Thank you, Sakura Uchiha and Element Hanyou for reviewing. I'm sorry to disappoint hardcore Inu fans, but this story is not centered on them, but their kids (and Shippo). I hope everyone likes chapter 2.

Chapter 2 – Never Let Me Down

Though he was small in stature, Shizuka was not the youngest child. That title belonged to his sister, Okami. He was seventeen, yet he looked like a twelve year old, and the fact really bothered the young wolf. He was not, however, a pushover, and the current situation he was in made him feel completely useless. Shizuka was draped, sweaty and gasping for air, over the shoulder of San, his oldest brother. San was most likely the one to take over their father's position after he gave up the title. He was intelligent, powerful, and very wise, yet his anger seemed to get the best of him. Aoi, meanwhile, was a complete muscle-headed idiot. He was the second oldest, and he always bullied Shizuka. San lie the sick boy down in the dirt, nearby the village. It was a stream not too far away from where he was lying. The sound of the cool, crisp water rushing over the rocks was very relaxing to him. San muttered something to Okami, probably telling her to keep an eye on him or something. Shizuka didn't care though. He just wanted the weight on his chest to go away; for the searing pain in his breaths to stop. He looked with pained and saddened eyes at his sister, who was busy dipping a rag into the cool stream water. He watched the girl carefully. It was actually rather amusing; she kept trying to keep her tail out of the water, but no matter how hard she tried, it kept drooping. Every few seconds, she'd snap her tail back towards her back, sending a high arc of water droplets flying into the air. He laughed internally. Okami was always one to put someone in a good mood, whether intentionally or not.

San sat on the wall at the village of where he was instructed to go. There were quite a few men staring at him, bowstrings taut with arrows. He felt himself chuckle slightly. What was intimidating, however, were the four angry youkai glaring at him. In particular, the burning, yellow eyes of the white-haired hanyou known as InuYasha. He was warned by Kouga not to get into a fight with him, because he could probably easily tear him to shreds, and as much as his pride was injured by finding out that a mutt was stronger than he, he obeyed his father's wishes and remained non-confrontational.

"I'm not here to cause any trouble!" San shouted out to the crowd.

"Well then, fleabag, what are you here for?" snarled InuYasha, his hand on the Tetsaiga, readying for any type of confrontation that might present itself.

San twitched slightly by the insult. Counting out his sister, out of the entire pack, he was the best groomed. He stood up and put one hand on his hip, shifting his weight ever so slightly from one hand to another. "I need to meet with the miko!" he bellowed back. "It is of the utmost importance that I see her right away."

InuYasha automatically jumped to the defense when hearing the mention of his wife. Keitaru and the others noticed this, and took a good few steps back. "What business do you have with Kagome!?" he growled defensively.

San, by this point, was starting to get intimidated by the angry hanyou, but nonetheless his intimidation didn't show. He replied calmly: "My brother is very sick. The pack medic can do nothing to help. 'Kagome' or whatever her name is, could possibly be his last hope"

'Swallow your pride, San…swallow your pride…'

"We…would do anything…if you could help him…"

"How are you feeling, Shizuka-ni" Okami asked. She put a hand on his head and felt that it was still very hot. She put the cold rag on his head. "You still have a fever, but it'll pass, okay?" She brushed his hair out of his face. It was strange to her to be taking care of him, seeing that he and Tanoshii used to do the same for her when she was sick, which, when she was young, was quite often. He never let her down, and she wasn't planning on doing it to him. Shizuka's eyes darted around nervously, trying desperately to figure out what exactly was going on. "Wh…where are we now…imoto…?" he stammered weakly. "Wha…what's going on?" Okami sighed gently and gave him a flask filled with pure, clear stream water. "You're getting dehydrated, Shizuka." she said calmly. "Drink." Shaking, he took the flask from her and took a long, sloppy swig. "We're taking you to a miko dad knows." she said, switching the rags for his head. "He says she might be able to help you." Shizuka's eyes widened in fear.

"Might!?!" he said fearfully. "Am…am I going to die!?! Okami? Am I dying!?!"

"I…I don't know, Oniichan…" she said sadly. She felt the tears of fear and sadness welling up in her eyes. 'I have to be strong for Shizuka' she choked. 'I can't just cry.'

