Chapter 9
She felt someone pulling on one of her tresses. Nauki opened her eyes slowly, the bright light of the sun coming through the cracks in the hut. She had forgotten that she had ran away yesterday. She had also forgotten how much trouble she had caused Inu-Yasha. She glanced up at him, not having a clue how she had gotten in his lap. Nauki started to recall everything that had happened yesterday. She swallowed hard, shrinking back, afraid he was angry with her. He watched her get out of his lap, not looking at him. Inu-Yasha just watched the girl, not moving. He knew she was remembering everything from yesterday. He didn't say a word, just sat. Nauki moved a few feet from him, sitting on her rear. She felt uncomfortable being in his hut considering how she had taken off from him. Miroku had told her that Inu-Yasha did love her, just didn't know how to express it. He wanted her to stay, but was what Miroku said true? Nauki doubted what the monk told her. He was an odd character that she had to deal with. She didn't trust beings that she couldn't tell straight up if they were good or evil. To her, there was no in between. She had never met anyone else like herself. She slowly looked up at Inu-Yasha, her eyes full of sadness. Nauki didn't remember anything she had mumbled in her sleep, or what had happened last night. She could sense that he was afraid of her. She shrank back even more. *I shouldn't have came back with Miroku.* Nauki lowered her head, drawing herself into her own world again. She started to constantly grab her hands, not aware of anything else. Her heart felt like it was caving in. She didn't want to feel this way. Inu-Yasha could tell the poor girl was jumbled with emotions. He watched her curiously wondering why a child could be fillled with so much sadness. It was tormenting enough to watch her suffer. He still didn't know what was coming over him. Inu-Yasha wanted to take care of her, he felt like it was his duty. He wasn't able to explain it. He WANTED to raise her, be there for her. She reminded him so much of what he had to deal with when his mother died. Everyone had turned against him for what he was. He was sure that Nauki felt like she was being turned against without even getting a chance. He was willing to give her that chance. Inu-Yasha's feelings were subconscious. He started to realize that his actions were not his own. Something in the back of his mind was telling him he was suppose to take care of her. The strange vibes he was getting from the girl increased. She wanted him to know who and what she was. But Nauki was afraid of telling him. She was also not able to communicate in ways that normal people communicated. Inu-Yasha closed his eyes. He was going to try again to sense everything she felt. It had happened at the river when she had almost hurt them in the hut with her psychic abilities. He knew he was taking a chance. He didn't know anything about the girl. Miroku and Kaede still believed she was an Angel. Whether she was or not, he didn't care. He was tired of the way she had been treated by others. Whoever had left her to die, became more tragic to him day after day when Nauki opened herself to him. She was so full of life, and had never really lived. As he sat quietly, Nauki piddled with her hands. She didn't want to look at him. Everything that had happened in the past two weeks came to life in her mind. She knew he had a good side, he also had a bad side-he was half-demon. Nauki tried to focus on how he played with her, took care of her, and from what Miroku said, stood up for her. Even though he meant well, she knew he was afraid of what she was. It meant danger and obstacles for him. Things she wasn't going to allow to happen. *I don't want him to get hurt because of me.* Inu-Yasha felt like he was reading her emotions and her thoughts. Nauki was so full of sadness that it echoed within his heart. She was opening herself to him without realizing it. He had no idea if she could be opening herself to others in the area. Now he knew how it was for Kagome to feel the way she felt about him, and not portray it. Kagome knew he was a wall inside. Inu-Yasha didn't want to block either of them out. He was still full of pain with what had happened with Kikyo. Every time he thought of her, his heart ached. He could remember the past so well. Even though she had bound him to the tree, thinking he had betrayed her, she had still wanted to die to be with him. He couldn't ignore that. His mind started to flash back to what Nauki had said in her sleep last night. She tended to mumble riddles. (I love my mama and papa.) (I won't hurt you papa.) The two phrases echoed and repeated constantly in his mind. One thing he did know was that Angels were not capable of lying. They had no idea what a lie is. *Who is her mama and papa? She can't be talking about me and Kagome. We don't have any kids. Me and Kagome are not that intimate with each other. We just managed to express ourselves last night.* Nauki stared at the floor. She had no idea what he was thinking about. She felt so flighty, she couldn't control it. Her heart was beating so fast, her lungs breathing so hard, she felt faint. Inu-Yasha noticed how much the child was hyperventilating. She was afraid of his reactions, and he was afraid of her emotions. He had promised Nauki that he would try to be her father. Getting up, he walked slowly to her. She seemed to panic more the closer he got. Very carefully, Inu-Yasha sat down in front of her waiting for her to adjust to his prescence. When she calmed down some, he leaned forward, nudging her forehead with his nose. She was afraid to look at him. "Little One," he whispered. She glanced up at him, her eyes showing how afraid she was. He bent down closer, licking her cheek. Nauki didn't know what to think when he started to lick her. She was expecting him to scold her, throw her out, beat her, something besides show affection towards her. Gently, she reached her hand up, lightly scratching at his chest. Inu-Yasha felt her hand, which only increased him licking her. He wanted her to relax. He wasn't mad at her to begin with, only worried. Inu- Yasha started to move her head around so he could clean her properly. Nauki only closed her eyes in return, letting him. He couldn't help being part dog demon. His instincts were taking over as a parent. Inu-Yasha cleaned her face then moved on to clean behind her ears and neck. Nauki was slightly cautious of calling him "papa". She didn't want him to be scared of her. "I...nnu..y..as..sa...," she called, her voice shakey. He stopped cleaning her. He looked down at her, moving her head so he could look directly in her eyes. "Don't call me that," he said sternly. Nauki tried to lower her head in shame. "You're suppose to call me "papa"." Nauki looked up at him in confusion. *He wants me..to call him that? But..he doesn't want to be..* She blinked her eyes at him sadly. *I don't want to be a burden. I can go somewhere else.