Well, I didn't expect to write chapter two quite so quickly, but it's coming much easier than the paper that's due tomorrow. Figures :oP Anyway, I'm not certain how well I'm liking this fic, but, we'll see how it goes as it progresses. I have hopes for the later stages, so I guess we'll see what happens.

Thanks for the reviews! You guys are great.

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"She just reminds me of—someone, okay?" Inuyasha scowled and looked away. He could feel Kagome's gaze on him. The others had descended on him almost as soon as they were shown to their room. Inuyasha's shoulders tensed in aggravation, "I'm not sure what it was. Something about her. The way she held herself. Something in her scent, too. It was just a memory. I just didn't think we should trick this woman." He shot a baleful glare at Miroku. "You should be ashamed of yourself for even considering it."

The others looked at him with varying degrees of surprise or concern. Kagome was frowning at him, and watching his face intently. His expression darkened suddenly. "It's none of your business, so just leave me alone. Monk, don't you have a job to do?"

The others took the hint, but Kagome was still watching him. He exhaled heavily and stood up. "I'm going to get some air." He strode to the door and slid it open, almost running into the girl waiting outside in his haste to leave.

"Oh!" The servant stumbled back, obviously afraid. Inuyasha's teeth ground, and he took a step back, trying to look less threatening. "Um," the girl knelt hurriedly. "The lady would like to speak with you, please."

"Speak with who?" Inuyasha glanced behind him.

"Um, you, sir, particularly. Your friends may come if they wish, but my lady requested especially that you come. She said to tell you you're under no obligation, but she would very much like the opportunity to speak with you, if you're willing. Please."

"Me?" Inuyasha's ears twitched up, and he frowned a little. He looked back at the others.

"If the lady asks for you, you should go," Miroku nodded authoritatively. "It would be rude to refuse."

"I guess," Inuyasha said grudgingly. "Are you coming?"

"We'll stay here," Sango answered, shooting dangerous look at Miroku. He looked disappointed, but he nodded agreement.

"Kagome?" Inuyasha looked at her.

"I'll come," Kagome stood.

"Please," the girl stood, "Follow me."

Inuyasha looked at the girl, and then back at Kagome. Kagome shrugged and the two of them followed the girl down the hall, and deep into the castle.

The lady was waiting for them in a comfortable room, sparsely furnished. Two guards waited quietly against the back wall, to each side of her, silent. She knelt on a mat with embroidery in her lap, which she folded carefully and set on the clean floor next to her as her guests entered. She was still graceful, but the smile on her face made her seem eager, more the girl and less the refined princess.

"Welcome," she smiled. "Please, sit down. Is your room comfortable?"

"Yes, Hime-sama," Inuyasha replied. Kagome's eyes widened slightly, and she sneaked a look at the hanyou. He had that same strange look on his face that he'd had outside.

I've never heard him talk to anyone with that much respect before…

Kagome knelt numbly on the mat that was provided and divided her attention between her hanyou friend and this unusual lady.

"I hope you will forgive me," the lady blushed a little. "My curiosity has overcome my etiquette, I'm afraid. But tell, me, you are a youkai? Travelling with humans?"

Inuyasha's ears drooped a bit. "I'm a hanyou," he corrected grudgingly. "My mother was human."

The girl's eyes widened, and she clasped her hands together in her lap. "Really? I've heard of such things, but I've never met—" She shut her mouth quickly, blushing heavily as she realized Inuyasha's discomfort. "I'm being unforgivably rude. I beg your pardon, please." She bowed slightly, and Inuyasha flushed and looked away.

"Forget it."

"My name is Yoko," the lady continued in her gentle voice, her graceful composure recovered somewhat. "I apologize for my curiosity. My grandmother has often told me stories of gentle youkai, and I—" she bit her lip slightly, and bowed her head again. "I suppose I was so interested to meet one, that I forgot my manners completely."

"Feh," Inuyasha snorted, looking like his old self for a moment as he avoided the woman's gaze. "I'm not gentle."

Kagome smiled. "Inuyasha is my fierce protector."

Inuyasha blushed deeply. "What?"

Yoko blinked a moment, and looked hard at Inuyasha. Both of them ignored her, suddenly engaged in a glaring match.

"Well, it's true!" Kagome said hotly.

"Why you—"

"SIT!"

Inuyasha crashed to the floor, and Yoko jerked back a little in surprise, her eyes widening slightly.

"Excuse me," Yoko put a hand up, a little timidly. "Inuyasha, did you say? Are you—are you by any chance the son of the great taiyoukai, Inutaisho?"

Inuyasha sat up, and folded his arms, his face stormy. "Yeah—what of it?"

"Oh…oh my. Excuse me one moment." Yoko rose quickly and almost fled out of the room, leaving her two guests staring after her. One of the guards followed her, but the other remained behind, looking slightly on guard.

"What was that about?" Kagome wondered in a whisper.

"Beats me," Inuyasha scowled and fidgeted.

They waited for a few moments, shuffling. Inuyasha jumped up and paced, but Kagome made him sit down as the guard seemed to get more nervous.

Finally Yoko reappeared, and she strode into the room and took Inuyasha by the hands. She stared into his face. "Tell me truly," she said, an authority in her voice that could not be denied, "Are you the child of Inutaisho and the human lady, Otama?"

Inuyasha stared at her. "How did you know my mother's name?" he asked, his voice harsh.

"My grandmother was the youngest in a family of three," Yoko answered him, still staring intensely at him. "Her eldest sister, Otama, became the wife of a youkai lord, and bore him a son. After Otama's death, her son disappeared—his name was Inuyasha."

Inuyasha's eyes grew with every word. Kagome stared at them both, but they seemed to have forgotten she was there.

"That's why," he said hoarsely. "That's why you smell like she did…You're her blood…"

"And yours," Yoko smiled tentatively. "Welcome to my house, cousin."