Disclaimer: I own InuYasha, but there is still some question if I'm Rumiko Takashi's
reincarnation, considering she's still alive.

Author Notes: Well Dugh, there's not gonna be much to say here... Like I said in last chappy's
footnotes, this was put out around the same time... so I already said what it was that I wanted to...
JUST READ... you know you want to @_@ (now all of you staring at the screen are my
hypnotized zombies... your first orders are to REVIEW...)

~* Over the Edge - Chapter 10: Caught Half Way There Part 2*~

For the next few nights, the group stayed in the clearing, with a few adjustments. Now Kagome
slept up in the tree with InuYasha. He didn't want her to get hurt again, and with every night the
shikon shard's presence grew closer, so he wanted to be sure she was safe. Seiko had kept
sneaking off in the mornings, but after the third day he caught her in the act of leaving, so she
hadn't tried it again. Miroku had become more quiet than usual, especially around Seiko, and
seemed to give her suspicious glances. This drove InuYasha to believe he knew something about
her he wasn't telling them... telling him. Sango too, had a slight change. She ignored Miroku
more, hanging her head down when he wouldn't talk to her, even if it was just that he didn't hear.
The only one unfazed by the whole thing was Shippou, he had fun 'taking care' of Seiko's fire
hawk, and even she didn't seem to mind his pampering to the combat bird.

***

Seiko had never snuck off in the nights. Until that night.

It was brisk with fresh dew on the ground against her bare feet as she wandered away from camp.
Her hart was racing as she ran from the clearing, ran and just kept going. She hadn't even
bothered to call her fire hawk, there was no use in it if InuYasha could pick up her high pitch.

She hadn't gotten far when InuYasha realized she was missing from her hammock. He gently
placed Kagome on a soft patch of moss, she winch as he left her side as she'd done in the ridge.
But, he kept going off toward Seiko's scent through the thick fog, not hesitating this time.

***

It wasn't long till he reached her. She was panting from exhaust, obviously trying to get away
from something, not even noticing as InuYasha ran up beside her. She was fast for a human, but
she was tired, and he could go on longer than her at this point.

Eventually she slowed to a stop, collapsing on the floor of the woods. InuYasha decided to watch
her from the bushes, it was probably safer if she didn't know he was there.

From the first time he'd met her, she'd had nothing but an empty face, no sign of much emotion
at all. But now, as she lay on the cold, hard ground, for the first time, he saw her cry. Tears rolled
down her cheeks as though a waterfall, she gasped for breath, but it hardly came. She soon just
lay there, weeping and breathing heavily.

After a while she seemed to settle down, and sat up on the earth, wiping the remaining tears from
her eyes. This looked like a good time to see what was wrong, and InuYasha moved from his
place in the bushes.

She hadn't notice him as he came around from behind her, so when his clawed hand was laid on
her shoulder, she jumped, bringing her leg around to trip him. (A/N: every huntresses reaction to
such a situation...)

InuYasha received full impost of the blow, and no sooner than he hit the ground, was there a
familiar blade at his neck.

"Why are you here?" Seiko's voice was low. All weariedness had faded from her eyes, and now
flashed of amber and red, from rage.

"I... but... then..._ Oh shit." He was at loss of words, and the blade was pressed into his flesh, but
not enough to cut... yet.

"You are trying to kill me." She accused him as he looked at her both confused and helplessly.

"I what?... NO!" He comprehended what she was saying as her eyes flashed, still fixed on his. "I
would never try yo kill you... it's just you snuk off and_"

She cut him off in stepping on his stomach, blade still fixed at his neck. "You best not be lying to
me InuYasha. For next time, I wont hesitate." She removed the blade, and turned to head deeper
into the woods.

***

"Seiko wait." He came to his feet and grabbed her arm roughly so she'd turn to face him. But she
tried to pull away from his firm hold. As she pulled away his sharp claws unintentionally sunk
into the flesh of her shoulder, as well as ripping her kimono.

As she realized what had happened, she did not release a yelp of pain as others would have done,
but instead, she looked from her wound then to his amber gaze, just as surprised as hers. Her eyes
were wide as she stared at him momentarily, taking in all the pain. He quickly release his hand,
but after he did so, she made a dash to the woods, clinging to her arm, blood dripping behind her.