* Inu-Yasha kissed her lightly on the cheek, as he put his hand to the back of her head. He pulled her towards him, wrapping both of his arms around her. "I don't want you to go somewhere else," he said, rubbing his cheek against her head. *He's..reading me? How..can he hear me..?* Nauki looked up gently, tilting her head slowly. Inu-Yasha closed his eyes, rubbing his nose against hers. "I don't know how I'm able to understand you, Nauki." He opened his eyes looking into her sparkling purple eyes. "All I know, is I want to." Nauki looked back at him, smiling a little. She moved her hand and placed it on his cheek, scratching a little. Her heart started to flutter again, but not in fear. Inu-Yasha smiled back at her kissing her on the lips. "Besides, you're still filthy." He started to clean her face again as she squirmed. *I don't want a bath!* Didn't do any good. Nauki felt herself being somewhat held down by him. *Papa!* "You're still getting one," Inu-Yasha said. He smirked as Nauki crossed her arms, lowly growling at him. Once he was finished cleaning her face, he let her go outside. Nauki didn't know what to think since everyone was gone. The little squirrel boy wasn't around, neither was the monk. And where was her mama? She sniffed the air. She smelled someone coming. Nauki sniffed harder, drawing in the scent. *I think it's Miroku. Someone's with him. Sounds like a woman.* She tilted her head as Miroku walked out of the forest with a young woman by his side. She had long black hair, dark eyes, and her hair was held back by a ponytail. When the woman caught sight of her, she stopped, pointing at her. Nauki could easily hear the woman talking about her. "Is that the little girl Inu-Yasha saved?" Miroku nodded. "Aw, she's so cute." The woman started to walk towards the hut. Nauki stayed still. Inu-Yasha walked outside, eyeing Miroku and Sango. "So I take it you two made up." He crossed his arms, closing his eyes matter-of-factly. "So this is where you went," Sango gave Miroku a narrowed glance. He just smiled embarassingly. "Well, at least I have some satisfaction in knowing you didn't have a peaceful night," she said wickedly. Nauki was starting to like this woman. Inu-Yasha picked Nauki up out of the snow. He had forgotten that she didn't have any sandels yet. He brushed the snow off of her. "You're letting her walk around with no sandels," Sango eyed Inu- Yasha with an "I can't believe you" look. "I just haven't gotten her any yet," Inu-Yasha shot back. "Oh, you would let her freeze in this weather," Sango shot back, raising a fist. He narrowed his eyes at her. Miroku didn't know what to do. He didn't know whether to get involved in the fight, or to stop it. He just stood there, shaking his head. Nauki didn't like the idea of anyone fighting. She knew her papa was getting heated with this woman. The more tense he got in the arguement, the more she narrowed her eyes. Nauki soon started to scratch his cheek, but he was ignoring her. "Oh, please...," Sango rolled her eyes. "I just came here to make sure she was alive with you watching her." "Hey! I do remember saving your butt a time or two!" "No one asked you to." Inu-Yasha growled. Nauki licked his cheek slowly. She tilted her head as he looked at her. His anger left him. Sango watched Inu-Yasha do a one-eighty in personality once the girl he held got his attention. She couldn't believe it. Usually he was so stubborn. "Are you two threw arguing," Miroku asked. Inu-Yasha turned around going inside. He left Sango and Miroku standing there. Miroku walked in watching Inu-Yasha set Nauki down. "Are you planning on going after that shard?" "You can bet your hookie predictions I'm going after it," he answered. Sango peeked out from behind Miroku watching Inu-Yasha curiously. "What are you planning on doing with Nauki?" Inu-Yasha froze. He hadn't thought about that. "Uh..." "Don't tell me you plan on taking her with us," Miroku said. "She might get hurt considering with what we deal with." Inu-Yasha sighed. "I know. That's the problem. I don't want to leave her." Nauki did not like the sound of this. She had just found her papa. She didn't want him to go anywhere, especially not on some quest where he might get hurt. She was suppose to protect him. Sango watched as the little girl got a very sad look on her face. She swore she was going to start crying. *Her name...I've heard that name before...* Inu-Yasha noticed the expression on Nauki's face. He grabbed her, holding her close. "Nauki, if I go, you're going to have to stay with Kaede. I don't want you going on a quest with us. You could get seriously hurt. We tend to battle strong demons, and that's not something that you need to be around." Nauki shook her head at him. *I don't want you to get hurt. I want you to stay with me forever and ever.* She clutched onto him, burying her head in his shoulder. "Hey, I'm tough remember? I'm a half-demon. There's not a demon or a human that can keep me down, Little One." "She didn't say anything, did she," Sango asked, looking at Miroku. He only shook his head at her. "No, she communicates in a way only Inu-Yasha understands." Sango bent down next to Inu-Yasha. "Do you know what her name means," she asked him. "Her name?" "Yes, her name has a special meaning. Just like everyone's." He shook his head at her with Nauki tilting her head, examining Sango. "Her name means 'Spirit of the Heart'," Sango informed them. *She figured out the meaning of my name?* Nauki smiled at Sango. She cooed at her. Inu-Yasha looked back at Nauki. "Is that what your name means?" Nauki licked the tip of his nose. *Yep!* "Miroku told me how you found her," Sango said. She touched Nauki's cheek lightly. "You have very pretty eyes." *You're deeply saddened by something in the past.* Nauki looked into Sango's eyes. They held all of the truth in the world to the girl. "It pains me to see someone abuse a child. Especially one like her." Sango stroked Nauki's cheek. The girl closed her eyes. She liked Sango. Nauki kind of found her funny in a way. She had a serious attitude, and held her ground well when she believed in something. "When do you plan on us leaving to look for the shard," Sango asked. "I don't know yet. I have to ask Kaede to look after Nauki," Inu- Yasha said. "Do you think it's wise to leave her so soon? She's kind of attached to you," Sango replied. "It's that noticeable huh." "Yeah, I'd say so. I've never seen you act calm unless something was troubling you." Nauki only smiled in return. "Still, we have to make a decision about when to leave. You might as well go ahead and ask Kaede if she will watch her," Miroku said. He could tell Nauki was not liking the idea of being left alone with the old woman. The six year-old mmrphed at their decision. Inu-Yasha looked at her. "You can't go, Nauki." He got up. Nauki crossed her legs on the floor not moving. He knew it was going to come to this. She wasn't going to go willingly. He crouched giving her a narrowed glance. Then he scooped her up as she kicked her legs in defiance. "Are you sure about this," Sango asked watching the girl throw a tantrum. "Yep, let's go," Inu-Yasha said opening the door.
