Increasingly hostile glances were cast at them, mostly towards Inuyasha and Shippo. Miroku made sure to keep his small group close together.

"Master," Myoga said from Inuyasha's shoulder. "I'm sure you can handle things from here. I feel my time might be better suited hunting down information about Tessaiga's powers, and finding where Naraku is hiding."

"And this has nothing to do with the dangerous, flesh-eating demon," Inuyasha drawled, before he sighed. "But you're right. If we can find where Naraku is while he's still vulnerable, then we have a chance to kill him. Go on."

Myoga disappeared through the houses. Eventually, the group of men returned to escort them to the garden. At the very outskirts of the village, surrounded by rice fields, Jinenji's small hut sat with its stretches of planted herbs. As they watched, a youkai twice the height of a man stepped from behind the hut. He was broad and heavy-set, his arms like tree trunks, and he moved hunched over like an ape. Large, blue eyes protruded from his long, horse-like face.

"That's Jinenji, there," one of the men whispered, crouching down as to not be seen. "Big fella, ain't he?"

"He ain't so big," Inuyasha scoffed, his eyes narrowing on the demon. A carrying pole sat across his shoulder with a water bucket at the end. Jinenji's shoulders were broader than the pole, which usually extended to at least elbow-length on a human. Still, Jinenji was nowhere as big as some of the other demons they'd faced. What drew Inuyasha's attention were the dozens of scars littering his arms and legs. Any creature who'd lived through that many wounds was adept at surviving. It made Inuyasha wonder what a demon like that was doing on the outskirts of a human village. Was he laying a trap for them, trying to get a constant supply of human meat?

"Don't go making us no promises you can't keep," one of the men said, eyeing Inuyasha.

"I'm doing it for the herb, not you," Inuyasha snarled, rising to his feet. He saw Miroku wince, but he couldn't give a fuck. Kirara was getting worse every moment, and Sango had started to look alarmingly pale. "You all stay here. Miroku, look out for them."

The monk gave him a worried look, but nodded. Inuyasha crept forward, making his way up behind Jinenji.

"You reckon he's strong enough?" one of the villagers asked his companions.

"Don't really matter, now, do it?" another scoffed. "Ain't our problem no more. If we're lucky, maybe they'll kill each other."

Miroku shared a startled look with Sango as she carefully tucked Shippo further behind her. That wasn't a good sign. Miroku had been hoping to spend the night in the village after they defeated Jinenji, to let Sango and Kirara heal, but that didn't seem like the best option. Demons, it seemed, were never the only threats they had to deal with.

Inuyasha jumped forward to land behind Jinenji, reaching for Tessaiga. "What's the matter?" he called out. "Didn't your mother ever tell you not to eat people smaller than you?"

Jinenji startled, lumbering around to face him. His eyes widened as they fell on Tessaiga and he shrunk back. Inuyasha frowned at the odd behaviour, and the distinctive lack of human blood on his breath, teeth, or hands. Something didn't add up. Something whizzed above his head, and suddenly a small barrage of rocks was raining down on Jinenji. Inuyasha glanced over to where Miroku was shouting at the village men. How reassuring. A pull of youki drew him back to Jinenji, who stood even taller than before, and his eyes flashed red. Then, to Inuyasha's utter bewilderment, tears filled those same eyes and Jinenji stumbled back.

"Ma!" the demon howled, stampeding over to the tiny hut while covering his head with his hands. "Ma!"

"Hey, wait!" Inuyasha shouted, giving chase.

"Ma! Help!" Jinenji continued, and an old woman burst through the bamboo flaps at the hut's doorway, wielding a sizeable log.

"Why you!" she shouted furiously, and Inuyasha ground to a halt in utter confusion. This was no demon. "Tryin' to take our land for yourself again, are ya?" she shouted.

There was a warning call from Miroku, the old woman raised her hands, and then the log she was holding shattered across Inuyasha's skull. He blinked at her, then at the villagers throwing their rocks to the ground and running away.

"Now I know I've missed something'," Inuyasha huffed, sheathing Tessaiga and turning back to the old woman.

"I don't know who put you up to it, or what you been told," the old woman gasped, breathing hard from the exertion. "But this boy would never eat someone! You got that? Who he is don't matter. They just hate him 'cause he's half-demon!"

Inuyasha rocked back, his eyes snapping to where Jinenji was cowering behind the hut, trembling. A hanyou? Another real, living hanyou? He knew others existed, of course, but… Another hanyou. He could hear the others coming up behind him, but he couldn't seem to tear his eyes off Jinenji. The old woman eyed the newcomers with deep suspicion and lifted the stump-end of the log she'd been holding in warning.

