Chapter Three-Into the Wilds

Saraku awakened to the sound of wood being dropped onto the fire. She opened her eyes a crack, and looked at the dog boy,Inuyasha. "It's not morning already, is it?"

"Yes. We're leaving as soon as Kagome gets back. I just remembered we are supposed to be meeting with two more friends of ours today." Inuyasha replied. "Eat while you can. We won't be stopping for food after we leave."

"You can have some of my melon." The young Shippou was at her side still, only now he was eating.

"Um…okay." She took the piece he offered her. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." Shippou grinned at her. "So, where are you from? Kagome said you weren't from this time period."

"Well,my mother and father weren't. I was born here." Saraku said slowly. "My birth name is Sara,but after we were attacked by local villagers, The old woman re-named me Saraku. It was a precaution against further human attacks."

"You must mean Kaede-sama. She's so nice." Shippou nodded. "Can I call you Sara? It's a beautiful name."

"Sure. Oh! I forgot to ask you what your name was."

"It's Shippou." The young one licked the melon juice off his fingers. "Wait'll you meet Miroku and Sango. They're so nice. Sango will probably treat you as if she was your mother,like Kagome does."

"Feh…stop chattering, Shippou. We've gotta get going." Inuyasha interrupted. He pulled the blankets from underneath Saraku. "Make yourself useful and fold these into rolls. You do know how to do that, right?"

"Inuyasha! Leave the poor girl alone!" Kagome had sneaked up behind them. "I'll do it. Saraku, would you please help Shippou pack our cookery?"

"I will do my best, Kagome." Saraku only knew a little bit about travelling in all the years she'd migrated with her family. The adults of her caravan had done everything. "How do you do that?" She watched Shippou pack the large mound of nuts and berries.

"It's easy really. They're so tiny, all you have to worry about are the holes in the basket. The last person we battled with was mean. She put holes all over it, but Kagome mended it as best as she could. "

"Battled? What do you mean?" Saraku was worried now. She didn't want to wind up in the middle of another fight with demons.

"This sorcerer, Naraku. He's terribly powerful. He nearly killed Inuyasha a couple of times!" Shippou shuttered. "Don't worry, Sara. We won't let him hurt you, even though you have the last piece of the Shikon no Tama."

"What is this,Shikon thingie you all keep talking about?" Saraku's curiosity got the better of her.

"We'll explain on the way. It's time to go." Inuyasha interrupted the new friends again. "Keep up. I'm not slowing down for anyone." He walked out ahead of them.

"Don't mind Inuyasha. He's always this cranky in the morning." Kagome advised the young child. "Shippou and I will stay with you. And when we meet up with Sango, I'm sure she won't mind letting you ride Kilala. "

Saraku nodded slowly. "Kagome….am…am I living with you and Inuyasha foreever?"

"I can't promise you forever. It's too treacherous. I do have an idea, though it'll have to wait." Kagome told her. "But for right now, you are a part of our family. Come on." She picked the girl up, and with Shippou on her shoulders, caught up to Inuyasha.

(A/N:I know I know. It's short. I'm sorry. Don't beat me…I've got ideas for a new chapter,so I'll be writing Chapter Four very soon,I promise! For now, leave reviews,kk!)