They walked through the barrian snow each slightly shivering from the gust of wind that was blowing in their direction. Miroku walked in front of Sango in order to shield her from the wind. the gesture was very touching. "Arg, this wind is rediculous," Inu-Yasha growled putting his arm in front of his face to keep the air off of him. "It seems there are forces moving against us," Miroku yelled over the sound of the wind. "Either way, we've got to get out of this wind! It won't do us any good to freeze to death." Inu-Yasha yelled ahead of the group. The group walked fruther on in need of shelter. They had agreed to continue their journey once the wind and snow had died down. Miroku spotted a hallowed out tree with shelter in the roots. The group made camp without the aid of starting a fire due to the chance of burning the tree down. "The weather wasn't this bad when we left," Miroku commented. Inu-Yasha was looking out of the tree through a crevice with his knees brought up to his chest. He kept thinking about the little girl he had left with Kaede. (You can't go, Nauki.) She had held onto him for as longa s she could. He was debating about the way he had left her. She had stood there in the snow refusing to go inside Kaede's hut. he had kneeled in front o fher, hugging her tightly as the girl buried her head in his chest. Nauki had let go, knowing he was going to go anyway. Inu- Yasha had nudged her cheek softly then let go of her quickly to turn around and run away. He hadn't looked at her, knowing she was going to cry. "I hope she's okay," he thought. Miroku glanced at Inu-Yasha wondering what he was thinking about. Kagome had not been told of the trip. He wondered if Inu-Yasha's mind was drifting to her, or the 6 year-old he had left behind. "Is he okay," Sango asked, nodding to Inu-Yasha. Miroku looked up in Inu-Yasha's direction. "I think he is." Inu-Yasha felt their eyes on him. He looked at them. "What are you two staring at?!" "Oh, yeah, he's fine," Sango said rolling her eyes. Miroku turned back around huddling against her. "What is troubling you?" Inu-Yasha looked away, debating about whether to tell Miroku or not. He thought again about Nauki mumbling in her sleep. (I won't hurt you, papa.) He closed his eyes opening himself. *I believe you, Little One.* "I'm thinking about Nauki," he finally told them, his heart aching at leaving the little girl who had became attached to him in the short amount of time that he had known her. "It wouldn't have been right to bring her with us," Miroku said. "It's not that. It's...how I left her." Sango raised an eyebrow. "How did you leave her?" Inu-Yasha sighed. "Like she didn't matter." Sango frowned, looking down. "I know what I did wasn't right. I just didn't want her to cry over me." he paused, thinking. "I left in a hurry because I didn't want it to be more difficult than it already was. She's only been away from me for a few hours since me and Kagome found her." "That sort of makes sense," Sango confirmed. "When w get back, just make sure you explain things to her in a way she'll understand." Inu-Yasha nodded.
Within hours, the wind had died down, but it was already dark so they were going to have to continue their journey in the morning. Mrioku managed to start a fire outside the hallowed out tree. He and Sango slept at the entrance near the fire. Inu-Yasha tried to sleep as he tossed and tturned near them. *Why can't I sleep?* He laid on his back looking up at the tree. He was half-expecti8ng Nauki to come out from somewhere rubbing her eyes trying to lay on him. *Arg, I don't believe this! I'm so used to having her near me that I can't sleep!* Inu-Yasha closed his eyes, his mind totally alert. He was going to force himself to go to sleep. Lord knows what they were going to face when they found the shard. After much tossing and turning, he finally fell to sleep a few hours before dawn. Sango shook Inu-Yasha. He was dead to the world. "Inu-Yasha, it's time to get up." She shook him again, harder. "I would say throw some water on him, but that might be asking for it," Miroku said. "No, I wouldn't do that. I heard him tossing and turning all night." Kirara crawled out of Sango's pack, shaking her head. She sniffed the air making her way over to Sango. Kirara licked her hand then scratched behind one of her ears. "Think you could carry him?" Sango smiled as Kirara nodded slowly. "He sure is tired. Amazing how a 6 year-old can wear him out just as much as fighting demons." With the help of Miroku, Sango managed to get Inu-Yasha onto Kirara's back. Kirara glanced behind her as Inu-Yasha drowsily laid his head up against Sango's back with Miroku holding him on. "The things I do," Sango said as she felt Inu-Yasha laying against her. "He'll appreciate it when he wakes up. Although, he won't admit it," Miroku said dryly. "I still think we should have brought Kagome. She's the only one who can properly sense the shard," Sango said as Kirara walked through the snow. "Where are we going anyway?" "We're headed in the direction wehre Inu-Yasha and Kagome were looking for the shard." "It could have moved since then, Miroku. That was two weeks ago." "I know, but I don't think it has." "What makes you say that?" "I'm a monk, remember? I can tell whent here's an evil precense nearby. There's difinatly one in the direction we're going." "I hope you're right."
