The next morning, Nauki found herself laying in between Inuyasha and Kagome with the covers all the way up to her chin. She wasn't sure how she had gotten there. Thinking things through, she figured her father had put her there after the incidence with Kenaye. Nauki was still clueless to why Kenaye, otherwise known as Blade, had helped her, or came to see her. *What was that look in his eyes the night before?*
She moved slowly so she could look at her father. Inuyasha was sleeping soundly, his ears twitching as Nauki moved. *I guess he cares about me.* She thought back to the red-tinted eyes Inuyasha had had the night before. His anger had been apparent. *Was he worried because something could have happened to me, or was it because Kenaye snuck in under his nose?* Nauki couldn't figure out which. She sighed.
"I see you're awake," Kagome said softly. She sat up, then looked over Nauki's shoulder at her with gentle, motherly eyes. Nauki was looking back at her with a blank, empty look. She could tell the girl was confused. "Inuyasha does care about you, Bubbles. He loves you more than he can ever tell you." Kagome said the words carefully watching the sixteen-year-old's expression.
Nauki broke the eye contact with her mother. She looked back at Inuyasha. The girl knew that Kikyo, her father's first love, was supposed to have been her mother. From what Miroku had told her, Kikyo had died 67 years ago by the hands of Naraku, a thief who had welcomed demons into his soul so that he may possess the Shikon Jewel. Naraku wanted to keep Kikyo to himself and be rid of Inuyasha. Nauki remembered Miroku telling her that Kikyo had pinned her father to a tree, thinking he was the one who had betrayed her before she died. As a result of that, Nauki was supposed to have been erased from Inuyasha, but demons had taken her from his soul and she had evolved in the demonworld.
Nauki had been found by Inuyasha and Kagome when she was a toddler. She had been calling out to her father, wanting him to take her away from the horrible world she was living in, although, Nauki doesn't remember any of it. She was very young at that time. Miroku informed the girl that Kagome had raised her as her own. Sango had told her that Inuyasha had taken care of her and nursed her back to health. "I know about..about Kikyo..and..all of you," Nauki said softly, her mind feeling saddened. She felt lost.
Kagome smiled weakily at her. "I know. Miroku told me he had told you when we were trapped in my time. You had a right to know, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't be with us, Nauki."
"If I hadn't been rescued, then none of this would have happened," Nauki said disapprovingly, her anger starting to show in her voice. She was mad at the world.
Inuyasha was awake. He heard what Nauki was saying, but didn't open his eyes. He wanted to know why she felt that way.
"Then what wouldn't have happened," Kagome asked softly. She touched the back of Nauki's head, stroking her long hair. *Her hair is still as soft as I remember when she was a toddler.* Kagome believed it was the angel in her.
"Then...then I wouldn't be alone..Then Inuyasha wouldn't..h-hate me..or Oda..or Aya...Then you wouldn't be sad, and I wouldn't be in the way," Nauki said her heart breaking after all of the years she had held everything inside.
Kagome stroked her hair. "Why do you think everyone hates you?"
"I cause trouble..I worry Miroku when I don't come back....Sango is always fussing at me to leave Oda alone when he bothers Aya...Aya chases after me, but I don't listen to a word she says..I have to hide what I am so no one will chase me away...or so demons won't hunt me....they won't hunt any of you....Kenaye tells me I am in the way all of the time...I know I am more trouble than what I'm worth."
"Nauki, you're not any trouble. Everyone just wants you safe. That's why they worry, or scold you. It's because they are afraid you will get hurt," Kagome said.
Nauki knew deep in her heart that there was going to be a time when she was going to have to defend them all. The day was coming when she would have to rely on herself totally; without Inuyasha, without Kagome, without Miroku, or any of them by her side to aid her. She was deeply afraid. Nauki could feel something looking for her, something that had failed in erasing her from the present.
Inuyasha frowned. He couldn't stand it any longer. He opened his eyes to look at Nauki. Deep in his heart he could feel her fear. It was hard and cold, almost unbearing. He raised his claw to touch her face. Nauki wasn't expecting him to be awake. She tensed the moment he touched her. *What are you holding back that you're not telling us, Little?*
Nauki couldn't meet her father's eyes. She could feel his concern searching her face. She didn't want to endanger them anymore. Afterall, she wasn't supposed to be here.