"We don't want to hurt you or your son," Miroku said quickly. "Or take your land. We simply wish to speak with you."

The old woman's eyes narrowed. "Why?"

"We heard that the herbs you grow here can cure poison," Miroku explained. "Sango and Kirara here were both poisoned by miasma, and we were hoping you could help them."

The old woman looked unconvinced, but eventually waved them inside. Jinenji followed, and it was a tight fit to get everyone comfortable in the cramped quarters. The old woman instantly crawled over to Sango and Kirara, peering into their eyes and listening to their breathing. She nodded to herself and moved over to murmur some quiet words to Jinenji. He nodded and went outside, soon returning with a large handful of herbs, which he began to grind into a poultice. Meanwhile, the old woman introduced herself as Kura, Jinenji's mother, as she stirred rice gruel in a pot over the fire. They all introduced themselves and descended into awkward silence.

At one point, Inuyasha glanced over to see Shippo sitting beside Jinenji, intently watching his actions with his ears pricked in concentration. Jinenji glanced over at the little fox, blinked a few times, then returned to his task in silence. Inuyasha didn't know what to make of it. He suspected that Jinenji's human-munching had been greatly exaggerated, but that didn't explain everything.

"Inuyasha, was it?" Kura asked, surveying him over the fire. "You're a half-demon, too, aren't you?"

Unease, fear, distrust, and a dozen other sour emotions all rose unbidden in his mind. He clamped them down firmly and ground out "So, you can tell, can you?"

"Half-breeds are funny that way," she continued, poking her cooking moodily. "For each one born pretty like you, there's another born that ain't."

"It can't be easy, being so noticeably different," Sango murmured from where she was propped up against the wall.

"You can't imagine what it's like for him," Kura said, jerking her chin over at Jinenji. "Bein' half-demon shouldn't matter, but those villagers, they-" Her voice broke and she grimaced. "They treat 'im like he's some kind of monster or somethin'. You can't understand how much he's suffered at their hands."

Miroku's eyes flashed to Jinenji, who had stopped grinding the herbs and was looking over his shoulder at his mother. There was deep, unmitigated sorrow in his eyes.

"They've hurt him?" Sango ventured a guess, carefully not gawking at Jinenji's many scars.

"They've tried to kill him," Kura said flatly.

"I'm sorry, ma," Jinenji muttered. "If I weren't like this, I-"

"Stop that right now!" Kura snapped. "You've done nothing wrong. Don't you apologize for bein' different! Your father, he was different, and he was a fine, good man." She turned back to Inuyasha, her eyes softening. "I had hurt my ankle and couldn't walk. He saved me. I knew that the form he took weren't real, that demons were supposed to be dangerous, but he was glowing, and I loved him."

"And you decided to make a hanyou out of it," Inuyasha grumbled, his ears flicking back.

Miroku watched his friend carefully, trying to figure out what was going through his head. There was an undeniable tension surrounding him, and he seemed ready to snap at any moment.

"Here," Jinenji said, holding out a wooden platter with several small piles of ground herbs. "You should all have some. The poison is still inside of you."

While Inuyasha sniffed his portion suspiciously, Miroku and Sango both swallowed theirs and – after a quick grimace at the taste – focused on getting Kirara to take hers. The twin-tail was barely conscious and deep in a fever. They had to shove the herbs to the back of her mouth and stroke her throat to encourage her to swallow, but eventually she did. Shippo was surprisingly compliant in taking his herbs, and Miroku suspected that it had something to do with wanting to look good in front of Jinenji.

"How much do we owe you?" Miroku asked, already reaching into his robes.

"Nothin'," Kura shook her head. "It's the least I can do for the clubbing I gave earlier."

"Well, glad that's over with," Inuyasha stood and promptly walked out the door.

Miroku and Sango exchanged an uncomfortable look. Besides Inuyasha's apparent anger, they couldn't just leave Jinenji and his mother to the mercy of the villagers.

"We thank you for your help and your hospitality, and I would hate to impose," Miroku said, bowing deeply at both of them in turn. "But would you mind terribly if we stayed the night? My companions have travelled far and I wouldn't want to risk worsening their condition."

Sango tried to look suitably pathetic. Kirara was asleep, and it probably would be a good idea not to move her, regardless of whatever else was going on.

"I won't turn you out," Kura huffed. "Just don't bring us any trouble, ya hear?"

As Sango settled down with Kirara, and Shippo began pestering Jinenji with herb-related questions, Miroku slipped out to go after Inuyasha. He found him pacing at the edge of Jinenji's fields, ears pinned back and hands clenched in fists. Miroku knew that Inuyasha smelled him coming, but he made no acknowledgement of his presence. He kept on pacing back and forth, looking increasingly agitated. Eventually, Miroku broke the tense silence.