The troupe came upon a patch of snow in the forest containing a warning etched into a board of wood. Miroku got off of Kirara to investigate. "This isn't a good sign. It's relaying a curse on whoever goes past this point." "Must mean there's a sacred relic nearby, or something," Sango said looking around. "Or, something dangerous," Inu-Yasha said from behind her as he sat up. He noticed they had carried him along instead of waking him. He hopped off of Kirara, moving his neck around. At twenty-two, his long, silver hair was past his rear, and he had gotten a half a foot taller in height. His demonic blood had been increasing his strength, stealth, and abilities over the past five years. "I smell someting loathing nearby." Miroku and Sango glanced around quickly. Kirara growled, arching her mouth as a warning to her foot long sabres. Neither one of them saw anything, but they dared not move. Inu-Yasha however, never backed down from anyone. He stepped a hair past the warning in the etched wood. An arrow shot out from nowhere, almost making its sharp edged point into his leg. He shot back quickly, his shoulders raised, body tense. Inu-Yasha growled. "I don't know who you are, but you're a coward if you can't show yourself to fight me," he yelled at the top of his lungs, fists clenched. "Are you sure it's wise to taunt whatever shot that arrow," Sango asked. She put her hand on her boomerang, standing her ground firm. No one knew what was out there. Kikyo crossed her mind, but she didn't believe it was the dead priestess. "You must learn to fight without your eyesight, for it is your weakness," said a low, deep voice. Another arrow shot out of nowhere, from a different direction. This time it landed about a foot from Sango. Whoever it was, was taunting them. "You have been warned travellar," the voice said again. "Move away from this area if you know what's best for you." Sango put her hand on Inu-Yasha's shoulder. "We can't attack something we can't see, Inu-Yasha. We should come up with a plan." For once, he agreed. "Alright, but I will find out what is going on." The troupe got back on Kirara. The sabretooth feline, turned her head around as she started to walk off slowly. "See? Even Kirara doesn't like this. Do ya girl?" Inu-Yasha looked down at her, his eyes then glancing behind him, eyes narrowing. "Warriors don't back down from fights." "Neither do they live long if they aren't prepared to fight," Miroku said, looking at him hard. He watched Inu-Yasha scowl. "You have no idea what it is, or where the arrows are coming from. None of us do. The best thing to do would be to find out why there is a warning in this forest." As the group walked back the way they came, a young boy was seen running past them. Miroku turned around. "Hey, kid, don't go that way! There's a curse written on a wooden board in the snow!" The boy stopped. He turned around, eying Miroku strangely. "Of course there is." Inu-Yasha hopped down, raising a fist at the boy. "Of course there is?! Does that mean you know already?!" The boy nodded. He raised a brow at Inu-Yasha. "Hey, you're a demon." "Never mind that," Sango said getting off of Kirara as well. "What do you know about the curse?" She bent down some, looking into the boy's eyes. "The curse? Our village put it up to ward off the monster that comes at night," the boy informed them. "Monster?" Inu-Yasha blinked his eyes. "Do you expect us to believe that," he yelled. Miroku put his hand on Inu-Yasha's shoulder, calming him. "What my friend means, is what proof do you have of a monster attacking your village?" "It comes at night to steal the children away. That's why Hitori, the archer from the village, stays out in the forest. He has been trained to find the monster and destroy it." "So that's who we ran into it," Sango said quietly. "This archer that you speak of, how does he know what the monster looks like," Miroku asked. "He doesn't. Hitori is blind," the boy said. "WHAT," the group shouted. "No one knows what the monster looks like. All we know is that it is swift and comes at night. Hitori has trained himself to listen to each animals' movements so he can distinguish one from the other." "So let me get this straight. Some creature, or animal as you put it, has been coming to your village stealing children away in the night," Inu- Yasha said, crossing his arms. The boy nodded. "Well if this Hitori person is suppose to be good at capturing the creature, how come it hasn't happened yet?" The boy's eyes got wide, his hope fading. "What are you saying?" "Children are still getting captured, it is obvious, or the archer wouldn't have a purpose to be hiding in the forest," Miroku said. "If the archer has been trained to kill the monster, then why is the monster still snatching children? Either the archer is not as good as he claims to be, or there is no monster." "Or the monster is the archer," Inu-Yasha said. "Hitori is not a monster! He is a kind-hearted man who spends his time playing with the children of the village and helping the women! Now that he is blind, he cannot see the ones that adore him," the boy shouted, tears starting to stream down his face as he looked down. Sango bent down to comfort him. "It's alright. I know how you feel. Someone dear to me was lost, too." The boy looked up at her, rubbing his eyes. "It's not fair that the priestess cannot ward off the monster..." "Priestess?" Inu-Yasha stopped, his heart racing. "What priestess?!" "Inu-Yasha....it is probably not the same one you are thinking of," Miroku said. "Fuyu, the priestess in our village, has tried every tailsman she has to keep the village safe. I have seen her sit at the village entrance, chanting incantations for hours, but none of them work," the boy said. "By the way, what's your name," Sango asked, smiling at him. "Natori," the boy answered. "How about we go talk to the priestess at your village and see if we can help," Sango said. The boy's face lit up. "You would do that for us?" "Of course, it's what we do," Inu-Yasha said.
Natori led the group away from the area where the warning was posted. Instead, he started to walk further to the right, then back in a huge circle. As they walked with the boy, the group took the liberty to look around the area in order to analyze the situation better. Could they really believe that blind archer was hunting for a monster that kept coming back each night? "Inu-Yasha," Kagome got his attention. He glanced at her slowly to acknowledge her, then went back to staring straight ahead. "Do you really think that Hitori is blind?" "I have no idea," he answered plainly. "Anything is possible in this era. What I don't believe is that a priestess and an archer, two defenses, wouldn't be successful in catching a monster that comes at night to steal children." "It is very strange for them not to see the monster, yet it still comes," Sango said. "There is something fishy about the story," Miroku said, closing his eyes in thought. "You don't suspect the boy is lying, do you," Sango asked Miroku. "No," he shook his head. "I believe he has been lied to, as has everyone else."
When they got to the village, the people were less friendly. They were afraid, not aware of how the group had managed to get past the guard. A few people who had been outside, ran indoors, barricading the entrances to their huts. One old man started to shout for the priestess. He was yelling obsenities at the group. "Hey, old man, why don't you buzz off?! We don't have to help you," Inu-Yasha snarled. He protectively put his claws over Kagome's ears as the man's language managed to get worse. Natori ran in front of the old man who had his fist raised at Inu- Yasha. He put his arms on the old man's stomach, pushing him back. "It's o.k. Yumanich! They're here to help us!" The boy looked into the old man's eyes pleadingly. "Help us? How can they help us?! We have a priestess who spends countless hours saying incantations to ward off the evil spirit of the nightmonster! We even have Hitori standing watch at the entrance to the village! No one can save us from this plague of a demon!" The old man turned around, running back into the safety of his quarters. The poor boy, Natori, couldn't believe his ears. He wanted to believe so much that he had found the right people to help him. If the priestess and the archer could not kill the monster, perhaps the strange group could.
Sango put her hand on the boy's shoulder. "It's alright. Sometimes it takes people a while to see what wonders you have done." The boy looked up at her. "They will see that you didn't make a mistake in bringing us, Natori." "And if that old geaser gives you any trouble about it, I'll wring his wrinkly neck," Inu-Yasha said gruffly. The boy smiled. Maybe he had done the right thing, after all.
