Chapter 7
Inu-Yasha walked back through the woods carrying the girl in his arms. She yawned a little. He thought their stay at Kaede's had been well progressed. Nauki opened her eyes looking at him sleepily. "Hey, kiddo." Nauki yawned again. She looked around for Kagome, but didn't see her anywhere. *Where'd she go?* She didn't understand where Kagome went for she never saw her leave. Inu-Yasha kept walking through the woods going in the direction of his hut. It had been destroyed once by a demon who had been looking for him when he was seriously hurt. However, he and Miroku had rebuilt it. Inu- Yasha didn't want to live with Kaede; he needed his own space. He thought of the past and how hurt he had been. *Man, I was sure stubborn. Probably still am..* Nauki was looking over his shoulder at the snow covered trees. She liked Kagome now. She remembered falling asleep and Kagome lifting her from Inu-Yasha. She even kind of remembered Kagome dressing her when they had gotten out of the hot springs. She whimpered slightly not understanding why Kagome left every day. Nauki wanted her to stay. She was sort of nice. Inu-Yasha heard her whimper and he patted her back figuring she was grogie. He felt her lift her head straight up. He glanced at her noticing she was looking back to the forest. *I guess she knows Kagome left.* Nauki rested her chin on his shoulder. She stretched out her hand as if she could grab Kagome back. "M..M..Ma...M..M..a..," Nauki called softly. Inu-Yasha stopped in his tracks, his ears alert. *Did she just say what I think she said?* He turned his head towards her, his eyes wide, his heart beating fast. *No one's been teaching her those words!* Nauki called Kagome again. "M...M...Ma..Ma...". He was certain of it now. Inu-Yasha stared at her in complete shock. Nauki realized he was staring at her. She turned her head to look at him. Her purple eyes reflected his face. She touched his nose with hers, having no idea what was wrong. "Papa?" "Nauki, where are you learning those words," he asked her. The child looked back at him uncertain of what he was asking. *Learn? What is "learn"?* She shook her head. "Someone must have taught you those words. You can't be saying them out of the blue." He watched her just stare at him with that famous blank expression of hers. She tilted her head at him. "Now I know if you can say two words, you can say more." Nauki shook her head. *Nope, only two for now. Sorry, papa, I can only speak when the time is right.* She kissed him beside his mouth smiling at him. "Kaede's right. You are a riddle." He continued to walk in the direction he was going. He heard Nauki sniffing the air. "No, we're not going back to Kaede's. I have my own place. I don't exactly feel like someone else telling me how to raise you." Nauki licked the side of his cheek. *You're reading me!* "Wait a minute. How did I know you wanted to ask where we're going?" He glanced at her. She just gave him her famous expression again. Inu-Yasha felt his heart reacting funny to her. It felt like it was full of emotion, and beating in a strange way. Nauki turned around as they got to the mound where the hut was sitting. It didn't look like much. She didn't really care. Better than staying in a dark hole in the rock that she was used to. She cooed at him. "I have yet to figure you out." He hopped up the mound then opened the door. "What are you doing here?!" Miroku opened an eye as he was leaned against the wall, his staff in one hand standing straight up. "Sango kicked me out again." Inu-Yasha came in. "What'd you do now?!" "I'd rather not dwell on my past ignorance," he said in return, closing his eyes. Inu-Yasha set Nauki down. The girl looked at the strange man, sniffing lightly. She couldn't tell if he was good hearted, or bad hearted. She was getting a strange mixture from the monk. "Hmmm?" Miroku opened both his eyes now noticing the little girl standing near Inu-Yasha. "Whose your friend?" "Nauki, meet Miroku. Miroku, Nauki," he introduced them. "Watch out for him, little one, he's a tricky monk." Inu-Yasha sat down on the hay that covered the floor. He leaned against the doorframe. Miroku studied the girl carefully. He could tell there was something unusual about her. "My, what unusual eyes you have." He leaned closer to gaze into them. Nauki stepped back a little, not knowing what he was doing. "You certainly are a pretty little girl," he commented, smiling at her briefly. He could tell she was scared. Inu-Yasha gave him a distilled look. "Hey, she's too young for you! You have Sango, remember?" "I didn't mean any harm in what I said, Inu-Yasha. She is a very pretty girl. Her eyes give her a hidden characteristic that I can't quite figure out." He watched Nauki sit down next to Inu-Yasha, leaning her body so she could put her head on his arm. "How ever did you come across her?" Inu-Yasha perceded into telling Miroku the long story of how he and Kagome had found the girl. He looked down at Nauki fondly, scruffing her hair each time the details got more horrifying. "We just don't know where she came from. It has Kaede completely baffled." "Well, I can understand why. Who would want to hurt a small child like Nauki? Something doesn't sound right.." "What doesn't?" "How she was left, how you two found her. Someone put her there for a reason, and that reason is clear, to die. But how did Kagome sense her from that great of distance? Kagome is still learning her abilities." "I don't know..The whole situation is a complete mess. And if I ever find out who did that to her, I'm gonna...," Inu-Yasha trailed off, growling, raising a fist. "So it's clear to say that you are attached to her." Miroku smiled faintly. "Uh..." Inu-Yasha didn't want to answer. He had not been acting like himself lately, at all. It was not normal for him to show affection to anyone. It was hard enough for him to express himself to Kagome. He thought about how he had played with Nauki and had cared for her over the past week. Things were definatly changing. "Your secret's safe with me," Miroku held up a hand. "I won't tell a living soul that you have feelings." "You better not! Or you can sleep outside where the demons will get you," Inu-Yasha threatened. Nauki's stomach started to growl. She turned around, sniffing the air smelling something coming. Miroku dug in his pocket for the fruit he had taken from home. "Here you go," He threw it to Nauki, but didn't realize she wasn't paying attention. Just when he tensed, waiting for the fruit to hit her in the side of the head, she caught it with one hand, her eyes still looking off, her attention directed elsewhere. "Inu-Yasha, did you just witness that?" Inu-Yasha nodded faintly, his eyes widening again. "Her reflexes are astounding." Nauki started to growl, hearing something approaching up the mound. She sniffed the air, and got into a crouched position, her back raised, head lowered. Inu-Yasha and Miroku stared at the girl. "Huh?" Inu-Yasha's ears twitched hearing someone singing. "Who could that be? No one ever comes out here. Well, except you," he looked at Miroku, who just nodded as he watched Nauki. Inu-Yasha relaxed. "It's only Shippo." He grabbed Nauki by the waist of her kimono, pulling her up and over to the other side of him. "Calm down, little one. It's only Shippo. He's a friend. Sort of." Shippo opened the door, not expecting Inu-Yasha to be there. "You're back? Did you find the shard," he asked. "No, I kind of got sidetracked," Inu-Yasha answered, closing his eyes as the Kitsune closed the door. "Sidetracked with what?" Shippo noticed Nauki eyeing him. He blinked his small eyes at her. "Aw, she's cute!" He smiled at her. "Where'd she come from, Inu-Yasha?" "It's a long story, and I don't feel like telling it again," Inu- Yasha answered back. Shippo sat down, mad. "No one ever tells me anything!" Nauki approached Shippo on all fours, crawling very slowly. Her guard was up. She didn't know what he was. He looked kind of like a demon, but she didn't know what kind. She sniffed at him carefully. Shippo put his hands in his lap, watching the girl approach him. "Hey, she's sniffing me. Kind of like Inu-Yasha following a trail." Inu-Yasha turned his head raising a brow. "Huh?" "Yes, very much like Inu-Yasha," Miroku commented. "Wonder why that is." "Eh, I don't have any kids if you're suggesting that I've been messing around!" He crossed his arms glaring at Miroku. "I wasn't suggesting anything like that. But if you have, does that mean Kagome's open for suitors?" Inu-Yasha growled, glaring harder. "Why you..You certainly are wanting to sleep outside tonight!" Miroku just smirked knowing he had gotten Inu-Yasha's goat. Nauki turned her attention to Miroku's comment. She didn't like what he said. How could he think of coming between her mama and papa? She growled at Miroku. "See?! I'm not the only one who doesn't like you!" Inu-Yasha pointed to Nauki. Miroku raised a brow. The girl kept snarling, her eyes narrowed. Miroku started to notice that her growls were getting deeper. Did he see fangs forming on the small girl's teeth? He tensed up, still not knowing what kind of creature, or person Nauki was. Purple eyes were not normal, he knew that. "Inu-Yasha," he said in a whisper. "Huh?" Inu-Yasha turned. Miroku was pointing at Nauki. "What the..?" The hair on the back of the girl's neck started to rise. Shippo got so scared he backed away and hid. She was crouching again. *Something tells me I better apologize quickly, or that girl's going to attack me. I don't want to hurt her.* Miroku eyed the girl's threat. "Look, what I said about Kagome was a joke." Nauki kept approaching very slowly, her hands digging into the wood, like she was getting claws. *Take it back...