She laid on her back thinking. They had gotten up some time ago to do something; what she didn't know. Nauki was looking out the small window in her parents bedroom. She didn't really know why she had told Kagome everything. *Maybe it was better I told. When I die again, it will be for good. No one can regret what is going to happen to me soon. I'm not supposed to be in this world, or any world, for that matter.*
"Little?"
Nauki's ears twitched as she heard Inuyasha's voice. She turned her head slightly to look at him from the corner of her eye. He was standing in the doorway wearing his white kimono top and red trousers. She raised a brow slightly wondering why he wasn't fully dressed.
Inuyasha walked in slowly his gaze focused on his daughter's face. She had been extremely quiet since that morning and he was puzzled to why she was hiding something. "You're hiding something, Little One," he said gently. Inuyasha's face held the utmost form of seriousness. He was her father. He didn't like it when she kept things from him. He knew it was in her nature to be cautious, for Nauki had always been that way, but now was not the time.
Nauki turned her head back to the window. "It doesn't matter if I am. It's for your own good," she said matter-of-factly, sounding much like Inuyasha.
He came to crouch next to her. Looking down at her, Inuyasha could see how much she was really like him. Nauki had his ears and his long hair now, just not the same color. Her face had his shape, but Kikyo's eyes. She was beautiful. His eyes softened as he admired her form and grace. Even as he had watched her in disquise as a demon slayer, Inuyasha had been in awe at her skill. Nauki was a fighter, but she did it with confidence and elegance. Much like a combination of Kikyo and Sango. However, despite her pleasant appearance, the half-angel/half-demon had the attitude of her father.
Inuyasha bent down, putting an arm around Nauki carefully. He drew her close then laid his head against her shoulder. Cautiously, he began to stroke the back of her head like he had done when she was a toddler. The gesture wasn't just to comfort her, but to let her know that he did love her.
Nauki wasn't sure why he was stroking her hair. She didn't really know what to think. The fear and coldness she had in her heart softened. She closed her eyes gently, sniffing her father's scent. He smelled of the earth and the sky. Inuyasha's scent had always been embedded in her mind as a child. It was how she knew she was alive; that she was safe; and above all, that she had someone who loved her.
"I...love you,..Little One. I..don't want you to keep anything from me," Inuyasha said softly. He rubbed his cheek against hers, wanting her to tell him what she was thinking. Yet, he could feel her emotions running through him as a current runs through water. Nauki was being protective, in a sense. Whatever she knew, she didn't want to endanger her family.
"I can't tell you, Papa. If I do, I will lose everything," Nauki said. She lifted her claw, then grabbed onto her father's arm hard. She wanted to cry, to let everything out for once in her life, but Nauki couldn't do it. If she let the slightest crack break the wall she held up, the whole fortress would fall down. She had to be Aya and Oda's protector, her mother and father's heart, and Miroku and Sango's loyalty. They were everything to her.
"I don't understand, Nauki. I need to know what is going on through your head. You're being secretive and your guard is up. I don't want to lose you, again," Inuyasha said. He turned around to look at her. Her eyes were soft, yet hard. The glitter that sparkled in her eyes was hard. Her mind was fixed. "I need you to be straight with me."
"I am being truthful. If I tell you, I will lose everything," Nauki said again. "I cannot tell you now."
"Will you tell me soon," he asked, his eyes saddened. Nauki nodded. He ran his claw through her bangs. "I have already lost you twice, Little. You're my heart..and in saying that, you're suppose to stay with me."
Nauki hated keeping things from him, but at this point, she had no choice unless she wanted to lose all of them.
Kagome wiped her hands on the rag then set it down. She had just finished sanitizing Nauki's room. The smell of blood was still in the air, but it wasn't as strong. Kagome wiped her brow next. *It sure was a lot of work, but it was well worth it.* She admired her work for a few moments then stood up clutching the bucket of dirty water. She headed outside to dump it.
"Mama, are you done now," Aya asked as she put up her claws to block her brother's playful hits. Ever since Nauki had been hurt, Oda had changed drastically. He had even stopped being mean to Aya.
"Yes, finally finished," Kagome said proud of herself.
Oda stopped. "Does that mean Nauki can..come outside now," he asked chosing the words carefully. He looked at his mother with his golden slit eyes, raven hair tied back into a ponytail flowing in the wind.
"No, I don't think it would be wise for Nauki to get up, just yet. She hasn't sat up on her own, walked or anything since she got hurt," Kagome said.