She felt someone pulling on one of her tresses. Nauki opened her eyes slowly, the bright light of the sun coming through the cracks in the hut. She had forgotten that she had ran away yesterday. She had also forgotten how much trouble she had caused Inu-Yasha. She glanced up at him, not having a clue how she had gotten in his lap. Nauki started to recall everything that had happened yesterday. She swallowed hard, shrinking back, afraid he was angry with her. He watched her get out of his lap, not looking at him. Inu-Yasha just watched the girl, not moving. He knew she was remembering everything from yesterday. He didn't say a word, just sat. Nauki moved a few feet from him, sitting on her rear. She felt uncomfortable being in his hut considering how she had taken off from him. Miroku had told her that Inu-Yasha did love her, just didn't know how to express it. He wanted her to stay, but was what Miroku said true? Nauki doubted what the monk told her. He was an odd character that she had to deal with. She didn't trust beings that she couldn't tell straight up if they were good or evil. To her, there was no in between. She had never met anyone else like herself. She slowly looked up at Inu-Yasha, her eyes full of sadness. Nauki didn't remember anything she had mumbled in her sleep, or what had happened last night. She could sense that he was afraid of her. She shrank back even more. *I shouldn't have came back with Miroku.* Nauki lowered her head, drawing herself into her own world again. She started to constantly grab her hands, not aware of anything else. Her heart felt like it was caving in. She didn't want to feel this way. Inu-Yasha could tell the poor girl was jumbled with emotions. He watched her curiously wondering why a child could be fillled with so much sadness. It was tormenting enough to watch her suffer. He still didn't know what was coming over him. Inu-Yasha wanted to take care of her, he felt like it was his duty. He wasn't able to explain it. He WANTED to raise her, be there for her. She reminded him so much of what he had to deal with when his mother died. Everyone had turned against him for what he was. He was sure that Nauki felt like she was being turned against without even getting a chance. He was willing to give her that chance. Inu-Yasha's feelings were subconscious. He started to realize that his actions were not his own. Something in the back of his mind was telling him he was suppose to take care of her. The strange vibes he was getting from the girl increased. She wanted him to know who and what she was. But Nauki was afraid of telling him. She was also not able to communicate in ways that normal people communicated. Inu-Yasha closed his eyes. He was going to try again to sense everything she felt. It had happened at the river when she had almost hurt them in the hut with her psychic abilities. He knew he was taking a chance. He didn't know anything about the girl. Miroku and Kaede still believed she was an Angel. Whether she was or not, he didn't care. He was tired of the way she had been treated by others. Whoever had left her to die, became more tragic to him day after day when Nauki opened herself to him. She was so full of life, and had never really lived. As he sat quietly, Nauki piddled with her hands. She didn't want to look at him. Everything that had happened in the past two weeks came to life in her mind. She knew he had a good side, he also had a bad side-he was half-demon. Nauki tried to focus on how he played with her, took care of her, and from what Miroku said, stood up for her. Even though he meant well, she knew he was afraid of what she was. It meant danger and obstacles for him. Things she wasn't going to allow to happen. *I don't want him to get hurt because of me.* Inu-Yasha felt like he was reading her emotions and her thoughts. Nauki was so full of sadness that it echoed within his heart. She was opening herself to him without realizing it. He had no idea if she could be opening herself to others in the area. Now he knew how it was for Kagome to feel the way she felt about him, and not portray it. Kagome knew he was a wall inside. Inu-Yasha didn't want to block either of them out. He was still full of pain with what had happened with Kikyo. Every time he thought of her, his heart ached. He could remember the past so well. Even though she had bound him to the tree, thinking he had betrayed her, she had still wanted to die to be with him. He couldn't ignore that. His mind started to flash back to what Nauki had said in her sleep last night. She tended to mumble riddles. (I love my mama and papa.) (I won't hurt you papa.) The two phrases echoed and repeated constantly in his mind. One thing he did know was that Angels were not capable of lying. They had no idea what a lie is. *Who is her mama and papa? She can't be talking about me and Kagome. We don't have any kids. Me and Kagome are not that intimate with each other. We just managed to express ourselves last night.* Nauki stared at the floor. She had no idea what he was thinking about. She felt so flighty, she couldn't control it. Her heart was beating so fast, her lungs breathing so hard, she felt faint. Inu-Yasha noticed how much the child was hyperventilating. She was afraid of his reactions, and he was afraid of her emotions. He had promised Nauki that he would try to be her father. Getting up, he walked slowly to her. She seemed to panic more the closer he got. Very carefully, Inu-Yasha sat down in front of her waiting for her to adjust to his prescence. When she calmed down some, he leaned forward, nudging her forehead with his nose. She was afraid to look at him. "Little One," he whispered. She glanced up at him, her eyes showing how afraid she was. He bent down closer, licking her cheek. Nauki didn't know what to think when he started to lick her. She was expecting him to scold her, throw her out, beat her, something besides show affection towards her. Gently, she reached her hand up, lightly scratching at his chest. Inu-Yasha felt her hand, which only increased him licking her. He wanted her to relax. He wasn't mad at her to begin with, only worried. Inu- Yasha started to move her head around so he could clean her properly. Nauki only closed her eyes in return, letting him. He couldn't help being part dog demon. His instincts were taking over as a parent. Inu-Yasha cleaned her face then moved on to clean behind her ears and neck. Nauki was slightly cautious of calling him "papa". She didn't want him to be scared of her. "I...nnu..y..as..sa...," she called, her voice shakey. He stopped cleaning her. He looked down at her, moving her head so he could look directly in her eyes. "Don't call me that," he said sternly. Nauki tried to lower her head in shame. "You're suppose to call me "papa"." Nauki looked up at him in confusion. *He wants me..to call him that? But..he doesn't want to be..* She blinked her eyes at him sadly. *I don't want to be a burden. I can go somewhere else.