* Shippo peaked out from his hiding place. "She's going to..attack you, Miroku! Eh!" Shippo hid again not wanting to be part of the girl's aggressional attack. "Um, Inu-Yasha, you can help any time," Miroku said not moving. He was being very cautious. This was a child. A child! She was really ticked off at what he said. For the life of him, Miroku could not figure out what the girl was. He was getting strange vibes from her. Just as Nauki had started to get ready to pounce Miroku, Inu-Yasha pounced her. She squirmed underneath him as he pressed his weight on her. Before she knew it, her legs and arms were pinned. "Oh, no, you don't!" Inu-Yasha stayed on top of her until she calmed down. Miroku watched the struggle between the two of them. "Nauki, he didn't mean what he said!" She tried to throw him off. "Miroku has the tendencey to joke in ways that are inappropriate. This being one of them!" "I didn't mean what I said, Sunshine." Miroku bent down close enough to look her in the eyes. "See, me and Inu-Yasha have a joke going. I like to joke with him about taking Kagome away from him, and he uh, usually gets me for it. It's harmless fun." Nauki wanted to slash him so bad for what he said about her mama. She started to relax, not having any choice with Inu-Yasha pinning her down. The girl didn't like one bit of it. This monk was the strangest character she had come across. She had figured out that Kagome was a loving, caring person who was willing to help and make decisions. Inu-Yasha was a half- demon who didn't like expressing his feelings, but really cared and showed it in little ways. She even figured out the squirrel boy who seemed to be a child, just like her. Except he was a bit more intelligent about what was going on around him. But the monk...the one called Miroku had her confused. He showed two sides of himself and they seemed to conflict, and tangle themselves together. She didn't understand it. "Are you going to calm down now?" Inu-Yasha looked at her as she sighed a defeat. "Good. You can't beat Miroku up. I might let you one day, but we still need him around." "Glad to know I mean so much to you," Miroku closed his eyes, shaking his head. "But just to be sure you're not going to try anything.." Inu-Yasha bent down grabbing her by the scruff of her neck with his teeth. *Dang it!* Nauki growled a defiance. She crossed her arms as he lifted her up. "Stop growling. It won't get you anywhere," he said in between his teeth. He wrapped his arms around the girl, pulling her towards him as he sat down. Soon she was sitting in his lap much like being in jail. Nauki muttered. She couldn't say but two words, but she could still mutter. She narrowed her eyes looking off into nothingness and kicked her feet. Inu-Yasha flicked the top of her head. "Knock it off, Nauki." He watched as she stopped, crossing her arms angry as a hornet. "She'll get over it." "Still, she has a good temper in her. Might come in useful one day." Miroku watched the girl slump lower in Inu-Yasha's lap till her head was resting on his abdomen. "Is it safe to come out now?" Shippo peaked out from his hiding place. "You are such a coward," Inu-Yasha said, narrowing his eyes. "She's only six!" "She's got fangs! Claws! And she growls like you!" Shippo hopped up and down yelling. Inu-Yasha blinked. "Huh? No, she doesn't." He looked down at Nauki who looked up at him, still angry. "Nauki, open your mouth." Surprisingly, she did what he asked. He looked all over her mouth for the fangs Shippo said she had. "She doens't have fangs!" "She does when she gets mad enough!" Shippo protested. "Uaw, I'm not arguing with you people!" Nauki's stomach growled again. She had forgotten to eat the fruit that Miroku had given her. Inu-Yasha handed her the fruit. He watched her sniff it having no idea what it was. *Something tells me she's not going to eat it, unless I show her what it is.* He grabbed the fruit, taking a bite out of it, then handed it back to Nauki. Miroku thought it was kind of funny how Nauki started to eat it once Inu-Yasha had bitten off of it. "She is a perculiar little girl," he commented. "Yeah, I know, but she's usually really quiet, and sweet," Inu-Yasha said as Nauki munched on the fruit. "I've never seen her get so aggressive before. Normally during play it was short growls, but nothing like what she did tongiht." Nauki ate half of the fruit, then handed it up to Inu-Yasha. He shook his head at her. She wasn't buying it. As she waved the fruit at him, she cooed at him in order to get him to pay attention to her. "You're not going to stop until I eat it, are you?" He looked down at her as she smiled at him. Inu-Yasha took the fruit, munching on it. "You know, I think Nauki may be good for you," Miroku said smiling a bit as the girl sat up. She reached up pulling Inu-Yasha's head down, kissing him under his chin. Nauki turned over onto her side, laying in Inu-Yasha lap. All of the aggression that she had released earlier had worn her out. She was never allowed to do it in the demon world. They feared what would happen if she executed her full abilities. Lightly, she scratched at his leg closing her eyes. Shippo approached the girl cautiously. He took small steps towards her, afraid she was going to wake up. When he was about half a foot from the sleeping girl, Miroku reached his hand towards Shippo. He pulled his tail and made a "Schshz" sound really loudly. Shippo freaked out, his eyes going wide as he nearly jumped out of his skin. "You are SUCH a coward!" Inu-Yasha frowned at the kitsune. Miroku sat behind them chuckling. "That was not funny!" Shippo gave Miroku an ugly look, jumping up and down. "Calm yourself, it was harmless fun," Miroku said. "Harmless to you because you weren't the one getting the trick played on," Shippo said angrily. Nauki opened one eye. She looked at the kitsune with a newfound alertness. He was making a lot of noise that jarred her awake. Her heart was nearly beating out of her chest and her breathing was rapid. Inu-Yasha caught attention to Nauki's rapid breathing. He looked down seeing that she was awake. "Are you o.k.?" He touched her face lightly. She remained still her breathing still pretty rapid. Her body didn't know what was going on. It was completely alert, afraid that something was happening that she needed to be aware of. Miroku noticed Nauki watching the small kitsune. He put his finger to his lips, signaling Shippo to calm down. The kitsune turned around noticing he had woken Nauki from her deep sleep. He lowered his head, backing away slowly. He wasn't too sure if the girl was going to get him like she had tried to get Miroku earlier. "Inu-Yasha, try singing her to sleep," Miroku suggested. "Sing her to sleep?" He nodded. "Shippo woke her from a deep sleep. Her body has been alerted by the noise and is in shock. If you sing to her, she will calm down, and possibly go back to sleep." "I didn't mean to wake her up," Shippo pouted. "Miroku, I do not sing," Inu-Yasha said gruffly. "Then do something that will calm her down. Simple enough," Miroku answered back. "Um, I can't..." Inu-Yasha lowered his gaze. "Why, because you're afraid of what we'll think?" Shippo looked him dead in the face. "No! Because I don't care what you think!" "Then, do it," Miroku said, closing his eyes. He was caught again. His machoness was getting him into more trouble than it was worth. He didn't want his friends to see his gentle side. Inu- Yasha knew Nauki needed to sleep. The girl was in alert/shock mode and he needed to get her out of it. The more he thought, the more he didn't like the last resort he had. But he did have an idea. Inu-Yasha picked Nauki up. Her heart was still beating pretty rapidly. He sat her in his lap and turned around so Miroku and Shippo couldn't watch. It was embarassing enough. Nauki was looking around the hut pretty wildly, still trying to figure out what had jarred her awake. Before she knew it, Inu-Yasha was cradling her, licking her face, trying to coax her into going back to sleep. "What's he doing," Shippo whispered, his little head tilted. He wanted to peak, but knew if he tried he was going to get nailed upside the head. "Leave him be, Shippo. Inu-Yasha knows that girl better than we do. If he can get her to sleep, let him try his own method." "But.." Miroku shook his head. "If it's embarassing for us to watch, then give him peace with it." "Come on, Little One," Inu-Yasha whispered as Nauki tried to force her eyes to stay open. He could feel her breathing and her heart rate slowing down. She wasn't able to fight him for long. The more he licked her face, the more relaxed she became. Once she was asleep, he laid her down on the straw. Nauki curled into a fetal position, resting her hand under her chin. He kissed her lightly on the cheek once he was sure no one was watching him. Inu-Yasha guessed they were right about him. He was attached to the small six-year-old. "Alright, everybody's going to bed," Inu-Yasha announced as he blew out the oil light. He laid back putting his arms underneath his head. "Hey, how come you get to make the decision when we go to sleep," Shippo asked, not quite ready for bedtime. "Because it's my hut, and what I say goes!" "I don't have to go to bed if I don't want to," Shippo started to shout. "If you wake her up, I'm going to skin you alive," Inu-Yasha started to shout back. Miroku just laid down deciding to stay out of the debate. "Over-protective parent," Shippo shot back as he leaned against the wall sulking. "I'm not her parent!" "Then why are you acting like it?!" He glared at Inu-Yasha in the dark. Inu-Yasha just glared back, not able to comment.