"Kura said that we could stay with her and Jinenji for the night," he said, carefully watching Inuyasha's reaction.

"No," Inuyasha instantly snapped, not stopping his restless movement. "We should leave. There's no reason for us to stay."

"Sango and Kirara need rest," Miroku said quietly. "Besides, Jinenji and his mother are in danger here – you know they are."

"That's not our problem."

Miroku's eyes narrowed. This wasn't the Inuyasha he knew. "The villagers think he's killed and eaten several people. They won't let that pass. Maybe he is different in their eyes, but that doesn't mean that he's guilty."

"But that's what it does mean when you're different!" Inuyasha snarled, turning on him with anger blazing in his eyes. "Nobody trusts you, you're always the first to be blamed, and it's always, always your fault!"

The two stared at each other for a long moment, Inuyasha pressing hard into Miroku's space. The monk's eyes softened and Inuyasha growled, looking away. It was stupid. They didn't understand – they couldn't. They never would.

"This is our chance to show the villagers that they're wrong about Jinenji," Miroku murmured. "And about hanyou."

"They won't listen," Inuyasha snapped. "They never do! And even if we did convince them," he continued, blowing past Miroku's response. "Supposing by some miracle they listened, what then? They're not the only ones. Being hanyou means the entire world is set against you. Jinenji needs to learn to be able to take care of himself. You gotta be tough, you gotta be able to fight back, or you won't survive."

Miroku had a sorrowful look on his face, but his words were utterly gentle. "Not everyone has to face the world alone, Inuyasha."

Inuyasha took a sharp breath in, and then his whole body sagged. "Yeah, it does," he said quietly. "For me, it was after my mother died. For more than a hundred years, I was on my own in a world that had no place for me, that wanted me dead. Being alone, taking care of myself, was the only reason I survived." He sighed. "And then I got lucky. I got lucky that Kikyo convinced the villagers that I wasn't a threat. And yeah, I was lucky to meet you."

The smallest smile curled his lips as he met Miroku's eyes, his own shining with the hint of tears. Then he tore his gaze away, and pain clouded his expression.

"But you're mortal. You, Sango, Kaede – I'll outlive all of you. And Shippo will go off to live his own life, and I'll be alone again." He grimaced and swallowed hard. "And Jinenji's no different. His mother will die someday, probably soon – that woman is ancient – and then he'll have no one."

"Maybe you're right," Miroku said, taking a step closer and brushing his hands down Inuyasha's arms. "Maybe he will have to face the world alone someday, but he's not alone now. We can sow the seeds of trust while we can. Our mortal lives may be short, but we can use them to create a better future."

Inuyasha hung his head, blinking rapidly. He didn't resist when Miroku's arms wrapped around him. They stood there for a long moment as Inuyasha cleansed his soul with Miroku's warm, familiar scent. Then the sounds of danger reached his ears. He glanced up, gently breaking from Miroku's embrace as they both looked over to the edge of the village. A group of villagers stood around a bamboo mat, piling together swords, spears, and pikes, and farming tools.

"Gather every weapon in the village!" one of the men commanded his comrades.

"This is plenty," another argued, brushing over the collection. "Even he can't take all these."

"Tonight's gonna be the night," a third said, grasping a sword. "It's kill, or be killed."

Miroku's jaw clenched but Inuyasha was already moving past him, stalking predatorily towards the men. The man closest to him, who was holding the sword, spun around in fear and pointed the weapon at Inuyasha. The others stood, grabbing several pikes and spears. Inuyasha slowed to a stop, danger written in every movement. Miroku rushed to intervene.

"Stop this madness," he commanded, placing himself firmly between Inuyasha and the villagers. "You mustn't attack Jinenji. He's done no wrong!"

"Of course he has!" one of the men snapped. "He's killed and eaten our people!"

Miroku's frown deepened. "You have no proof-"

"How can you be so naïve?" the villager interrupted.

"They hate us, the hag and her monster son!" another added.

"It's only a matter of time before they wipe us all out," the first continued.

"You've done nothing but be cruel to him," Inuyasha said, eerily calm. "He should hate you, by all rights, but he doesn't. You saw him run from you today. He didn't kill anyone."

"They're cowards," one of the men leered. "Don't make no difference."

Inuyasha growled, flexing his claws. "Interesting. Because the way I see it, it's the other way around." He huffed, his eyes flashing across the villagers. "But right now, we got more important business, like catching the real flesh-eater."

"Whaddya mean, real flesh-eater?" one of the men asked, looking genuinely confused.

"Leave it to a demon to defend another demon," another sneered.