*****
(A/N: Ooh, the tension. Nothing seems to go InuYasha's way lately does it. I mean the poor guy
is trying to figure out Seiko's secret, but every time he follows, something happens to her that he
couldn't really stop. Then by the time he gets back to camp, something happened there that he
didn't prevent because he's off trying to figure out her... Sounds like a no win situation? Well, I
guess you'll have to wait it out and see... *evil laugh* "I love manipulating these characters")
*****

InuYasha chased after her. Her blood's scent was easier to follow, so even as she'd wound
through the trees, he could still follow.


Her adrenalin was pumping and her heart raced as she sped through the trees. There were too
many questions buzzing around her head to think, so she concentrated on finding a safe place, a
place were she could treat her wound.

After a while all of her fear had changed to fury, pushing her farther and faster than thought
possible. As InuYasha chased her down, running, he hated to admit it but she was wearing him
down. 'How does that wench run so damn fast?'

Seiko soon reached a shallow of water, all was still around it, and she too stopped. For a moment
she just stood there, eyes fixated on the sparkling water under the moon, while she caught her
breath, slowing it to a average speed rather than so heavily.

She wandered down by the water, sitting on a dry rock at it's edge. She moved her hand from the
open wound and noticed the pain she should be feeling. The gouges were deep, and slashed right
below her shoulder. She took off the kimono, which she'd have to repair later, and tossed it
aside, revealing her bare shoulders and the sheer undershirt to the brisk night air.


InuYasha smelled her blood more potently as he neared the clearing with the small pond. He
slowed down, keeping watch on her from a safe distance. Her arm was stained of blood and it
hung on the crumpled kimono roughly tossed. He saw her as she moved her hand from the
wound that was of accident. There were deep, crimson gouges, and scratch marks from her
movement as she pulled away. 'I would have never tried to stop her if I'd known it would come
to this... I don't know what she thinks of me now... right before she'd accused me of trying to kill
her then this... But every time I try to help, something bad happens...'


She fumbled in her belt with bangles and pouches, until she found one she was looking for. From
it she dumped a mixture of herbs onto the flat of the rock in front of her. She ripped a piece of
cloth from the belt and hesitantly dampened it with the water. She smeared the herbs on the rag
before tying it securely around her upper shoulder. Then she took a small amount of water in her
hand and wiped the blood stains from the rest of her arm.

She was hurt badly, and even though she didn't show signs of pain, InuYasha knew she was
holding back. He could see the fear in her eyes, and never wanted to see it again.

***

Once he'd gathered his thoughts, he dashed back to camp to be sure that Kagome wasn't
venerable for too long, he couldn't let his curiosity sidetrack him from the matter at hand. And
that was that there was a demon nearing THEM, when they usually went away, hence hunting
down the shards and not just waiting around for them.

When he'd gotten back to camp, Kagome was shivering on the moss where he'd left her. He took
her in his arms and bounded up into the tree once more. She unconsciously nuzzled her face into
the warmth of his chest, smiling in her sleep, as he positioned them on the branch. "Good night
Kagome, everything's gonna be okay." He said it in a mere whisper, not even meant for her ears.
He gently kissed her forehead, then dosed off, embraced by her sweet smell.

*****
(A/N: This is where I'd normally end the chapter, but there is still ONE relatively important
event still to come... so you get the bonus of it being longer... *smiles* enjoy, I hope)
*****

It was dawn by the time Seiko had returned to the clearing of camp. She was week, but didn't
really show it. She didn't bother to climb back into the tree, she just slumped to it's base and fell
asleep.

***

The morning was thick with fog as InuYasha woke up, feeling Kagome shift in his arms. The air
was moist, and he could hardly see his companions as he searched the grounds. "InuYasha."

"What is it?"

"It's here."

With that he gathered her in his arms for a better hold, then jumped from the tree. He placed her
lightly on the ground near Sango, as the others had woken from all the movement.

"Kagome, InuYasha, what's wrong?" Sango asked, rubbing her eyes, Kiarra stretching beside
her.

"The demon with the shard is here." InuYasha told her, putting a clawed finder over Kagome's
lips, indicating that she shouldn't speak. "Watch her. I'm gonna see if I can figure out where it is
in this mess..." searching the fog with his amber gaze, then leaving the girls to fend for
themselves.