* Inu-Yasha kissed her lightly on the cheek, as he put his hand to the back of her head. He pulled her towards him, wrapping both of his arms around her. "I don't want you to go somewhere else," he said, rubbing his cheek against her head. *He's..reading me? How..can he hear me..?* Nauki looked up gently, tilting her head slowly. Inu-Yasha closed his eyes, rubbing his nose against hers. "I don't know how I'm able to understand you, Nauki." He opened his eyes looking into her sparkling purple eyes. "All I know, is I want to." Nauki looked back at him, smiling a little. She moved her hand and placed it on his cheek, scratching a little. Her heart started to flutter again, but not in fear. Inu-Yasha smiled back at her kissing her on the lips. "Besides, you're still filthy." He started to clean her face again as she squirmed. *I don't want a bath!* Didn't do any good. Nauki felt herself being somewhat held down by him. *Papa!* "You're still getting one," Inu-Yasha said. He smirked as Nauki crossed her arms, lowly growling at him. Once he was finished cleaning her face, he let her go outside. Nauki didn't know what to think since everyone was gone. The little squirrel boy wasn't around, neither was the monk. And where was her mama? She sniffed the air. She smelled someone coming. Nauki sniffed harder, drawing in the scent. *I think it's Miroku. Someone's with him. Sounds like a woman.* She tilted her head as Miroku walked out of the forest with a young woman by his side. She had long black hair, dark eyes, and her hair was held back by a ponytail. When the woman caught sight of her, she stopped, pointing at her. Nauki could easily hear the woman talking about her. "Is that the little girl Inu-Yasha saved?" Miroku nodded. "Aw, she's so cute." The woman started to walk towards the hut. Nauki stayed still. Inu-Yasha walked outside, eyeing Miroku and Sango. "So I take it you two made up." He crossed his arms, closing his eyes matter-of-factly. "So this is where you went," Sango gave Miroku a narrowed glance. He just smiled embarassingly. "Well, at least I have some satisfaction in knowing you didn't have a peaceful night," she said wickedly. Nauki was starting to like this woman. Inu-Yasha picked Nauki up out of the snow. He had forgotten that she didn't have any sandels yet. He brushed the snow off of her. "You're letting her walk around with no sandels," Sango eyed Inu- Yasha with an "I can't believe you" look. "I just haven't gotten her any yet," Inu-Yasha shot back. "Oh, you would let her freeze in this weather," Sango shot back, raising a fist. He narrowed his eyes at her. Miroku didn't know what to do. He didn't know whether to get involved in the fight, or to stop it. He just stood there, shaking his head. Nauki didn't like the idea of anyone fighting. She knew her papa was getting heated with this woman. The more tense he got in the arguement, the more she narrowed her eyes. Nauki soon started to scratch his cheek, but he was ignoring her. "Oh, please...," Sango rolled her eyes. "I just came here to make sure she was alive with you watching her." "Hey! I do remember saving your butt a time or two!" "No one asked you to." Inu-Yasha growled. Nauki licked his cheek slowly. She tilted her head as he looked at her. His anger left him. Sango watched Inu-Yasha do a one-eighty in personality once the girl he held got his attention. She couldn't believe it. Usually he was so stubborn. "Are you two threw arguing," Miroku asked. Inu-Yasha turned around going inside. He left Sango and Miroku standing there. Miroku walked in watching Inu-Yasha set Nauki down. "Are you planning on going after that shard?" "You can bet your hookie predictions I'm going after it," he answered. Sango peeked out from behind Miroku watching Inu-Yasha curiously. "What are you planning on doing with Nauki?" Inu-Yasha froze. He hadn't thought about that. "Uh..." "Don't tell me you plan on taking her with us," Miroku said. "She might get hurt considering with what we deal with." Inu-Yasha sighed. "I know. That's the problem. I don't want to leave her." Nauki did not like the sound of this. She had just found her papa. She didn't want him to go anywhere, especially not on some quest where he might get hurt. She was suppose to protect him. Sango watched as the little girl got a very sad look on her face. She swore she was going to start crying. *Her name...I've heard that name before...* Inu-Yasha noticed the expression on Nauki's face. He grabbed her, holding her close. "Nauki, if I go, you're going to have to stay with Kaede. I don't want you going on a quest with us. You could get seriously hurt. We tend to battle strong demons, and that's not something that you need to be around." Nauki shook her head at him. *I don't want you to get hurt. I want you to stay with me forever and ever.* She clutched onto him, burying her head in his shoulder. "Hey, I'm tough remember? I'm a half-demon. There's not a demon or a human that can keep me down, Little One." "She didn't say anything, did she," Sango asked, looking at Miroku. He only shook his head at her. "No, she communicates in a way only Inu-Yasha understands." Sango bent down next to Inu-Yasha. "Do you know what her name means," she asked him. "Her name?" "Yes, her name has a special meaning. Just like everyone's." He shook his head at her with Nauki tilting her head, examining Sango. "Her name means 'Spirit of the Heart'," Sango informed them. *She figured out the meaning of my name?* Nauki smiled at Sango. She cooed at her. Inu-Yasha looked back at Nauki. "Is that what your name means?" Nauki licked the tip of his nose. *Yep!* "Miroku told me how you found her," Sango said. She touched Nauki's cheek lightly. "You have very pretty eyes." *You're deeply saddened by something in the past.* Nauki looked into Sango's eyes. They held all of the truth in the world to the girl. "It pains me to see someone abuse a child. Especially one like her." Sango stroked Nauki's cheek. The girl closed her eyes. She liked Sango. Nauki kind of found her funny in a way. She had a serious attitude, and held her ground well when she believed in something. "When do you plan on us leaving to look for the shard," Sango asked. "I don't know yet. I have to ask Kaede to look after Nauki," Inu- Yasha said. "Do you think it's wise to leave her so soon? She's kind of attached to you," Sango replied. "It's that noticeable huh." "Yeah, I'd say so. I've never seen you act calm unless something was troubling you." Nauki only smiled in return. "Still, we have to make a decision about when to leave. You might as well go ahead and ask Kaede if she will watch her," Miroku said. He could tell Nauki was not liking the idea of being left alone with the old woman. The six year-old mmrphed at their decision. Inu-Yasha looked at her. "You can't go, Nauki." He got up. Nauki crossed her legs on the floor not moving. He knew it was going to come to this. She wasn't going to go willingly. He crouched giving her a narrowed glance. Then he scooped her up as she kicked her legs in defiance. "Are you sure about this," Sango asked watching the girl throw a tantrum. "Yep, let's go," Inu-Yasha said opening the door.