Nauki woke to the strangest sight she had ever seen. Three guys with their mouths wide open, sprawled out on the floor fast asleep. She tilted her head watching the kitsune sleep. She touched his small teeth. "Huh?" He looked kind of silly with the pretty blue bow in his hair. Then she crawled over to the monk who had made her angry last night. He looked peaceful asleep, and less harmless. She wondered what the beads were around his hand. She pawed at them, watching them swing in the air. *Those are the same color as the squirrel's bow.* Nauki tilted her head at the ring around his middle finger. *What's that for?* She touched it lightly. It was the same color as her papa's eyes. She started to pull on it, wanting to examine it more. She had never seen anything like it. Miroku grabbed her wrist instantly. He opened his eyes. "Sorry, Sunshine. If you were to take that off of my finger, you would get a nasty surprise." He sat up. Nauki blinked her eyes at him. She wasn't afraid of him holding onto her wrist. Looking into his eyes more, she felt that he was being sincere and caring. Odd, since he was nowhere near showing those kinds of emotions last night. She was still curious and confused about him. She got closer to him as he still held onto her wrist. She sniffed at him, as she looked dead into his eyes. The monk looked back at her, his expression blank. She waved her hand at him smiling. Still no expression. Nauki tilted her head, raising a brow. "Huh?" *He's a funny person.* Determined to get some kind of reaction out of him, Nauki perceded to lightly harass Miroku. She poked his arm. Then his chest. Then his stomach. Still no reaction. She got even closer, looking him dead in the face. She pushed his nose in. No reaction. He only raised a brow, but that wasn't the kind of reaction she wanted. *Wonder if he wants to play.* She jumped up and down on all fours. He only watched her. Nauki tilted her head again. She leaned forward and grabbed his robe with her teeth tugging on him. *Play! Play!* "What exactly is it you want me to do?" "She wants you to play with her," Inu-Yasha said half-awake. "Nauki, I'm a little old to play with," Miroku said as she continued to tug on him. "She doesn't understand that. I don't think she knows the difference between age, gender, or any of that," Inu-Yasha said, rubbing his eyes. "Just play with her, it won't kill you." "I don't think that would look professional in my line of work," Miroku objected. "Nothing you do looks professional for your line of work," Inu-Yasha shot back. She still pulled on him, but Miroku wasn't about to budge. *Why won't he play like papa does?* Nauki sat down, lowering her head, crossing her arms. "I'll play with you," she heard someone say. Nauki turned around to see the small kitsune looking at her. "I have lots of toys," he said, rumaging through his pockets. She watched him pull out all sorts of things she had never seen before. "Or if you want, we can pretend we're chasing demons." Shippo turned into a demon with fangs an inch from his mouth, red eyes, and claws as big as Nauki's head. Her eyes widened. She screamed a high-pitched blood curdiling cry. Inu-Yasha sat up immediately once he heard her. "What's going on?!" He saw that Shippo had transformed into a demon right in front of the girl. "Shippo, you're scaring the complete hell out of her!!" Nauki continued to scream, her heart racing. *Where did that come from?! Is it here to take me back?! I don't want to leave my papa!* Tears started to flow down her face. "Shippo! Change back," Miroku yelled above the girl's screams. Nauki lifted both her hands straight out from her body, in front of her. She continued to scream as her palms were right in front of Shippo. "I don't want to leave my mama and papa!" A huge flash of light erupted from the palms of her hands, aimed straight at Shippo. Shippo seeing the light, quickly changed back, ducking as it soared over his head. The whole hut was lit up, blinding everyone in it. Shippo covered his head, "I didn't mean it!" As the light died, Nauki sat with tears flowing down her face, her palms still straight in front of her. She didn't know where the demon had gone. Both Inu-Yasha and Miroku sat with wide eyes, not knowing what had just happened. They both couldn't figure out what Nauki did. Inu-Yasha was the first to shake himself out of the state of shock. He crawled over to the girl slowly. "That...light," Miroku breathed. "She has psychic abilities like Kagome." Inu-Yasha didn't understand. He touched Nauki's face lightly till the girl lowered her hands. He was aware that she had done it out of self- defense. Nauki didn't look at him. She was afraid he was going to yell at her. The light she executed could have hit him and hurt him. She whimpered. "It's o.k, Little One," Inu-Yasha breathed. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. Nauki hid her face not looking at any of them.
Kagome had came and taken Nauki away from the hut. Inu-Yasha and Miroku had to have a talk and didn't need the girl around. Kagome had understood and had managed to coax Nauki into going to go see Kaede with her. "Alright, we have to figure out where she's from," Miroku said, resting his hand on his chin. Inu-Yasha nodded looking at the floor, his mind in shambles with what he had witnessed. "She has a strange hair cut that I've never seen on a child," Miroku noted. "And she doesn't talk, much," he added. "What else?" "Her eyes are an unnormal color," Inu-Yasha whispered. "She's also able to communicate in my dreams." "Your dreams?" Miroku saw the expression on his face. Inu-Yasha was somewhere far away from here. He decided to leave the question, unanswered. "How is she able to perform the same action as Kagome? As far as we know, Kikyo was the only other person known to execute such power." Inu-Yasha's mind drifted to his "dead" ex-girlfriend. He still had feelings for her that often entangled with the feelings he had for Kagome. He knew that Kagome was her reincarnated form, but Kagome was a lot different personality wise. "Is it possible that Nauki came from a line of Priestesses?" He pondered. "The girl was found in the woods miles from here, to die. She can only speak, apprently, when the timing is right. Other than that, she can only say two words. That being "mama" and "papa" which is referred to you and Kagome." "Inu-Yasha?" Shippo poked him. He looked up. "Leave me alone." "I know you don't like this anymore than I do, but Nauki might be dangerous," Miroku said. He glanced at Inu-Yasha who had a mortified expression on his face. "She can't be.." "She can be," Miroku corrected. "No, she can't be! I've spent a week with that child, Miroku! She hasn't shown any sign of aggression unless she has felt threatened. Even when she was afraid, she clung to me not moving! She was so petrified that she couldn't move!" "But that doesn't explain where that light came from.." He sighed. "I don't know where that light came from! I don't care! Nauki is not as dangerous as you two think she is!" He got up, stomping out of the hut, slamming the door behind him. "Why is he so hard to talk to.." "Because he loves her, and is standing up for her," Shippo said staring at the door. "Yes, he has gotten quite attached to the girl. Still...we need to find out where she came from. It would explain a lot about her abilities." Shippo nodded.