He found his way to Miroku, who was now being awakened by Seiko, at his side. "You might
want to come with me." He said, gazing down at the huntress. "Miroku, you should go with
Kagome and Sango... and find Shippou." He directed, remembering the kitsune.

Seiko looked upon the face of the monk still seated at the bottom of the tree, then up to the
hanyou. "I will not." she told him flatly. With their blank looks directed at her, she continued.
"My whole reason in joining you in this 'quest' was to protect and take care of Miroku under HIS
servitude." She folded her arms much like the classic InuYasha 'stubborn look'. "Not unless
instructed by him." She cocked and eyebrow at InuYasha as if daring him to keep pushing her.

"It's alright Seiko." Miroku spoke up, breaking their silent clash. "InuYasha is trying to protect
all of us. There is a dangerous yokai around, and he thinks it best for you to go with him, them
I'd have to agree."

With that the matter was settled. Miroku rose from his position and went off toward Sango and
Kagome, leaving Seiko to the orders of InuYasha.

***

He led her to the outskirts of the clearing through the fog, so that no-one would hear them. "How
good of a hunter are you?"

"Feh." she looked away from him as if the question was absurd.

"I'm serious bitch! How good are you?"

"Why the hell would you want to know?"

(A/N: Is it just me, or is Seiko a lot like InuYasha? But notice that this is the first time she's let
her manners slip... she always held back the 'fowl language' but now it's like she doesn't care.)

InuYasha, becoming frustrated, placed his hand lightly over the wrap of cloth, sensing the pain
flood through her from that point. "Because, I need to know if you can protect yourself, and fight,
or if you need to be off to the sidelines with the brat and Kagome!" She knocked his hand away
and turned in the direction that they'd came, when she suddenly stopped. "What is it?" Her
brows lowered as she turned back to him.

"Run."

It was then that he realized what she'd noticed. There was the sound of a all-to-close yokai, with
the shikon shard no doubt. It was running toward them as they fled the area, Seiko was still week
from the night's incident, and he heard her heart race, she was barely being able to go on. 'Why
is the demon coming after US? Shouldn't it be going to Kagome, she's the one with the shards...'

The demon was gaining on them. InuYasha could hear it's breath as it drew closer. He looked
back to see what kind of yokai it was, but the fog was too thick to see.

Seiko began to stumble, so InuYasha moved closer to her, heaving her over his shoulder as he
ran, now able to reach his top speed. But it was no use, the demon would outlast them with the
power of the shard, and he'd need energy if there was going to be a fight.

***

From the point he'd set Seiko down, to the time he was knocked to the ground by a strong blow
from the depths of the fog, InuYasha was oblivious to exactly what it was he was fighting. When
he hit the ground, he remembered blacking out a little after.

At some point during their battle, Seiko must have regained strength. For when his vision was
blurring with the heavy dizziness, he saw a agile figure with the green haori pants and a sheer,
bloodstained top lunge at the creature through the clearing fog. She must have forced the yokai to
retreat, for when he awakened, there was no indication of remains from the creature about the
clearing... the same clearing where Seiko had gone to cry.

InuYasha had awakened a while later to the faint scent of pine and jasmine that was Seiko. She
was cleaning a wound on his head with a damp cloth, kneeling by his side. The sun had risen,
and the fog cleared, revealing the place they were at.

InuYasha motioned to get up, but Seiko pushed him down again, pointing out a large gouge in
his arm, yet to heal. "Rest."

"But what about_" she placed a finger over his lips as he'd done to Kagome earlier.

'They're fine. After the yokai cleared out I went to check on them. No-one was hurt, but Miroku
wanted me to make sure you'd be alright." She tore her gaze from his, treating his wounds with
some more of the herbs from the pouch at her belt. He noticed her own bandage had slipped from
her wound on her upper arm. His eye's widened when he noticed that it was now merely an
indent below her shoulder, almost to the point of a scar. But as her eyes noticed the surprise in
his, he tore his gaze to think of how this might fit with everything else he knew... but it just
didn't seem fit.



*smiles* How'd you like THAT?...and InuYasha isn't even completely sure of how Seiko
managed to get the demon to leave... *evil laugh* What do you think Seiko's secret is, hm? If
any of you guess this one, I'm gonna put up 100 chppys (shows how confident I am that you
wont...)

()()
(u_u) I have to get back to "Gone With the Wind" now... See ya. (Please Review) ~Bunny