They walked through the barrian snow each slightly shivering from the gust of wind that was blowing in their direction. Miroku walked in front of Sango in order to shield her from the wind. the gesture was very touching. "Arg, this wind is rediculous," Inu-Yasha growled putting his arm in front of his face to keep the air off of him. "It seems there are forces moving against us," Miroku yelled over the sound of the wind. "Either way, we've got to get out of this wind! It won't do us any good to freeze to death." Inu-Yasha yelled ahead of the group. The group walked fruther on in need of shelter. They had agreed to continue their journey once the wind and snow had died down. Miroku spotted a hallowed out tree with shelter in the roots. The group made camp without the aid of starting a fire due to the chance of burning the tree down. "The weather wasn't this bad when we left," Miroku commented. Inu-Yasha was looking out of the tree through a crevice with his knees brought up to his chest. He kept thinking about the little girl he had left with Kaede. (You can't go, Nauki.) She had held onto him for as longa s she could. He was debating about the way he had left her. She had stood there in the snow refusing to go inside Kaede's hut. he had kneeled in front o fher, hugging her tightly as the girl buried her head in his chest. Nauki had let go, knowing he was going to go anyway. Inu- Yasha had nudged her cheek softly then let go of her quickly to turn around and run away. He hadn't looked at her, knowing she was going to cry. "I hope she's okay," he thought. Miroku glanced at Inu-Yasha wondering what he was thinking about. Kagome had not been told of the trip. He wondered if Inu-Yasha's mind was drifting to her, or the 6 year-old he had left behind. "Is he okay," Sango asked, nodding to Inu-Yasha. Miroku looked up in Inu-Yasha's direction. "I think he is." Inu-Yasha felt their eyes on him. He looked at them. "What are you two staring at?!" "Oh, yeah, he's fine," Sango said rolling her eyes. Miroku turned back around huddling against her. "What is troubling you?" Inu-Yasha looked away, debating about whether to tell Miroku or not. He thought again about Nauki mumbling in her sleep. (I won't hurt you, papa.) He closed his eyes opening himself. *I believe you, Little One.* "I'm thinking about Nauki," he finally told them, his heart aching at leaving the little girl who had became attached to him in the short amount of time that he had known her. "It wouldn't have been right to bring her with us," Miroku said. "It's not that. It's...how I left her." Sango raised an eyebrow. "How did you leave her?" Inu-Yasha sighed. "Like she didn't matter." Sango frowned, looking down. "I know what I did wasn't right. I just didn't want her to cry over me." he paused, thinking. "I left in a hurry because I didn't want it to be more difficult than it already was. She's only been away from me for a few hours since me and Kagome found her." "That sort of makes sense," Sango confirmed. "When w get back, just make sure you explain things to her in a way she'll understand." Inu-Yasha nodded.
Within hours, the wind had died down, but it was already dark so they were going to have to continue their journey in the morning. Mrioku managed to start a fire outside the hallowed out tree. He and Sango slept at the entrance near the fire. Inu-Yasha tried to sleep as he tossed and tturned near them. *Why can't I sleep?* He laid on his back looking up at the tree. He was half-expecti8ng Nauki to come out from somewhere rubbing her eyes trying to lay on him. *Arg, I don't believe this! I'm so used to having her near me that I can't sleep!* Inu-Yasha closed his eyes, his mind totally alert. He was going to force himself to go to sleep. Lord knows what they were going to face when they found the shard. After much tossing and turning, he finally fell to sleep a few hours before dawn. Sango shook Inu-Yasha. He was dead to the world. "Inu-Yasha, it's time to get up." She shook him again, harder. "I would say throw some water on him, but that might be asking for it," Miroku said. "No, I wouldn't do that. I heard him tossing and turning all night." Kirara crawled out of Sango's pack, shaking her head. She sniffed the air making her way over to Sango. Kirara licked her hand then scratched behind one of her ears. "Think you could carry him?" Sango smiled as Kirara nodded slowly. "He sure is tired. Amazing how a 6 year-old can wear him out just as much as fighting demons." With the help of Miroku, Sango managed to get Inu-Yasha onto Kirara's back. Kirara glanced behind her as Inu-Yasha drowsily laid his head up against Sango's back with Miroku holding him on. "The things I do," Sango said as she felt Inu-Yasha laying against her. "He'll appreciate it when he wakes up. Although, he won't admit it," Miroku said dryly. "I still think we should have brought Kagome. She's the only one who can properly sense the shard," Sango said as Kirara walked through the snow. "Where are we going anyway?" "We're headed in the direction wehre Inu-Yasha and Kagome were looking for the shard." "It could have moved since then, Miroku. That was two weeks ago." "I know, but I don't think it has." "What makes you say that?" "I'm a monk, remember? I can tell whent here's an evil precense nearby. There's difinatly one in the direction we're going." "I hope you're right."