"You're stupider than you look if you think we'll take your word for it," another said.

Inuyasha growled, visibly holding himself back. Miroku grimaced. He glanced at Inuyasha, a question in his eyes, and Inuyasha shook his head minutely. Miroku clenched his jaw and turned his gaze back to the village men.

"I wouldn't recommend attacking Jinenji's farm tonight," he said firmly. "I'm going to be there, along with a highly testy slayer and some frustrated friends of ours. And if you kill me, then Inuyasha will have to kill you to avenge me, and it'll get overly complicated and awkward."

Inuyasha smirked despite himself. "I will, will I?"

"You better!" Miroku shot back, before lowering his voice. "Be careful."

Sango watched Kura stir the rice as it finished cooking. Shippo had followed Jinenji outside, pestering the poor hanyou with relentless questions about various herbs and begging to be taught all about them. Jinenji looked markedly uncomfortable at the young kit's enthusiasm, but dutifully began explaining the best herbs for different remedies. The two had long since migrated to the garden, where Sango hoped Shippo wouldn't become too overbearing. Jinenji was a quiet soul, while his mother was taciturn. She hadn't spoken a single word since Miroku left, and simply sat in front of the fire. Eventually she took the pot from the flames and divided the rice into two small, chipped bowls. She held one out to Sango, who shook her head.

"We've imposed on you enough," she said.

"Take it," Kura insisted. "You're still healing, and that little one of yours will be hungry with all that energy he's burning. Besides, Jinenji and I 're used to going without."

Sango sighed and took the bowl with a small bow, reminding herself to send Miroku into the village later to buy some proper food for Kura and Jinenji. From the little she'd seen, the herbs were almost entirely medicinal, and she doubted that the villagers were too interested in trading. The hut itself was in near-disrepair, with holes in the roof and a dirt floor. It wasn't even large enough for Jinenji to properly stand.

"You seem very fond of your demons," Kura eventually said, now weaving an igusa straw mat. "It's not common to see that kind of companionship."

"Kirara has been a friend to my family long before I was born," Sango said, smiling down at the twin-tail curled in her lap. Her breathing had gotten better already. "And Shippo was travelling with Inuyasha and Miroku when I met them."

"Odd group, that one," Kura muttered wryly. "A monk, a hanyou, and a fox demon – that sounds like the start of a bad joke."

"They stumbled upon each other mainly by accident," Sango smiled. "As did I into them. We're all searching the Shikon Jewel to prevent its power being misused."

Kura blinked. "The what now?"

Sango paused, then shook her head. "It doesn't particularly matter. It's a jewel that gives power to and corrupts all who use it, and many seek it."

Kura nodded slowly. "Makes sense. You have the look of a woman who's seen trouble far beyond her years. All of you do, in fact." She gestured at Sango fiercely with a piece of straw. "You need to learn to slow down and enjoy life. If you're not payin' attention, it'll pass you by."

"It's a little more complicated than that," Sango said softly. "We're also being hunted by a powerful demon, and Miroku's life depends on-"

"Now listen here, young lady," Kura interrupted. "We all have troubles in life." She gestured at the desolate hut around her. "Why, just look at us! But what's the use in holdin' on to what you have if you don't celebrate it?" She leaned forward, grasping Sango's hand. "Promise me you won't get so caught up in the future that you lose sight of the now."

Sango swallowed and nodded. Kura released her hand and returned to her mat as though nothing had happened. A few moments later, Miroku ducked in through the flaps at the door, a sombre expression fixed on his face.

"The villagers are planning on killing you and your son tonight," he said without preamble. "It's possible we have dissuaded them, and Inuyasha's in search of whatever killed those people, but they may still come for you."

"They will, will they?" Kura drawled, shaking her head.

"They won't," Miroku assured. "We won't let them. I will stand guard until Inuyasha returns."

"Have it your way," she shrugged. "You seem to care an awful lot about hanyou."

A faint blush spread over Miroku's cheeks and he cleared his throat lightly. "I care about innocent souls not being persecuted."

Kura's knowing smirk informed him that she could see right through him. He quickly made his excuses and escaped outside. He wasn't ready to admit what she might have seen, not even to himself, but the fact that her immediate reaction wasn't revulsion startled him. He supposed that a woman with a half-demon son wouldn't exactly be the most closed-minded person, nor a fair representative of the outlook of most people, but her amused assumptions gave him pause. It was possible that perhaps, not everyone would be as hatefully opposed to it as he thought. Not those that mattered, in any respect.