Inu-Yasha sat on the rocks near the cold river. His mind was deep in thought. He didn't want to believe what Miroku had suggested. *There's no way that Nauki is evil. I don't sense anything evil about her.* He closed his eyes. When he was with her, he felt whole. More whole than when he was with Kagome. Inu-Yasha lowered his head. He could still remember how pale Nauki had been when he freed her from the chain around her ankle. He had ran as fast as he could to save her life. He still didn't understand why he had been so concerned about her. Her eyes kept sparkling in his mind. Nauki had beautiful purple eyes, a smile that melted his heart, and she loved him. What others thought of her, didn't concern him. She was the first child, or person that had accepted him for what he was, and wasn't afraid. She had snuggled up against him when he slept, and had wanted to feed him. Nauki was a special little girl. He knew that. He didn't want to let her go for anything in the world. Inu-Yasha felt his heart aching. He believed it was more of Nauki's sadness over what had happened, than his own. He sighed touching his chest lightly. *It's o.k., Little One, I'm not mad. I understand that you did it in self-defense.* The aching eased a little, but it was still there. Inu-Yasha knew he wasn't acting a bit like himself. Everything had changed a week ago when he had found her. His whole life was changing. He loved Kagome and wanted her to stay with him. At the same time, he was still battling his feelings over Kikyo, who constantly tried to kill him, but swore she still loved him. Now Nauki was in his life. A little girl who only wanted to be around him. *I don't understand what's happening...I don't even think I care if I ever understand. Nauki needs me, and in a way, I guess I need her, too.* Where she came from plagued him. Something in his heart told him she came from a place that he was a part of, and at the same time, a place he had never been. Inu-Yasha opened his eyes. The river in front of him gurgled a little. The cold air did not bother him. Once his heart had been just as frozen as the land around him. But over time, it was beginning to thaw. "I...I..nnn..uuu...Y...ash...a.." "Huh?" He turned around to see Nauki standing behind him with her head lowered. She didn't look at him. Her hands were behind her back waiting to be punished. She shifted her bare feet a little. "What happened to you calling me "Papa"?" Nauki shook her head. She didn't want to call him something he was uncomfortable with. Over the past few days she had thought a lot. Maybe he wasn't her papa. Maybe she wasn't suppose to be here. She knew she wasn't suppose to be here. Nauki didn't want to make things any more difficult than they already were. She bit her lower lip, wanting to cry, but she held back the tears. She really did like him. He had taken care of her, and saved her life. But that's not the reason she loved him. Nauki wanted to be around him because he had a soft beating heart. She liked the rhythmn his heart had. It sounded so much like the one she had heard in the demon world. She guessed it was more of her wishful thinking that he was the one she had been looking for. Nauki closed her eyes, shaking her head again. *I'm sorry...for everything. I didn't mean to call you something you're not..or to pounce Miroku....or to cause you to put off your quest..* She stepped back some, feeling like she should run just to make things easier, so he wouldn't feel burdened by her. Inu-Yasha felt everything she felt. He couldn't explain it. He felt her sadness, her desperation, her apology, her flighty spirit. She wanted to run from him. She was sorry and she was afraid. He gasped when the girl turned around quickly, only to run from him. "Nauki!" He yelled at her, but it was too late. Inu-Yasha got up quickly to chase her. He looked around wildly, but couldn't find a trace of her. He also noticed that there were no footprints in the snow. *Aw, Little One, where did you go?* He made his way back to the hut, not able to find Nauki. He had sniffed for her, tried to track her only to no avail. She was very good at hiding. It was odd that he couldn't find her because he could easily track most humans and demons alike. Inu-Yasha opened the door to his hut, not paying attention to the stares he recieved when he came inside alone. He sat down with his back to the wall, looking at the floor. He had no idea where she had gone. "Inu-Yasha, where's Nauki?" Kagome kneeled in front of him. "I don't know.." "I got this strange vibe from her that she wanted to apologize to you for something, so I let her go. Didn't you see her?" "I saw her, but she ran from me, and I can't find her." "You..can't find her? She'll freeze to death out there!" Inu-Yasha closed his eyes, the pain over his heart starting again. "She ran from me, Kagome. She was gone before I could track her." "Aw, do you think she's sad about what happened this morning," Shippo asked. "Very much so," Inu-Yasha answered, opening his eyes. "What happened?" Kagome looked from one to the other, neither answering. "Well? What happened?" "Nauki is able to emit the same flash of psychic powers you have, Kagome," Inu-Yasha said quietly. "What? How is that possible?" "I don't know...Shippo scared her to death by shifting into a demon, and Nauki sort of..held out her hands to ward him off out of fear." Shippo shrank, stepping back some. "I said I was sorry.." "Is that why Miroku asked me about her?" "Probably.." "He went to go see Kaede to ask her input on the situation," Shippo said. "There is NO situation!" Inu-Yasha raised his voice. Kagome placed her hand on his shoulder. "Look, I know you care about her." Inu-Yasha turned his head, afraid that his expression was going to relay more than he wanted them to know. "Miroku went to go ask Kaede because he has a premonition about what Nauki is. He wanted to be sure he was right," Kagome said. "And what does he think Nauki is.." The door opened. Kaede walked through with Miroku. "I believe Nauki is an Angel," She said. "A..what..?" Inu-Yasha's voice contained complete shock as he got quiet. "She has all of the symptoms of a particular Angel, but I do not have enough evidence, by what Miroku has told me, to make that sort of judgement." Kaede sat down while Miroku stood. "Nauki is able to exert psychic energy. You've told us that you can sense questions she wants to ask, and she has communicated in your dreams, Inu-Yasha," Miroku said. "I didn't actually think you would believe me," Inu-Yasha said, closing his eyes again, thinking only of the six year-old who had ran from him. He didn't know where she was and it was slowly tearing him apart. He was afraid that something was going to happen to her. "She was also found in the middle of nowhere, where someone had placed her to die. We, however, still haven't figured that one out yet," Miroku commented. "But her abilities are a hint in the direction of what she is." "Tell me more about why ye cannot find her, Inu-Yasha," Kaede asked. "I just can't find her. I sniffed for her, I looked in the snow...There weren't any footprints, and I couldn't find her scent." Kagome sat quietly looking amongst them. "Ye could not find the child's scent, Inu-Yasha, because she does not have one. Angels do not emit a scent. They are harder to track, and it is for their safety." "If Nauki is an Angel, shouldn't she have wings, or something? " He glared at Kaede. Knowing what it meant if they were right about the girl. "She probably does. Her wings, however, do not stay in full view. She can look like an ordinary human child, unless she is in great danger. Then her wings come out as a self-defense, to execute a powerful wave of energy to ward off her enemies," Kaede informed them. "What particular Angel do you think she is..Like there are different kinds..," Inu-Yasha stared at her hard. "There are. First, she could be what is known as an ArchAngel. A type of Angel that is mainly created for fighting against evil; to die for honor." He didn't like the sound of that. "There is also what is known as a Guardian Angel. An Angel that is meant to protect and defend a person, or a family," Miroku enlightened them. "Another type is called a Soul Angel. Also referred to as a Soul Child," Kaede said, deep in thought. "Soul child," Kagome asked. "Yes, child. A soul child is an angel that is taken from two people's souls. That type of angel is created without knowledge and knowing. It is a very powerful omen to come across one. Usually meant to bring peace, love, and honor to the very people that child is a part of. He, or she, holds certain characteristics that only those two people would recognize, and no one else." "So, what type of Angel is she," Inu-Yasha demanded. "We are not sure," Miroku said. "Nauki could be any of those. She has only shown one type of attack that she is capable of." "So you two barge in here, accussing her of being something she's not without any justified proof, or hard evidence!" Inu-Yasha got up, fixing to storm out of the hut. Kagome grabbed his hand. "Why are you so afraid of what she is?" Kagome looked up at him with her sad eyes. "Because he is aware of what it means, if the child turns out to be what we have said," Kaede commented. "What does it mean," Kagome asked, holding her hand to her chest. "It means that Nauki and Inu-Yasha will be in grave danger if the word gets out," Miroku looked Inu-Yasha over. "For to be raising, or associating with your enemy means certain death to demons." "You mean other demons would kill them?" "More precisley, they would be hunted and killed," Kaede corrected her. Miroku sized him up, looking him hard in the face. "Do you love that little girl enough to risk both of your lives, Inu-Yasha?" Inu-Yasha raised his eyes, looking Miroku back even harder, gritting his teeth. "I love Nauki enough to raise her and protect her! And none of you," He turned around, flexing his nails, "are going to have any say in what I feel, or do!"