The troupe came upon a patch of snow in the forest containing a warning etched into a board of wood. Miroku got off of Kirara to investigate. "This isn't a good sign. It's relaying a curse on whoever goes past this point." "Must mean there's a sacred relic nearby, or something," Sango said looking around. "Or, something dangerous," Inu-Yasha said from behind her as he sat up. He noticed they had carried him along instead of waking him. He hopped off of Kirara, moving his neck around. At twenty-two, his long, silver hair was past his rear, and he had gotten a half a foot taller in height. His demonic blood had been increasing his strength, stealth, and abilities over the past five years. "I smell someting loathing nearby." Miroku and Sango glanced around quickly. Kirara growled, arching her mouth as a warning to her foot long sabres. Neither one of them saw anything, but they dared not move. Inu-Yasha however, never backed down from anyone. He stepped a hair past the warning in the etched wood. An arrow shot out from nowhere, almost making its sharp edged point into his leg. He shot back quickly, his shoulders raised, body tense. Inu-Yasha growled. "I don't know who you are, but you're a coward if you can't show yourself to fight me," he yelled at the top of his lungs, fists clenched. "Are you sure it's wise to taunt whatever shot that arrow," Sango asked. She put her hand on her boomerang, standing her ground firm. No one knew what was out there. Kikyo crossed her mind, but she didn't believe it was the dead priestess. "You must learn to fight without your eyesight, for it is your weakness," said a low, deep voice. Another arrow shot out of nowhere, from a different direction. This time it landed about a foot from Sango. Whoever it was, was taunting them. "You have been warned travellar," the voice said again. "Move away from this area if you know what's best for you." Sango put her hand on Inu-Yasha's shoulder. "We can't attack something we can't see, Inu-Yasha. We should come up with a plan." For once, he agreed. "Alright, but I will find out what is going on." The troupe got back on Kirara. The sabretooth feline, turned her head around as she started to walk off slowly. "See? Even Kirara doesn't like this. Do ya girl?" Inu-Yasha looked down at her, his eyes then glancing behind him, eyes narrowing. "Warriors don't back down from fights." "Neither do they live long if they aren't prepared to fight," Miroku said, looking at him hard. He watched Inu-Yasha scowl. "You have no idea what it is, or where the arrows are coming from. None of us do. The best thing to do would be to find out why there is a warning in this forest." As the group walked back the way they came, a young boy was seen running past them. Miroku turned around. "Hey, kid, don't go that way! There's a curse written on a wooden board in the snow!" The boy stopped. He turned around, eying Miroku strangely. "Of course there is." Inu-Yasha hopped down, raising a fist at the boy. "Of course there is?! Does that mean you know already?!" The boy nodded. He raised a brow at Inu-Yasha. "Hey, you're a demon." "Never mind that," Sango said getting off of Kirara as well. "What do you know about the curse?" She bent down some, looking into the boy's eyes. "The curse? Our village put it up to ward off the monster that comes at night," the boy informed them. "Monster?" Inu-Yasha blinked his eyes. "Do you expect us to believe that," he yelled. Miroku put his hand on Inu-Yasha's shoulder, calming him. "What my friend means, is what proof do you have of a monster attacking your village?" "It comes at night to steal the children away. That's why Hitori, the archer from the village, stays out in the forest. He has been trained to find the monster and destroy it." "So that's who we ran into it," Sango said quietly. "This archer that you speak of, how does he know what the monster looks like," Miroku asked. "He doesn't. Hitori is blind," the boy said. "WHAT," the group shouted. "No one knows what the monster looks like. All we know is that it is swift and comes at night. Hitori has trained himself to listen to each animals' movements so he can distinguish one from the other." "So let me get this straight. Some creature, or animal as you put it, has been coming to your village stealing children away in the night," Inu- Yasha said, crossing his arms. The boy nodded. "Well if this Hitori person is suppose to be good at capturing the creature, how come it hasn't happened yet?" The boy's eyes got wide, his hope fading. "What are you saying?" "Children are still getting captured, it is obvious, or the archer wouldn't have a purpose to be hiding in the forest," Miroku said. "If the archer has been trained to kill the monster, then why is the monster still snatching children? Either the archer is not as good as he claims to be, or there is no monster." "Or the monster is the archer," Inu-Yasha said. "Hitori is not a monster! He is a kind-hearted man who spends his time playing with the children of the village and helping the women! Now that he is blind, he cannot see the ones that adore him," the boy shouted, tears starting to stream down his face as he looked down. Sango bent down to comfort him. "It's alright. I know how you feel. Someone dear to me was lost, too." The boy looked up at her, rubbing his eyes. "It's not fair that the priestess cannot ward off the monster..." "Priestess?" Inu-Yasha stopped, his heart racing. "What priestess?!" "Inu-Yasha....it is probably not the same one you are thinking of," Miroku said. "Fuyu, the priestess in our village, has tried every tailsman she has to keep the village safe. I have seen her sit at the village entrance, chanting incantations for hours, but none of them work," the boy said. "By the way, what's your name," Sango asked, smiling at him. "Natori," the boy answered. "How about we go talk to the priestess at your village and see if we can help," Sango said. The boy's face lit up. "You would do that for us?" "Of course, it's what we do," Inu-Yasha said.
Natori led the group away from the area where the warning was posted. Instead, he started to walk further to the right, then back in a huge circle. As they walked with the boy, the group took the liberty to look around the area in order to analyze the situation better. Could they really believe that blind archer was hunting for a monster that kept coming back each night? "Inu-Yasha," Kagome got his attention. He glanced at her slowly to acknowledge her, then went back to staring straight ahead. "Do you really think that Hitori is blind?" "I have no idea," he answered plainly. "Anything is possible in this era. What I don't believe is that a priestess and an archer, two defenses, wouldn't be successful in catching a monster that comes at night to steal children." "It is very strange for them not to see the monster, yet it still comes," Sango said. "There is something fishy about the story," Miroku said, closing his eyes in thought. "You don't suspect the boy is lying, do you," Sango asked Miroku. "No," he shook his head. "I believe he has been lied to, as has everyone else."
When they got to the village, the people were less friendly. They were afraid, not aware of how the group had managed to get past the guard. A few people who had been outside, ran indoors, barricading the entrances to their huts. One old man started to shout for the priestess. He was yelling obsenities at the group. "Hey, old man, why don't you buzz off?! We don't have to help you," Inu-Yasha snarled. He protectively put his claws over Kagome's ears as the man's language managed to get worse. Natori ran in front of the old man who had his fist raised at Inu- Yasha. He put his arms on the old man's stomach, pushing him back. "It's o.k. Yumanich! They're here to help us!" The boy looked into the old man's eyes pleadingly. "Help us? How can they help us?! We have a priestess who spends countless hours saying incantations to ward off the evil spirit of the nightmonster! We even have Hitori standing watch at the entrance to the village! No one can save us from this plague of a demon!" The old man turned around, running back into the safety of his quarters. The poor boy, Natori, couldn't believe his ears. He wanted to believe so much that he had found the right people to help him. If the priestess and the archer could not kill the monster, perhaps the strange group could.
Sango put her hand on the boy's shoulder. "It's alright. Sometimes it takes people a while to see what wonders you have done." The boy looked up at her. "They will see that you didn't make a mistake in bringing us, Natori." "And if that old geaser gives you any trouble about it, I'll wring his wrinkly neck," Inu-Yasha said gruffly. The boy smiled. Maybe he had done the right thing, after all.