Disclaimer: All chars from Inu Yasha and Ranma ½ belong to Rumiko Takahashi.

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Azusa skipped along singing happily to herself and Etienne, ignoring the thumps behind them when they passed over any rocks or logs. She didn't know where this forest was or how she had gotten here, but she was sure that if she just kept walking, or in her case, skipping, she would find a town. However, her skipping and singing was brought to an abrupt halt when a creature stepped out onto the path in front of her.

            It was shorter than her with a brown tunic, bulging yellow eyes and a squat green face that was vaguely reminiscent of a toad. It was brandishing a piece of carved wood at her menacingly.

            "You brat! Let go of Lord Sesshoumaru!" Azusa wrinkled up her nose at him in disgust.

            "You," she said, frowning at him, "are not cute." A wiser man, er, youkai than Jaken would have been kicking up dust clouds trying to get as far away from this annoyed little girl as possible. Jaken glared at her instead, then prepared to use the staff of heads. Azusa pouted at him. How was she supposed to help Etienne if people kept getting in the way?

            She darted forward, grabbed the staff from him and hit him over the head with it. Jaken was still on his feet, though he was swaying and looking about dazed. A frown appeared on her face. The staff hadn't worked as well as her hammer. Quickly, she cast about for her nearest weapon and settled upon the unconscious body she had been dragging behind her all day. The armor covered body made a satisfying thud as it hit the ugly, green youkai.

            She giggled at the multicolored heap the two bodies made.

            "Come on Etienne. We need to save you." She tugged Etienne hard and set off into the forest again. "Maybe we'll find some other cute things to be your friends while we're here." The pile of brown and green that was Jaken groaned.

            In a village not too far away, Inu Yasha, Shippo, Kirara and a very confused bowl of rice, all sneezed.

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Next time: the village. Meanwhile, review please:)