Inu-Yasha walked back through the woods carrying the girl in his arms. She yawned a little. He thought their stay at Kaede's had been well progressed. Nauki opened her eyes looking at him sleepily. "Hey, kiddo." Nauki yawned again. She looked around for Kagome, but didn't see her anywhere. *Where'd she go?* She didn't understand where Kagome went for she never saw her leave. Inu-Yasha kept walking through the woods going in the direction of his hut. It had been destroyed once by a demon who had been looking for him when he was seriously hurt. However, he and Miroku had rebuilt it. Inu- Yasha didn't want to live with Kaede; he needed his own space. He thought of the past and how hurt he had been. *Man, I was sure stubborn. Probably still am..* Nauki was looking over his shoulder at the snow covered trees. She liked Kagome now. She remembered falling asleep and Kagome lifting her from Inu-Yasha. She even kind of remembered Kagome dressing her when they had gotten out of the hot springs. She whimpered slightly not understanding why Kagome left every day. Nauki wanted her to stay. She was sort of nice. Inu-Yasha heard her whimper and he patted her back figuring she was grogie. He felt her lift her head straight up. He glanced at her noticing she was looking back to the forest. *I guess she knows Kagome left.* Nauki rested her chin on his shoulder. She stretched out her hand as if she could grab Kagome back. "M..M..Ma...M..M..a..," Nauki called softly. Inu-Yasha stopped in his tracks, his ears alert. *Did she just say what I think she said?* He turned his head towards her, his eyes wide, his heart beating fast. *No one's been teaching her those words!* Nauki called Kagome again. "M...M...Ma..Ma...". He was certain of it now. Inu-Yasha stared at her in complete shock. Nauki realized he was staring at her. She turned her head to look at him. Her purple eyes reflected his face. She touched his nose with hers, having no idea what was wrong. "Papa?" "Nauki, where are you learning those words," he asked her. The child looked back at him uncertain of what he was asking. *Learn? What is "learn"?* She shook her head. "Someone must have taught you those words. You can't be saying them out of the blue." He watched her just stare at him with that famous blank expression of hers. She tilted her head at him. "Now I know if you can say two words, you can say more." Nauki shook her head. *Nope, only two for now. Sorry, papa, I can only speak when the time is right.* She kissed him beside his mouth smiling at him. "Kaede's right. You are a riddle." He continued to walk in the direction he was going. He heard Nauki sniffing the air. "No, we're not going back to Kaede's. I have my own place. I don't exactly feel like someone else telling me how to raise you." Nauki licked the side of his cheek. *You're reading me!* "Wait a minute. How did I know you wanted to ask where we're going?" He glanced at her. She just gave him her famous expression again. Inu-Yasha felt his heart reacting funny to her. It felt like it was full of emotion, and beating in a strange way. Nauki turned around as they got to the mound where the hut was sitting. It didn't look like much. She didn't really care. Better than staying in a dark hole in the rock that she was used to. She cooed at him. "I have yet to figure you out." He hopped up the mound then opened the door. "What are you doing here?!" Miroku opened an eye as he was leaned against the wall, his staff in one hand standing straight up. "Sango kicked me out again." Inu-Yasha came in. "What'd you do now?!" "I'd rather not dwell on my past ignorance," he said in return, closing his eyes. Inu-Yasha set Nauki down. The girl looked at the strange man, sniffing lightly. She couldn't tell if he was good hearted, or bad hearted. She was getting a strange mixture from the monk. "Hmmm?" Miroku opened both his eyes now noticing the little girl standing near Inu-Yasha. "Whose your friend?" "Nauki, meet Miroku. Miroku, Nauki," he introduced them. "Watch out for him, little one, he's a tricky monk." Inu-Yasha sat down on the hay that covered the floor. He leaned against the doorframe. Miroku studied the girl carefully. He could tell there was something unusual about her. "My, what unusual eyes you have." He leaned closer to gaze into them. Nauki stepped back a little, not knowing what he was doing. "You certainly are a pretty little girl," he commented, smiling at her briefly. He could tell she was scared. Inu-Yasha gave him a distilled look. "Hey, she's too young for you! You have Sango, remember?" "I didn't mean any harm in what I said, Inu-Yasha. She is a very pretty girl. Her eyes give her a hidden characteristic that I can't quite figure out." He watched Nauki sit down next to Inu-Yasha, leaning her body so she could put her head on his arm. "How ever did you come across her?" Inu-Yasha perceded into telling Miroku the long story of how he and Kagome had found the girl. He looked down at Nauki fondly, scruffing her hair each time the details got more horrifying. "We just don't know where she came from. It has Kaede completely baffled." "Well, I can understand why. Who would want to hurt a small child like Nauki? Something doesn't sound right.." "What doesn't?" "How she was left, how you two found her. Someone put her there for a reason, and that reason is clear, to die. But how did Kagome sense her from that great of distance? Kagome is still learning her abilities." "I don't know..The whole situation is a complete mess. And if I ever find out who did that to her, I'm gonna...," Inu-Yasha trailed off, growling, raising a fist. "So it's clear to say that you are attached to her." Miroku smiled faintly. "Uh..." Inu-Yasha didn't want to answer. He had not been acting like himself lately, at all. It was not normal for him to show affection to anyone. It was hard enough for him to express himself to Kagome. He thought about how he had played with Nauki and had cared for her over the past week. Things were definatly changing. "Your secret's safe with me," Miroku held up a hand. "I won't tell a living soul that you have feelings." "You better not! Or you can sleep outside where the demons will get you," Inu-Yasha threatened. Nauki's stomach started to growl. She turned around, sniffing the air smelling something coming. Miroku dug in his pocket for the fruit he had taken from home. "Here you go," He threw it to Nauki, but didn't realize she wasn't paying attention. Just when he tensed, waiting for the fruit to hit her in the side of the head, she caught it with one hand, her eyes still looking off, her attention directed elsewhere. "Inu-Yasha, did you just witness that?" Inu-Yasha nodded faintly, his eyes widening again. "Her reflexes are astounding." Nauki started to growl, hearing something approaching up the mound. She sniffed the air, and got into a crouched position, her back raised, head lowered. Inu-Yasha and Miroku stared at the girl. "Huh?" Inu-Yasha's ears twitched hearing someone singing. "Who could that be? No one ever comes out here. Well, except you," he looked at Miroku, who just nodded as he watched Nauki. Inu-Yasha relaxed. "It's only Shippo." He grabbed Nauki by the waist of her kimono, pulling her up and over to the other side of him. "Calm down, little one. It's only Shippo. He's a friend. Sort of." Shippo opened the door, not expecting Inu-Yasha to be there. "You're back? Did you find the shard," he asked. "No, I kind of got sidetracked," Inu-Yasha answered, closing his eyes as the Kitsune closed the door. "Sidetracked with what?" Shippo noticed Nauki eyeing him. He blinked his small eyes at her. "Aw, she's cute!" He smiled at her. "Where'd she come from, Inu-Yasha?" "It's a long story, and I don't feel like telling it again," Inu- Yasha answered back. Shippo sat down, mad. "No one ever tells me anything!" Nauki approached Shippo on all fours, crawling very slowly. Her guard was up. She didn't know what he was. He looked kind of like a demon, but she didn't know what kind. She sniffed at him carefully. Shippo put his hands in his lap, watching the girl approach him. "Hey, she's sniffing me. Kind of like Inu-Yasha following a trail." Inu-Yasha turned his head raising a brow. "Huh?" "Yes, very much like Inu-Yasha," Miroku commented. "Wonder why that is." "Eh, I don't have any kids if you're suggesting that I've been messing around!" He crossed his arms glaring at Miroku. "I wasn't suggesting anything like that. But if you have, does that mean Kagome's open for suitors?" Inu-Yasha growled, glaring harder. "Why you..You certainly are wanting to sleep outside tonight!" Miroku just smirked knowing he had gotten Inu-Yasha's goat. Nauki turned her attention to Miroku's comment. She didn't like what he said. How could he think of coming between her mama and papa? She growled at Miroku. "See?! I'm not the only one who doesn't like you!" Inu-Yasha pointed to Nauki. Miroku raised a brow. The girl kept snarling, her eyes narrowed. Miroku started to notice that her growls were getting deeper. Did he see fangs forming on the small girl's teeth? He tensed up, still not knowing what kind of creature, or person Nauki was. Purple eyes were not normal, he knew that. "Inu-Yasha," he said in a whisper. "Huh?" Inu-Yasha turned. Miroku was pointing at Nauki. "What the..?" The hair on the back of the girl's neck started to rise. Shippo got so scared he backed away and hid. She was crouching again. *Something tells me I better apologize quickly, or that girl's going to attack me. I don't want to hurt her.* Miroku eyed the girl's threat. "Look, what I said about Kagome was a joke." Nauki kept approaching very slowly, her hands digging into the wood, like she was getting claws. *Take it back...