Shaking his head, Miroku made his way over to where Shippo and Jinenji were weeding the garden. Rather, Jinenji was pulling weeds, and Shippo was talking almost incomprehensibly quicklu, embellishing stories of their travels and occasionally picking a plant for Jinenji to hold. Jinenji seemed a little awkward, but he had a soft expression on his face, and appeared to be soaking in the fox's every word.

"Mind if I help?" Miroku asked, wincing at how Jinenji startled.

"We're cleaning up the garden!" Shippo announced proudly.

"Are you?" Miroku smiled. "And where are the weeds that you've pulled, Shippo?"

The kit blanched and immediately turned the row, continuing his story a little breathlessly while yanking at a stubbornly deep-rooted plant. Jinenji smiled at Shippo's antics and Miroku knelt down next to him. He had very little knowledge of plants, outside what was edible, so he mostly just watched Jinenji. From up close, the scars littering his skin were even more prominent. Miroku's heart ached for him.

"Have you ever considered going elsewhere?" Miroku asked quietly. "Someplace safer?"

"This place is best," Jinenji said quietly. "My pa left us this farm."

Miroku smiled softly. "It must be nice to be connected to him in that way."

"It's all I have left of him," Jinenji murmured. "He died a long time ago."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I still have ma."

Miroku chuckled softly. "Yes, it seems she can handle things."

They were quiet after that, with Shippo actually concentrating on weeding while Miroku gathered the pulled plants and moved them out of the garden. He kept an eye out for either the villagers or Inuyasha, but none materialized. He longed to go find his friend, but he was loathed to leave an injured Sango to defend everyone at the hut if the villagers attacked. He had to trust that Inuyasha could take care of himself.

Upon returning from dumping his final round of weeds, he saw Shippo swinging excitedly from Jinenji's arm. "We're going to feed the birds!" he announced brightly as Miroku approached.

"I have a little rice saved," Jinenji said. "They know to expect me at dusk."

Shippo was utterly ecstatic, throwing the rice so eagerly at the birds that he scared them off more often than not until Jinenji coached him into being more gentle. Miroku watched from outside the hut, the figures turning into dark silhouettes against a gold and crimson sky. At some point, there was a rustling from the hut, and Kura and Sango came out to watch, Kirara asleep in the slayer's arms. Miroku sent them a smile and carefully avoided looking at Kura as a few tears slipped down her cheeks.

Inuyasha slowed to a stop as he caught the scent. The stink of youkai that had been all over the murdered woman was spread across the ground. It had taken him 'til well after dark to track it down, but he'd finally found its den. The scent was fresh, newly buried, and he scratched at the earth experimentally until- The ground split open beneath his feet and he fell, landing hard on tightly compacted earth. He glanced around, taking in the large tunnel he'd found himself in. It stretched on as far as the eye could see in both directions, occasionally meeting or splitting with others. Bones littered the ground, some of them human. He could smell that they had been gnawed clean.

Following the freshest scent markers, Inuyasha crept through the tunnel. It eventually opened out into a wide cavern. Even more bones were strewn across the floor, and on the far wall, a thick green slime was stretched from floor to ceiling. Several large, cracked hollow spheres were suspended in the goo. Inuyasha crept closer to investigate. Strange, they looked almost like eggs…

Oh.

Oh, no.

The scent was overwhelming. Whatever demon had nested here had been the one to kill the humans. But this clutch was newly hatched, and more likely than not, the mother had taken out the brood on their first hunt. With the vast expanse of underground tunnels at their disposal, the demons could access any part of the forest – or the village. Inuyasha swore. His pack was in danger!

Miroku leaned against the wall, his eyes fixed on the doorway and senses heightened. The others were sleeping, filling the small hut with a symphony of quiet snores and soft snuffles. It was late enough in the night that if an attack was to come, it would be soon. For a long time, there was nothing. Then, something tugged at his gut, a warning that danger was near. Shippo's eyes opened from where he was curled against Jinenji. Another sniff of the air and he shrank back in fear.

"I smell smoke," he whispered, clutching at Jinenji's arm with tiny hands.

Before Miroku could respond, a rock crashed through the bamboo bars of the hut's only window and clattered to the floor. Jinenji startled at the noise and immediately began to tremble. Miroku snatched his staff and scrambled outside, where the villagers were waiting with weapons, torches, and leering taunts. It wasn't just the six they had dealt with before – an entire mob had gathered, and they shouted angrily into the still night air.

"What is the meaning of this?" Miroku asked in a booming voice. "They have done nothing to you!"

The crowd flung back insults, with increasing calls for Jinenji's death. Then Kura was by his side, wielding a hoe like a club. The villagers instantly began hurling rocks at them. Miroku batted most away with his staff, but one connected sharply with Kura's head. She stumbled back with a cry.

"That's enough!" Miroku shouted, flinging himself between her and the mob.