Oda looked off, disappointed. He wanted his sister to get up. He wanted her to be alright. He still felt like some of it was his fault. Oda had been so mean to her before. To everyone..
Aya noticed her twin's sad expression. "Don't worry, Oda, when Nia is better she can play with us." It didn't seem to comfort him.
Inuyasha walked to the front entrance of the hut. He was carrying Nauki on his hip, her arms wrapped around him and her head laid upon his shoulder. She was kind of embarassed at how he was carrying her. It made her feel helpless. "Kagome?"
Kagome turned around. She smiled weakily at her husband when she noticed he had his daughter. "Is she better?"
Inuyasha looked at her sadly his face trying to hide the feelings he had. He didn't want his wife to know the conversation he had had with Nauki earlier. "Her wound is healed, but she's still weak."
Kagome nodded. She knew something was wrong. The sparkle in his eyes had faded a little since he had went in to check on the sixteen-year-old hanyou hanenjeru (half angel).
"I'm going to go give her a bath," Inuyasha said. He turned around as Nauki grumbled. She really did feel helpless now. She couldn't sit up, walk, or even bathe herself due to lying on the floor for a solid month. Her wound had healed because of Kenaye. Nauki wondered for a brief moment if that bothered her father.
Inuyasha laid his daughter on the floor of the built-in bathhouse. He looked down at her. He knew she had good reason for keeping something from him, but he didn't have to like it. "Alright, Little, the bandage has to be removed."
Nauki was cautious of the blood soaked bandage being taken off with her father in the room. She had grown into a woman in the time him and Kagome had been gone. Her face showed utter shock at the realization of the fact that it had to come off.
Inuyasha took off his white kimono top. He then bent down and picked Nauki up holding her upright, but turned away from him. Very carefully, he sliced the bandages off of her from her side. Inuyasha picked up the white kimono he had taken off, then told Nauki to slip her arms in. Now she was covered in the front with only her back open to him. He smiled at her. He couldn't help but run his claw through her bangs again.
Nauki closed her eyes as she laid her head against her father. His head was laid against the back of hers, his arms wrapped around her protectively. She could feel his chest rising and falling. Nauki gritted her teeth. Her heart was breaking. She wanted to tell him, she had to. If she told, she would lose everything. She wanted her purpose to be filled out; to protect Inuyasha. That was her goal, that was what she had been created for. Wasn't it?
Inuyasha put his claw on the back of her head. Something was really bothering her. "Nauki..? Will you please tell me?" No answer. He felt the tears drop onto his arm. The salty smell of them drifted to his nose. Inuyasha rubbed his nose against her head. "Little..please." He hated to see her saddened by anything. From what he had heard from Miroku and Sango, Nauki had suffered all of these years alone; thinking everyone hated her.
"Ow," she said as her chest moved up and down hard. It hurt for her to cry. The outside of her body was healed, but internally, she was weak. Nauki felt him nudge her. "I'll lose all of you if I tell," she said crying softly.
"You won't lose any of us, Nauki," he assured her. "Especially not me."
"I...I...was only put here to...to protect you," she said. "Whatever threw me out of the demonworld..it's searching for me. I have to protect you..I don't want you to be stripped from your family."
Inuyasha turned her to face him, his face in shock. "What do you mean something is searching for you?"
"It's..searching for me...I have felt it ever since..ever since..," she stopped looking at him. She held a hidden terror in her eyes.
Inuyasha knew that she had sensed the demon whom had tried to kill her long ago at the moment of her death. Nauki was part angel, and in saying that, she had greater powers than that of a demon. The emotions she had bottled up poured to him. He felt her sudden fear and anxiety. She was mainly concerned about everyone else's involvement with her.
He held her closer, his chin resting on her forehead. Nothing mattered to him more than protecting his family. Nauki didn't find herself a part of it because she was so different. She was a part of him and Kikyo-a girl that was supposed to have been, but wasn't. Demons had tried to erase her, but her heart was strong for a child and she longed to be with the one she was a part of.
Inuyasha closed his eyes, anger was dormiant. He wasn't going to allow anyone, or anything to take his daughter away again. He was going to protect her, to hold her, and to always be there for her. Nothing was going to come in between them. Nothing.
Nauki could feel his anger. She looked up at him, her heart fluttering. That was why she didn't want to tell him. Inuyasha was bent on destruction to anyone that came in between his family or friends. She didn't want to see him turn full demon. Nauki was sure it would turn him mindless, forever.