* Shippo peaked out from his hiding place. "She's going to..attack you, Miroku! Eh!" Shippo hid again not wanting to be part of the girl's aggressional attack. "Um, Inu-Yasha, you can help any time," Miroku said not moving. He was being very cautious. This was a child. A child! She was really ticked off at what he said. For the life of him, Miroku could not figure out what the girl was. He was getting strange vibes from her. Just as Nauki had started to get ready to pounce Miroku, Inu-Yasha pounced her. She squirmed underneath him as he pressed his weight on her. Before she knew it, her legs and arms were pinned. "Oh, no, you don't!" Inu-Yasha stayed on top of her until she calmed down. Miroku watched the struggle between the two of them. "Nauki, he didn't mean what he said!" She tried to throw him off. "Miroku has the tendencey to joke in ways that are inappropriate. This being one of them!" "I didn't mean what I said, Sunshine." Miroku bent down close enough to look her in the eyes. "See, me and Inu-Yasha have a joke going. I like to joke with him about taking Kagome away from him, and he uh, usually gets me for it. It's harmless fun." Nauki wanted to slash him so bad for what he said about her mama. She started to relax, not having any choice with Inu-Yasha pinning her down. The girl didn't like one bit of it. This monk was the strangest character she had come across. She had figured out that Kagome was a loving, caring person who was willing to help and make decisions. Inu-Yasha was a half- demon who didn't like expressing his feelings, but really cared and showed it in little ways. She even figured out the squirrel boy who seemed to be a child, just like her. Except he was a bit more intelligent about what was going on around him. But the monk...the one called Miroku had her confused. He showed two sides of himself and they seemed to conflict, and tangle themselves together. She didn't understand it. "Are you going to calm down now?" Inu-Yasha looked at her as she sighed a defeat. "Good. You can't beat Miroku up. I might let you one day, but we still need him around." "Glad to know I mean so much to you," Miroku closed his eyes, shaking his head. "But just to be sure you're not going to try anything.." Inu-Yasha bent down grabbing her by the scruff of her neck with his teeth. *Dang it!* Nauki growled a defiance. She crossed her arms as he lifted her up. "Stop growling. It won't get you anywhere," he said in between his teeth. He wrapped his arms around the girl, pulling her towards him as he sat down. Soon she was sitting in his lap much like being in jail. Nauki muttered. She couldn't say but two words, but she could still mutter. She narrowed her eyes looking off into nothingness and kicked her feet. Inu-Yasha flicked the top of her head. "Knock it off, Nauki." He watched as she stopped, crossing her arms angry as a hornet. "She'll get over it." "Still, she has a good temper in her. Might come in useful one day." Miroku watched the girl slump lower in Inu-Yasha's lap till her head was resting on his abdomen. "Is it safe to come out now?" Shippo peaked out from his hiding place. "You are such a coward," Inu-Yasha said, narrowing his eyes. "She's only six!" "She's got fangs! Claws! And she growls like you!" Shippo hopped up and down yelling. Inu-Yasha blinked. "Huh? No, she doesn't." He looked down at Nauki who looked up at him, still angry. "Nauki, open your mouth." Surprisingly, she did what he asked. He looked all over her mouth for the fangs Shippo said she had. "She doens't have fangs!" "She does when she gets mad enough!" Shippo protested. "Uaw, I'm not arguing with you people!" Nauki's stomach growled again. She had forgotten to eat the fruit that Miroku had given her. Inu-Yasha handed her the fruit. He watched her sniff it having no idea what it was. *Something tells me she's not going to eat it, unless I show her what it is.* He grabbed the fruit, taking a bite out of it, then handed it back to Nauki. Miroku thought it was kind of funny how Nauki started to eat it once Inu-Yasha had bitten off of it. "She is a perculiar little girl," he commented. "Yeah, I know, but she's usually really quiet, and sweet," Inu-Yasha said as Nauki munched on the fruit. "I've never seen her get so aggressive before. Normally during play it was short growls, but nothing like what she did tongiht." Nauki ate half of the fruit, then handed it up to Inu-Yasha. He shook his head at her. She wasn't buying it. As she waved the fruit at him, she cooed at him in order to get him to pay attention to her. "You're not going to stop until I eat it, are you?" He looked down at her as she smiled at him. Inu-Yasha took the fruit, munching on it. "You know, I think Nauki may be good for you," Miroku said smiling a bit as the girl sat up. She reached up pulling Inu-Yasha's head down, kissing him under his chin. Nauki turned over onto her side, laying in Inu-Yasha lap. All of the aggression that she had released earlier had worn her out. She was never allowed to do it in the demon world. They feared what would happen if she executed her full abilities. Lightly, she scratched at his leg closing her eyes. Shippo approached the girl cautiously. He took small steps towards her, afraid she was going to wake up. When he was about half a foot from the sleeping girl, Miroku reached his hand towards Shippo. He pulled his tail and made a "Schshz" sound really loudly. Shippo freaked out, his eyes going wide as he nearly jumped out of his skin. "You are SUCH a coward!" Inu-Yasha frowned at the kitsune. Miroku sat behind them chuckling. "That was not funny!" Shippo gave Miroku an ugly look, jumping up and down. "Calm yourself, it was harmless fun," Miroku said. "Harmless to you because you weren't the one getting the trick played on," Shippo said angrily. Nauki opened one eye. She looked at the kitsune with a newfound alertness. He was making a lot of noise that jarred her awake. Her heart was nearly beating out of her chest and her breathing was rapid. Inu-Yasha caught attention to Nauki's rapid breathing. He looked down seeing that she was awake. "Are you o.k.?" He touched her face lightly. She remained still her breathing still pretty rapid. Her body didn't know what was going on. It was completely alert, afraid that something was happening that she needed to be aware of. Miroku noticed Nauki watching the small kitsune. He put his finger to his lips, signaling Shippo to calm down. The kitsune turned around noticing he had woken Nauki from her deep sleep. He lowered his head, backing away slowly. He wasn't too sure if the girl was going to get him like she had tried to get Miroku earlier. "Inu-Yasha, try singing her to sleep," Miroku suggested. "Sing her to sleep?" He nodded. "Shippo woke her from a deep sleep. Her body has been alerted by the noise and is in shock. If you sing to her, she will calm down, and possibly go back to sleep." "I didn't mean to wake her up," Shippo pouted. "Miroku, I do not sing," Inu-Yasha said gruffly. "Then do something that will calm her down. Simple enough," Miroku answered back. "Um, I can't..." Inu-Yasha lowered his gaze. "Why, because you're afraid of what we'll think?" Shippo looked him dead in the face. "No! Because I don't care what you think!" "Then, do it," Miroku said, closing his eyes. He was caught again. His machoness was getting him into more trouble than it was worth. He didn't want his friends to see his gentle side. Inu- Yasha knew Nauki needed to sleep. The girl was in alert/shock mode and he needed to get her out of it. The more he thought, the more he didn't like the last resort he had. But he did have an idea. Inu-Yasha picked Nauki up. Her heart was still beating pretty rapidly. He sat her in his lap and turned around so Miroku and Shippo couldn't watch. It was embarassing enough. Nauki was looking around the hut pretty wildly, still trying to figure out what had jarred her awake. Before she knew it, Inu-Yasha was cradling her, licking her face, trying to coax her into going back to sleep. "What's he doing," Shippo whispered, his little head tilted. He wanted to peak, but knew if he tried he was going to get nailed upside the head. "Leave him be, Shippo. Inu-Yasha knows that girl better than we do. If he can get her to sleep, let him try his own method." "But.." Miroku shook his head. "If it's embarassing for us to watch, then give him peace with it." "Come on, Little One," Inu-Yasha whispered as Nauki tried to force her eyes to stay open. He could feel her breathing and her heart rate slowing down. She wasn't able to fight him for long. The more he licked her face, the more relaxed she became. Once she was asleep, he laid her down on the straw. Nauki curled into a fetal position, resting her hand under her chin. He kissed her lightly on the cheek once he was sure no one was watching him. Inu-Yasha guessed they were right about him. He was attached to the small six-year-old. "Alright, everybody's going to bed," Inu-Yasha announced as he blew out the oil light. He laid back putting his arms underneath his head. "Hey, how come you get to make the decision when we go to sleep," Shippo asked, not quite ready for bedtime. "Because it's my hut, and what I say goes!" "I don't have to go to bed if I don't want to," Shippo started to shout. "If you wake her up, I'm going to skin you alive," Inu-Yasha started to shout back. Miroku just laid down deciding to stay out of the debate. "Over-protective parent," Shippo shot back as he leaned against the wall sulking. "I'm not her parent!" "Then why are you acting like it?!" He glared at Inu-Yasha in the dark. Inu-Yasha just glared back, not able to comment.