Sango appeared beside him, one hand reaching menacingly for her sword as she ushered Kura back inside.

"Move, monk!" a voice called from the crowd.

"Why are you protecting them?" another demanded.

"They are good people and they do not deserve your anger or your hatred," Miroku snarled. "Jinenji is a kind, gentle soul, and you would see that if you weren't blinded by your petty ignorance! He has never hurt anyone. The only danger here is you!"

Angry shouts returned from the mob, which pressed ever closer.

"You're as bad as they are!" one of the men swore.

"He's in cahoots with the half-breed boy anyway!" another yelled to the crowd. "He's guilty, too!"

Shouts of agreement rose from the gathered villagers. More insults were added to the mix, and then someone threw at torch at the hut. It landed on the thatched roof, which instantly caught alight. More were quickly added, and the mob cheered. Miroku swore, darting in through the doorway to catch Kura as Sango shoved her outside. He snatched Shippo from the floor and dragged them outside and away from the fire, which was rapidly spreading. At Sango's shout, he turned long enough for her to toss Kirara into his arms. He ignored her claws digging into his arms and pressed her face into his robes, knowing that her damaged lungs couldn't take the added strain of smoke.

Sango ran to the wall where Hiraikotsu was leaning, but stopped when she saw Jinenji cowering in the corner, his head in his hands. "We need to leave!" she called to him, swinging Hiraikotsu over her shoulder and hiding a gasp at the pain that shot from her wounds.

Jinenji shook his head, curling tighter into a ball. She swore quietly and moved to his side, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I know you're afraid, but you can't stay here. Miroku and I will protect you and your mother – I swear it – but we can't do anything against the fire. At least out there, you have a chance."

Miroku swore as more and more time passed and neither Sango nor Jinenji appeared from the flames. He was about to go back inside when the ground began to shake. A thundering growl came from behind the villagers, and then a giant centipede-like demon reared up above them. A pair of red eyes and a mouth filled with dozens of protruding teeth sat in its face. Around twenty smaller demons crawled along the ground, shorter and more heavily armoured. Miroku instantly recognized the demon, and his heart sank. He'd never encountered ōmukade before, and never much wanted to, really.

The mother demon darted out, her teeth sinking into one of the village men. He instantly fell, and the baby demons began tearing into his flesh. The villagers began shouting anew, begging Miroku to help their friend. He knew it was far too late. The bite of a regular giant centipede was bad. The venom of an ōmukade could kill a human instantly.

"Sango," he shouted, digging some sutras from his robes. "We have a family of ōmukade!"

Sango swore and dropped Jinenji's arm. She pulled a vial of poison and began spreading it along the length of Hiraikotsu. Jinenji watched her with guarded eyes.

"You can't fight," he mumbled quietly. "You're injured."

"My friends are out there," Sango replied, hauling Hiraikotsu over her shoulder once more. "I have to."

She ran outside. There was nothing more she could do to convince Jinenji to escape the burning hut – that was up to him. She emerged into a one-sided battle between the villagers and the hatchling ōmukade. Most of the men had already fled, but the few that fought back were having no luck. Their weapons broke against the thick armoured plates of the ōmukade young. She caught Miroku's eye and shared a knowing look. The mother was hanging back, for now, but they both knew that wouldn't last long if they started wounding her young.

"Will Hiraikotsu even work?" Miroku asked, slapping a few sutras on it for good measure.

"On the young ones, maybe," Sango said. "Not on the mother. We'd need to coat the weapons entirely in saliva to pierce her hide."

"Right," he sighed. "You distract the mother, I'm going to tell the villagers. On my signal, take out as many of the young as possible while I deal with the mother."

"Got it," she nodded, and ran through the fleeing villagers to the mother.

Without Kirara, her movements were harshly restricted, but she didn't have to kill the demon, just keep her busy. She threw Hiraikotsu at the mother's head, and the demon lunged out and snatched the weapon in her jaws. She instantly reared back with a screech, the poison frothing from her mouth. She dropped Hiraikotsu and Sango caught it, her wounds tugging and splitting open as she did so. The mother began to ungulate, her long body whipping back and forth. Her body wracked in pain, Hiraikotsu sitting heavy on her shoulder, Sango couldn't get out of the way in time. The mother's body slammed into her with alarming force.

A cry tore Miroku's attention away from the villagers. Sango was on the ground, the spasming mother ōmukade reaching for her. He ran, diving over Sango's body and summoning a spiritual barrier just as the mother slammed down onto them. She glanced off the barrier but Miroku knew she wouldn't be deterred for long. Then there was a shout, a giant figure flying overhead, and Jinenji's fist struck through the mother's mouth and emerged through the back of her neck.

