Disclaimer: The characters of InuYasha are not mine; they are property of Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan, Yomiuri TV, Sunrise, and Viz. The following story is for entertainment and not profit.

Chapter 9: By the Old Wood Well

"What did you do that for, you wench?" Inu Yasha yelled as the spell wore off and he climbed to his feet.

"Please," Kaede interrupted motioning him to sit, "we would all like to know what has happened to Lady Naosu."

"Fine. Speak!" he commanded taking a seat next to Naosu.

Again Sango glared at him disapprovingly. Naosu rolled her eyes as she lowered herself to the floor. Purposely ignoring the hanyou, Naosu told of her encounter with the lizard youki and the frightened child he had been pursuing. Kagome nodded, recognizing the child as Rin from the description. After the youki attacked, Naosu explained, things got a little disjointed and foggy due to the pain. Again she received nods of understanding from the group. She found it difficult to lie to them, but she knew that there were some things that she had promised, if only to herself, not to tell anyone about. The important thing was that she had saved the child and Sesshomaru had been obligated to 'save' her in return. Inu Yasha accepted the explanation, knowing how dedicated his half-brother was to being honourable.

Naosu felt her face redden as her stomach rumbled, startling the kitsune resting on her lap.

"Aye," Kaede smiled, "ye should be hungry. Ye have been sleeping for almost a day."

Miroku filled a bowl from the pot next to the fire. "Eat well, m'lady."

Naosu accepted the thick brown stew graciously and was soon asking for seconds.

The next morning was cold and sunless. Dark clouds had rolled in from the east, threatening nasty weather. After much discussion, Inu Yasha had finally agreed to wait out the imminent storm at the village. After all, Kagome had explained, if any of them become ill it would only delay them more.

Now that she was close enough to the Bone-Eater's Well, Kagome found that she no longer wanted to return home. The unexpected stress and worry of almost losing one of their traveling companions had defused the tension between her and Inu Yasha. She only hoped that he wouldn't think to ask her about her change of heart.

She had to admit that it was becoming more and more difficult to deny her feelings for him. She had never been one to hide her emotions from those around her, but Inu Yasha's reaction to them often left her feeling guilty for burdening him with them in the first place.

Not wanting her melancholy mood to affect the others, Kagome left them to the daily activities of the village and let her feet carry her off to think. She knew that some time alone with her thoughts would be all she needed. With no particular destination in mind she was a little surprised when she found herself at the base of a familiar tree. It always came back to this, didn't it, she thought, no matter which era I'm in I'm always drawn to this tree; this tree and Inu Yasha. As her thoughts continued to drift in and out of the corners of her mind, Kagome let her feet carry her aimlessly again until she found herself crossing the clearing to the well; another reminder of her dual life.

Her steps slowed as she realized that she was no longer alone. In the grey light of the cloud covered day, Kagome noticed the lone figure of someone seated by the old wooden well. The black and silver hair was impossible to mistake. Naosu sat with her back to the trees and blind to Kagome's approach. Her hair was pulled over her shoulder and being worried by her fingers. As she moved closer, Kagome noticed that the other woman's pale cheeks were glistening with moisture. She was crying.

Naosu sat deep in her own thoughts, only vaguely aware of the cold tears that wet her face. She had slipped out of the tiny shelter with her blanket just as the moon had risen. After sleeping for nearly twenty-four hours she knew that she would not be able to sleep through the night so, to avoid disturbing the others, she had made her way to the well. Wrapped tightly in the thick blanket, she had let the painful memories of her family wash over her. Now, as the sun would be reaching its zenith, she found herself staring into the somber eyes of the younger miko. She hadn't even noticed the approach of another presence until the brush of the other woman's hand on her cheek pulled her from her thoughts.

Kagome reached forward and encircled the sitting girl, "Everything will be okay." She had intended the words to comfort Naosu, but realized it was to her own pain that she spoke.

Taking the blanket from her shoulders, Naosu offered it to the ill dressed miko, "You need this more than I do."

Kagome shivered accepting the heavy fabric, suddenly aware of how cold she had become. Her short skirt and thin blouse had never been adequate for colder weather.

"Why were you crying?" Kagome asked as she turned to sit beside Naosu.

"I was thinking about my mother," Naosu suppressed the urge to release all the secrets that plagued her, but she knew that she wouldn't be able to bring herself to lie to this woman who had shown her such kindness. "She was always worried about me too. She died protecting me from my father."

Naosu left the words to hang in the silence as she fought back the welling of emotion. Lowering her eyes to the hands in her lap she could still see the blood that had stained them that night. Naosu knew that the only way to subdue the tears that threatened her was going to be a change of topic.

"What brought you out here?"

Kagome sat silent. She wanted to say something to ease the pain she could still see on her companion's face, but realized she didn't know what she could possibly offer to heal such a wound. It took her a moment to realize that she had been asked a question.

"I…uh…" Kagome felt the familiar struggle to unleash her problems and realized that all the reasons for her normal restraint didn't apply. She held back from telling her school friends because they didn't know Inu Yasha or the world in which he lived. She knew that even though Sango and Kaede would try and mean well they would never be able to understand the world she was raised in, but Naosu did. At that realization, the floodgates opened and Kagome let all her frustration and love for the hanyou spill forth. Naosu remained silent knowing this was what the miko needed.

"I can't believe I just did that," Kagome uttered in amazement.

"There is no reason you should feel guilty for your feelings. You have every right to be frustrated with him."

"No, not that. I just totally ignored your feelings."

Naosu place a reassuring hand on the knee of the girl beside her. "What happened to my mother was long ago, only time will ease the pain of that memory, but your feelings for Lord Inu Yasha, the frustration that you feel, comes from attempting to suppress them. Like I said, you shouldn't feel guilty about them. Besides, I was the one who changed the topic."

Kagome nodded in understanding as the two women shared a smile.

"I found you!" the excited squeal of the kitsune broke the quiet of their moment. "Kagome, you have to come back, I'm hungry and Inu Yasha won't let me eat until you get back." Shippo rushed on, unaware of his intrusion. "Pleeaassse."

Both girls attempted to stifle their giggles as the kit landed in front of them and proceeded to bat his large pleading eyes.

"Fine Shippo," Kagome smiled still trying to swallow her laughter, "Naosu and I will start back to the village, but you can run on ahead and tell Inu Yasha that I said you can start without us, okay?"

After a quick hug he was nothing more than a furry blur on the path.

The weather became colder and the clouds darker as Kagome and Naosu reached Kaede's hut, even a few stray flakes of snow began to swirl in the growing breeze. All through the evening meal Shippo begged for Kagome to play with him in the snow. Finally the youngster was convinced that morning would be a better time.

Again Naosu waited until the others had retired for the evening, before creeping to the door. When she was confident that even Inu Yasha was asleep, she slipped out into the darkness. Tonight she had business to take care of.