Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, just the video game and the two posters I bought… :o)  I DO own Hoonomei. He's mine! :o)

Chapter 7: And you are…?

Sango and Kirara found Inuyasha about an hour later, holding a cat youkai by the tail. He shook the small demon and screamed, "I asked you a question!"

"Inuyasha!" Kirara growled at the hanyou. Sango patted her absently. "Calm down, Kirara… He means no harm…"

"The hell I don't! I want answers!" He shook the demon again, and the kid whimpered and shook. Sango dismounted Kirara, took her weapon off her back, and bonked Inuyasha on the head. The larger demon dropped the child and held his head.

"Oi, wench, what was that for? He was about to—"

Sango ignored the whining hanyou and picked up the small ball of shaking fluff. It was a pretty thing—gold and silver hair intertwined in an intricate striped pattern, except for the golden head, which was now hidden in the child's chest—but not as brave as Kirara. The small demon uncurled and blinked at Sango, shaking. Kirara had changed into her smaller form, and she perched on her master's shoulder purring. Sango smiled. "I apologize for my friend's rude behavior—" she glared at Inuyasha, who narrowed his eyes at the scene and bounded up the nearest tree "—but he is worried about two of our friends. My name is Sango. This—" she patted Kirara's head "—is Kirara, and that one up the tree—"

"Feh! Ask him about Kagome already!"

Sango glowered at him. "You know, I think I understand why Kagome sits you so much."

Inuyasha flinched at the word 'sit' but said nothing.

She turned again to the child smiling. "Don't pay any attention to him. Inuyasha hasn't had a nap yet." She winked at the child, who giggled, then opened his mouth wide and clapped a hand over it. "I'm sorry—"

Sango laughed. "No need to apologize. Now, what is your name?"

The child grinned. "My name's Hoonomei."

"Nice to meet you. Now, if I may ask, did you see a young girl, slightly shorter than me? Long black hair to about here—" she held her hand in the middle of her back "—possibly walking with a young man about his height—" she pointed to Inuyasha, who growled and turned away from them "—with black hair, wearing dark blue and black robes, and carrying a gold staff taller than him? Oh, and rosary beads wrapped around one hand."

Hoonomei thought it over. Inuyasha leaned down casually and strained to hear. "I saw two humans that might be described like that. But the male was wearing only the black robes, and the female seemed to be wearing the blue robes you've described."

Sango's eyebrows shot up. Inuyasha's jaw dropped. He snapped it shut and growled.

Oblivious to their reactions, Hoonomei shook his head. "It can't have been them, though. They were with Lord Sesshoumaru."

At the mention of his half-brother's name, Inuyasha lost his grip and crashed down from his branch.

© 7/5/03, M.A.R.

Aphiopsyduck:  Sorry for the short chapter, but this is the length it ended up being. It balances out, though. Two later chapters are very long. :o)

(More or less) Permanent A/N: *sweatdrops…*  Ehehe…  First fanfic… If nothing else, it's a test run, since this will be my first real fanfic posted anywhere. I don' really know where it's going though, so please bear with me. Reviews are welcome, and flames will be used on undead mikos who refuse to leave our heroes alone. :o)