But that didn't kill her. Her jaws clamped over his arm, pumping venom into his system, and her body began coiling around him. Kura cried out Jinenji's name, Shippo clinging to her and Kirara in her arms obviously the only things holding her back. Sango was stunned and dazed, but not badly injured. Miroku picked her up and ran. He had no weapons that could stand against the mother ōmukade – only the wind tunnel, and he couldn't use it with her wrapped around Jinenji.

Miroku lay Sango down near Kura and turned, looking over the battle that raged on. Knowing that human saliva was the ōmukade's weakness, the villagers were fighting back, but their weapons were still barely effective against the young's armour. Meanwhile, Jinenji was being slowly but surely crushed to death. Miroku grabbed a handful of sutras and ran for them. If he could catch the mother's eyes, or maybe tear into her from the wound Jinenji had made-

"Get away!" Jinenji yelled, even as his eyes rolled in his head. "You…you treated me like a real person." He broke off, choking. "If I let you die here, I won't be able to live with myself!"

The sounds of screaming and the thick scent of smoke, blood, and pain drew Inuyasha running back to Jinenji's farm. He saw the demon young lunging at the villagers, who were in a desperate retreat. He slashed at the demons, but to his horror, his claws simply glanced off their backs. He swore and concentrated his youki, pouring as much as he could into his next blow. This time, the backs of the demon young split open, and the villagers scurried away.

"Inuyasha!" Miroku's voice sounded, and Inuyasha's attention snapped over to him.

He was standing in front of Jinenji, who was locked in a deathmatch with what must be the mother demon. Jinenji's hut burned brightly beside them, already beginning to fall apart.

"You must help Jinenji!" Miroku called to him as he ran over. "Saliva is like poison to them-"

"Don't you do it!" Kura's voice cut him off sharply. They both glanced over to where she stood, her eyes fixed on her son's battle. "He needs to learn to fight for himself!"

Miroku cast a desperate look at Inuyasha, but he didn't know how to respond. Kura's words were true, as much as it pained him. Inuyasha glanced over to the villagers, who were still waging a losing battle. He growled. This was bad. He leapt over to them, concentrating his youki into his claws and ripping the demon young open. The villagers began to scamper away, but his snarl stopped them.

"Don't you dare!" he yelled at them. "Not while I'm fighting to save your spiteful, sorry lives! Not while Jinenji is over there dying for you! You pick up your weapons and you fight! Got it?"

A few voices of agreement rose from the villagers, and Inuyasha turned back to the young. He slashed through them one-by-one, leaving the village men and their saliva-coated weapons to finish them off. Soon, Hiraikotsu joined him, tearing open entire rows of demons. The tide was slowly turning.

Miroku stayed close to Jinenji. He knew he couldn't do any good, but he couldn't tear himself away. Jinenji tore his arm from the mother's mouth, but she only wound tighter around him. With a roar, Jinenji clamped his arms around her body, crushing her as much as she was crushing him. Jinenji began to glow with an ethereal blue light, and Miroku could feel the undeniable pull of a powerful youki. The mother's body began to ripple as waves of the youki shot into her. With one final shout, Jinenji sent his power bursting from his body. It knocked Miroku to the ground, and ripped through the mother ōmukade. She tipped back, screeching, and Jinenji punched solidly through her head.

The blue light faded from around him as the bits of ōmukade fell to the ground. Miroku glanced over to see the villagers huddled together, collectively gaping at the show of incredible strength. Jinenji also looked over, and began slowly walking towards the villagers. They gasped in fear and dropped to their knees, hands held up in prayer and pleas for forgiveness. Miroku watched carefully, unsure of what was about to happen.

Inuyasha smirked and stepped back. It was about time that these humans learned to respect Jinenji, and if it was by fear, then so be it. The villagers were mumbling apologies and begging for mercy. It was sickening. Jinenji leaned towards them, one giant fist clenched. The villagers cried out in fear and pressed closer to the ground.

"You need help," Jinenji said in his customary low, rumbling voice. He opened his fist to show several herbs lying in his palm. "Lots of you are hurt. This will help you get better faster."

Inuyasha shook his head. All that for nothin'. But as the villagers gasped, passing around the herbs like sacred treasures, he had to admit that maybe there was somethin' to it. They were looking on Jinenji less like a leader, more like a saviour. He supposed that would have to do. Jinenji was lumbering over to his mother, gently caressing her face with fingers the size of her skull.

"Ma, are you alright?" he asked gently.

"Oh, Jinenji!" she breathed, wrapping her arms around his wrist and holding on tight.