Nauki woke to the strangest sight she had ever seen. Three guys with their mouths wide open, sprawled out on the floor fast asleep. She tilted her head watching the kitsune sleep. She touched his small teeth. "Huh?" He looked kind of silly with the pretty blue bow in his hair. Then she crawled over to the monk who had made her angry last night. He looked peaceful asleep, and less harmless. She wondered what the beads were around his hand. She pawed at them, watching them swing in the air. *Those are the same color as the squirrel's bow.* Nauki tilted her head at the ring around his middle finger. *What's that for?* She touched it lightly. It was the same color as her papa's eyes. She started to pull on it, wanting to examine it more. She had never seen anything like it. Miroku grabbed her wrist instantly. He opened his eyes. "Sorry, Sunshine. If you were to take that off of my finger, you would get a nasty surprise." He sat up. Nauki blinked her eyes at him. She wasn't afraid of him holding onto her wrist. Looking into his eyes more, she felt that he was being sincere and caring. Odd, since he was nowhere near showing those kinds of emotions last night. She was still curious and confused about him. She got closer to him as he still held onto her wrist. She sniffed at him, as she looked dead into his eyes. The monk looked back at her, his expression blank. She waved her hand at him smiling. Still no expression. Nauki tilted her head, raising a brow. "Huh?" *He's a funny person.* Determined to get some kind of reaction out of him, Nauki perceded to lightly harass Miroku. She poked his arm. Then his chest. Then his stomach. Still no reaction. She got even closer, looking him dead in the face. She pushed his nose in. No reaction. He only raised a brow, but that wasn't the kind of reaction she wanted. *Wonder if he wants to play.* She jumped up and down on all fours. He only watched her. Nauki tilted her head again. She leaned forward and grabbed his robe with her teeth tugging on him. *Play! Play!* "What exactly is it you want me to do?" "She wants you to play with her," Inu-Yasha said half-awake. "Nauki, I'm a little old to play with," Miroku said as she continued to tug on him. "She doesn't understand that. I don't think she knows the difference between age, gender, or any of that," Inu-Yasha said, rubbing his eyes. "Just play with her, it won't kill you." "I don't think that would look professional in my line of work," Miroku objected. "Nothing you do looks professional for your line of work," Inu-Yasha shot back. She still pulled on him, but Miroku wasn't about to budge. *Why won't he play like papa does?* Nauki sat down, lowering her head, crossing her arms. "I'll play with you," she heard someone say. Nauki turned around to see the small kitsune looking at her. "I have lots of toys," he said, rumaging through his pockets. She watched him pull out all sorts of things she had never seen before. "Or if you want, we can pretend we're chasing demons." Shippo turned into a demon with fangs an inch from his mouth, red eyes, and claws as big as Nauki's head. Her eyes widened. She screamed a high-pitched blood curdiling cry. Inu-Yasha sat up immediately once he heard her. "What's going on?!" He saw that Shippo had transformed into a demon right in front of the girl. "Shippo, you're scaring the complete hell out of her!!" Nauki continued to scream, her heart racing. *Where did that come from?! Is it here to take me back?! I don't want to leave my papa!* Tears started to flow down her face. "Shippo! Change back," Miroku yelled above the girl's screams. Nauki lifted both her hands straight out from her body, in front of her. She continued to scream as her palms were right in front of Shippo. "I don't want to leave my mama and papa!" A huge flash of light erupted from the palms of her hands, aimed straight at Shippo. Shippo seeing the light, quickly changed back, ducking as it soared over his head. The whole hut was lit up, blinding everyone in it. Shippo covered his head, "I didn't mean it!" As the light died, Nauki sat with tears flowing down her face, her palms still straight in front of her. She didn't know where the demon had gone. Both Inu-Yasha and Miroku sat with wide eyes, not knowing what had just happened. They both couldn't figure out what Nauki did. Inu-Yasha was the first to shake himself out of the state of shock. He crawled over to the girl slowly. "That...light," Miroku breathed. "She has psychic abilities like Kagome." Inu-Yasha didn't understand. He touched Nauki's face lightly till the girl lowered her hands. He was aware that she had done it out of self- defense. Nauki didn't look at him. She was afraid he was going to yell at her. The light she executed could have hit him and hurt him. She whimpered. "It's o.k, Little One," Inu-Yasha breathed. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. Nauki hid her face not looking at any of them.
Kagome had came and taken Nauki away from the hut. Inu-Yasha and Miroku had to have a talk and didn't need the girl around. Kagome had understood and had managed to coax Nauki into going to go see Kaede with her. "Alright, we have to figure out where she's from," Miroku said, resting his hand on his chin. Inu-Yasha nodded looking at the floor, his mind in shambles with what he had witnessed. "She has a strange hair cut that I've never seen on a child," Miroku noted. "And she doesn't talk, much," he added. "What else?" "Her eyes are an unnormal color," Inu-Yasha whispered. "She's also able to communicate in my dreams." "Your dreams?" Miroku saw the expression on his face. Inu-Yasha was somewhere far away from here. He decided to leave the question, unanswered. "How is she able to perform the same action as Kagome? As far as we know, Kikyo was the only other person known to execute such power." Inu-Yasha's mind drifted to his "dead" ex-girlfriend. He still had feelings for her that often entangled with the feelings he had for Kagome. He knew that Kagome was her reincarnated form, but Kagome was a lot different personality wise. "Is it possible that Nauki came from a line of Priestesses?" He pondered. "The girl was found in the woods miles from here, to die. She can only speak, apprently, when the timing is right. Other than that, she can only say two words. That being "mama" and "papa" which is referred to you and Kagome." "Inu-Yasha?" Shippo poked him. He looked up. "Leave me alone." "I know you don't like this anymore than I do, but Nauki might be dangerous," Miroku said. He glanced at Inu-Yasha who had a mortified expression on his face. "She can't be.." "She can be," Miroku corrected. "No, she can't be! I've spent a week with that child, Miroku! She hasn't shown any sign of aggression unless she has felt threatened. Even when she was afraid, she clung to me not moving! She was so petrified that she couldn't move!" "But that doesn't explain where that light came from.." He sighed. "I don't know where that light came from! I don't care! Nauki is not as dangerous as you two think she is!" He got up, stomping out of the hut, slamming the door behind him. "Why is he so hard to talk to.." "Because he loves her, and is standing up for her," Shippo said staring at the door. "Yes, he has gotten quite attached to the girl. Still...we need to find out where she came from. It would explain a lot about her abilities." Shippo nodded.