They cleaned and bandaged the villager's various wounds. Jinenji handed out herbs to promote healing and counter the venom of the young ōmukade which, while not deadly, was still a nasty infliction. Once they were done, the men left in a silent group, leaving behind a smouldering hut and the scattered carcasses of a brood of dead demons. As the sun slowly rose, Inuyasha helped Jinenji rummage through the ruins of the hut for anything that may have survived the fire. Miroku sat with the others, bandaging Kura's head-wound.

"Will you be alright here?" Miroku asked quietly.

"Oh, we'll be fine," Kura smiled and waved him off. "We may have to face those men again, but I don't think they're like to kill us again anytime soon." She shrugged. "If that's how things are, that's how they'll be."

"It will take some time to repair all this," Sango said, looking over the ruined hut and trampled fields.

"We'll manage," Kura said assuredly, and Miroku had to smile at her unflappable nature. "I'm more concerned for you young'uns. You have a difficult task ahead o' ya."

"We'll manage," Miroku assured, though with somewhat less confidence than Kura had mustered.

"You take good care of each other," Kura told the two of them firmly, then she glanced over to where Shippo and Kirara were gently playing. "And look after the little'uns."

Sango chuckled and quietly agreed. Kura grabbed Miroku's sleeve, dragging him in closer so Sango couldn't hear.

"You've done good to that half-demon of yours," she said, words all the more serious for their hushed sincerity. "Don't let him down."

"I don't plan on it," Miroku murmured back somberly.

The sound of footsteps drew their attention across the fields, where a group of villagers was approaching. At the hut, both Inuyasha and Jinenji straightened, and Inuyasha leapt over to stand behind Miroku and Sango. He was bristling, but the men's body language was far from aggressive. They carried hoes, planks of wood, and other tools and supplies. Kura's eyes narrowed but Miroku desperately hoped that his suspicions were correct.

"We want to help," one of the men said, steadfastly holding Kura's gaze.

She glared at them for a long time before she sighed and turned away. "Have it your way," she said flippantly, waving a hand.

The men began organizing themselves, sending several off to the woods for lumber while others were sent to clear away the debris from the old hut. Yet more followed Jinenji into the fields to salvage what they could. Kura began showing the villagers which herbs to use for what ailments, swatting the villagers over the head more often than not. Inuyasha watched with mild distain, but he had to admit that it was a whole lot better than he could ever have expected. There was a chance – a small, distant chance – that this place might turn into another like Kaede's village, a safe haven for hanyou in a dangerous world. He glanced over at Miroku and Sango, who were wiping down Hiraikotsu, and Shippo and Kirara, who were busily chasing a butterfly. Kaede's wasn't the only safe haven of his.

They said their quick goodbyes, safe in the knowledge that Jinenji and his mother would be well looked-after. Inuyasha was quiet as they walked, staring off into the far distance. Sango exchanged a glance with Miroku and dropped back, distracting Shippo by asking about plants growing at the edge of the path. Inuyasha slowly realized that the others had melted away around him and slowed, shooting Miroku a questioning look.

"I'm glad they will be treated better," Miroku said.

Inuyasha narrowed his eyes, obviously unconvinced. "What're you getting at?"

"I imagine all this must have brought back some painful memories," Miroku continued, gazing out through the forest. "I just want you to know that I'm here to listen. We all care for you, Inuyasha, and we don't want you to be alone in this."

"I'm not some weakling that needs to be smothered," Inuyasha growled dangerously. "I learned how to take care of myself. I don't roll over for anybody."

"I never said you did," Miroku said quietly, still looking firmly ahead.

Inuyasha sighed heavily, glancing up at the forest canopy. "I'm not one or the other," he finally said, voice quiet and tinged with roughness. "Not really a demon, not really human." He came to a stop, blinking slowly. "I'm not either, that's all. There was no place for me, so I had to make one for myself. But then I realized – I had a place, but I was the only one in it. I didn't know any other way to live."

"You have a place with us," Miroku said, smiling softly. "In this group, at Kaede's…with me, you always have a place. You're not alone."

Inuyasha looked at him, at the warm violet eyes and serene expression. He glanced back at Sango, who was trying to talk Shippo out of adding a new rock to his ever-growing collection. It was true. He wasn't alone anymore. He'd built a pack around himself, one that he cherished and trusted… But that wasn't all. He'd let them close. Somehow, without his ever realizing it, he'd found a family. Miroku's arm draped around his shoulder, warm and sturdy, and they both stepped out of the way as Shippo ran past, clutching at a falling leaf. Sango sighed wearily behind them, hauling Hiraikotsu back over her shoulders and gathering Kirara in her arms.

Yeah, he wasn't alone anymore. And it felt so natural, so right, to have them by his side.