Inu-Yasha sat on the rocks near the cold river. His mind was deep in thought. He didn't want to believe what Miroku had suggested. *There's no way that Nauki is evil. I don't sense anything evil about her.* He closed his eyes. When he was with her, he felt whole. More whole than when he was with Kagome. Inu-Yasha lowered his head. He could still remember how pale Nauki had been when he freed her from the chain around her ankle. He had ran as fast as he could to save her life. He still didn't understand why he had been so concerned about her. Her eyes kept sparkling in his mind. Nauki had beautiful purple eyes, a smile that melted his heart, and she loved him. What others thought of her, didn't concern him. She was the first child, or person that had accepted him for what he was, and wasn't afraid. She had snuggled up against him when he slept, and had wanted to feed him. Nauki was a special little girl. He knew that. He didn't want to let her go for anything in the world. Inu-Yasha felt his heart aching. He believed it was more of Nauki's sadness over what had happened, than his own. He sighed touching his chest lightly. *It's o.k., Little One, I'm not mad. I understand that you did it in self-defense.* The aching eased a little, but it was still there. Inu-Yasha knew he wasn't acting a bit like himself. Everything had changed a week ago when he had found her. His whole life was changing. He loved Kagome and wanted her to stay with him. At the same time, he was still battling his feelings over Kikyo, who constantly tried to kill him, but swore she still loved him. Now Nauki was in his life. A little girl who only wanted to be around him. *I don't understand what's happening...I don't even think I care if I ever understand. Nauki needs me, and in a way, I guess I need her, too.* Where she came from plagued him. Something in his heart told him she came from a place that he was a part of, and at the same time, a place he had never been. Inu-Yasha opened his eyes. The river in front of him gurgled a little. The cold air did not bother him. Once his heart had been just as frozen as the land around him. But over time, it was beginning to thaw. "I...I..nnn..uuu...Y...ash...a.." "Huh?" He turned around to see Nauki standing behind him with her head lowered. She didn't look at him. Her hands were behind her back waiting to be punished. She shifted her bare feet a little. "What happened to you calling me "Papa"?" Nauki shook her head. She didn't want to call him something he was uncomfortable with. Over the past few days she had thought a lot. Maybe he wasn't her papa. Maybe she wasn't suppose to be here. She knew she wasn't suppose to be here. Nauki didn't want to make things any more difficult than they already were. She bit her lower lip, wanting to cry, but she held back the tears. She really did like him. He had taken care of her, and saved her life. But that's not the reason she loved him. Nauki wanted to be around him because he had a soft beating heart. She liked the rhythmn his heart had. It sounded so much like the one she had heard in the demon world. She guessed it was more of her wishful thinking that he was the one she had been looking for. Nauki closed her eyes, shaking her head again. *I'm sorry...for everything. I didn't mean to call you something you're not..or to pounce Miroku....or to cause you to put off your quest..* She stepped back some, feeling like she should run just to make things easier, so he wouldn't feel burdened by her. Inu-Yasha felt everything she felt. He couldn't explain it. He felt her sadness, her desperation, her apology, her flighty spirit. She wanted to run from him. She was sorry and she was afraid. He gasped when the girl turned around quickly, only to run from him. "Nauki!" He yelled at her, but it was too late. Inu-Yasha got up quickly to chase her. He looked around wildly, but couldn't find a trace of her. He also noticed that there were no footprints in the snow. *Aw, Little One, where did you go?* He made his way back to the hut, not able to find Nauki. He had sniffed for her, tried to track her only to no avail. She was very good at hiding. It was odd that he couldn't find her because he could easily track most humans and demons alike. Inu-Yasha opened the door to his hut, not paying attention to the stares he recieved when he came inside alone. He sat down with his back to the wall, looking at the floor. He had no idea where she had gone. "Inu-Yasha, where's Nauki?" Kagome kneeled in front of him. "I don't know.." "I got this strange vibe from her that she wanted to apologize to you for something, so I let her go. Didn't you see her?" "I saw her, but she ran from me, and I can't find her." "You..can't find her? She'll freeze to death out there!" Inu-Yasha closed his eyes, the pain over his heart starting again. "She ran from me, Kagome. She was gone before I could track her." "Aw, do you think she's sad about what happened this morning," Shippo asked. "Very much so," Inu-Yasha answered, opening his eyes. "What happened?" Kagome looked from one to the other, neither answering. "Well? What happened?" "Nauki is able to emit the same flash of psychic powers you have, Kagome," Inu-Yasha said quietly. "What? How is that possible?" "I don't know...Shippo scared her to death by shifting into a demon, and Nauki sort of..held out her hands to ward him off out of fear." Shippo shrank, stepping back some. "I said I was sorry.." "Is that why Miroku asked me about her?" "Probably.." "He went to go see Kaede to ask her input on the situation," Shippo said. "There is NO situation!" Inu-Yasha raised his voice. Kagome placed her hand on his shoulder. "Look, I know you care about her." Inu-Yasha turned his head, afraid that his expression was going to relay more than he wanted them to know. "Miroku went to go ask Kaede because he has a premonition about what Nauki is. He wanted to be sure he was right," Kagome said. "And what does he think Nauki is.." The door opened. Kaede walked through with Miroku. "I believe Nauki is an Angel," She said. "A..what..?" Inu-Yasha's voice contained complete shock as he got quiet. "She has all of the symptoms of a particular Angel, but I do not have enough evidence, by what Miroku has told me, to make that sort of judgement." Kaede sat down while Miroku stood. "Nauki is able to exert psychic energy. You've told us that you can sense questions she wants to ask, and she has communicated in your dreams, Inu-Yasha," Miroku said. "I didn't actually think you would believe me," Inu-Yasha said, closing his eyes again, thinking only of the six year-old who had ran from him. He didn't know where she was and it was slowly tearing him apart. He was afraid that something was going to happen to her. "She was also found in the middle of nowhere, where someone had placed her to die. We, however, still haven't figured that one out yet," Miroku commented. "But her abilities are a hint in the direction of what she is." "Tell me more about why ye cannot find her, Inu-Yasha," Kaede asked. "I just can't find her. I sniffed for her, I looked in the snow...There weren't any footprints, and I couldn't find her scent." Kagome sat quietly looking amongst them. "Ye could not find the child's scent, Inu-Yasha, because she does not have one. Angels do not emit a scent. They are harder to track, and it is for their safety." "If Nauki is an Angel, shouldn't she have wings, or something? " He glared at Kaede. Knowing what it meant if they were right about the girl. "She probably does. Her wings, however, do not stay in full view. She can look like an ordinary human child, unless she is in great danger. Then her wings come out as a self-defense, to execute a powerful wave of energy to ward off her enemies," Kaede informed them. "What particular Angel do you think she is..Like there are different kinds..," Inu-Yasha stared at her hard. "There are. First, she could be what is known as an ArchAngel. A type of Angel that is mainly created for fighting against evil; to die for honor." He didn't like the sound of that. "There is also what is known as a Guardian Angel. An Angel that is meant to protect and defend a person, or a family," Miroku enlightened them. "Another type is called a Soul Angel. Also referred to as a Soul Child," Kaede said, deep in thought. "Soul child," Kagome asked. "Yes, child. A soul child is an angel that is taken from two people's souls. That type of angel is created without knowledge and knowing. It is a very powerful omen to come across one. Usually meant to bring peace, love, and honor to the very people that child is a part of. He, or she, holds certain characteristics that only those two people would recognize, and no one else." "So, what type of Angel is she," Inu-Yasha demanded. "We are not sure," Miroku said. "Nauki could be any of those. She has only shown one type of attack that she is capable of." "So you two barge in here, accussing her of being something she's not without any justified proof, or hard evidence!" Inu-Yasha got up, fixing to storm out of the hut. Kagome grabbed his hand. "Why are you so afraid of what she is?" Kagome looked up at him with her sad eyes. "Because he is aware of what it means, if the child turns out to be what we have said," Kaede commented. "What does it mean," Kagome asked, holding her hand to her chest. "It means that Nauki and Inu-Yasha will be in grave danger if the word gets out," Miroku looked Inu-Yasha over. "For to be raising, or associating with your enemy means certain death to demons." "You mean other demons would kill them?" "More precisley, they would be hunted and killed," Kaede corrected her. Miroku sized him up, looking him hard in the face. "Do you love that little girl enough to risk both of your lives, Inu-Yasha?" Inu-Yasha raised his eyes, looking Miroku back even harder, gritting his teeth. "I love Nauki enough to raise her and protect her! And none of you," He turned around, flexing his nails, "are going to have any say in what I feel, or do!"