"Hey…Okami"

"Yeah?"

"Don't worry…I'll…I'll be fine…okay?"

Okami nodded. As hard as she tried, she couldn't stop the tears from streaming freely down her face; she could only nod. Shizuka sighed slightly and let his body relax. He didn't like seeing his little sister so scared, so he figured whatever was wrong with him must be serious; she was normally a very strong person. He felt his eyelids get heavy and his head roll back. Okami's screams were only a distant sound in the far background.

"Don't fall asleep!"

The rich colors of the forest spun crazily with the peaceful darkness of rest. Shizuka's body felt light, the tightness in his chest suddenly was not as tight…the pain in his lungs not as severe. The warmth of the sun warmed is cold skin. It was strange, because he was still sweating a lot. Still, the young youkai's voice echoed softly in the background.

"Don't fall asleep! Shizuka! Wake up! Shizuka!"

He didn't want to wake up though. Sleep lessened the pain in his torso, the cramps in his stomach, his heat in which his forehead burned, the searing pain of his waves of headaches, the quick, unsteady beats of his heart...

Okami saw her brother's body go completely limp. He was breathing, but just slightly. "Shizuka!" she screamed frantically, trying to rouse him. "Shizuka! Wake up! Wake up!" Her entire face was wet with tears. Through the haze of her tear filled eyes, she saw a familiar figure standing nearby. He picked up the limp wolf's body and offered a hand to help her up.

"I'm taking him to my mother." a very familiar voice. "Dry your tears. You're no use to anyone in that state."

Keitaru looked solemnly onto the tearful state of the young woman from the morning. He was pretty sure she recognized who he was, but was completely thrown aback when he felt the girl collapse into his chest sobbing quietly. 'I'm not good at this!' he squeaked nervously to himself and put an awkward arm around her. "C-come one now!" he stammered nervously. "Get…get yourself together! Stop crying! C'mon! Stop crying!"

Okami sniffled and looked into the young man's face. He was the same man from earlier that day…the one that called her a bitch…yet now he was comforting her…or at least, something along the same lines as comforting. He smiled slightly. "Are you alright now?" he said kindly. Okami could only nod. She didn't trust herself to speak yet. "Well, follow me. The village is nearby, and I'm sure you don't want you're boyfriend to see you like that.

'Boyfriend…is he talking about San?'

Okami couldn't sleep that night. She had made arrangements, once they had made it into the village, with San, to stay until Shizuka was back on his feet. She sat on the roof of Kagome and InuYasha's home, looking intently into the full moon.

"Hey! Wolf girl!"(A/N: sorry!)Keitaru said, standing behind her. "What are you doing on my roof?"

Okami sighed. "Looking at the moon."

"Mind if I sit?"

"It's your roof."

They sat in silence for a long time, staring at the silver clouds pass by the moon. Keitaru was finally about to break the silence, when Okami interrupted him.

"Thank you." she said, looking at the claws on her toes. If it weren't so dark, Keitaru probably would've been able to see the thin strip of blush that laced her cheeks.

"No problem." He stuck out his hand. "My name is Higurashi Keitaru. And you?"

"I'm Okami. How old are you?"

"Seventeen."

"One year older than me."

Keitaru looked at the girl sitting next to him. Earlier in the day she seemed a lot older than him…not exactly his parents' age, more like Shippo. She seemed much more wise and mature than the years she claimed she was. He also remembered, though, this afternoon, in her moment of absolute weakness. She reminded him of a child then; a terrified child who was about to lose her brother. He couldn't blame her for getting hysterical. As much as he hated to admit it, Keitaru knew that if Chikara or Safaia were ever in the place of that small boy, he'd probably be just as hysterical. He wouldn't be crying of course. He never cried. Well, not since he was a little boy. But he'd be screaming for help. Yes he definitely would. He saw the immense amount of worry and fear in her eyes and sighed deeply.

"I believe you now." Keitaru said.

Okami looked at him, fairly confused. "About what? I never told you anything."

"You weren't trying to hurt Safaia." And with those last words, Keitaru climbed back down into his room, to get some well deserved rest. The moonbeams glistened on Okami's tanned skin. She looked on into the giant blue disk and sighed. This was going to be an interesting few weeks.

(A/N: Never Let Me Down is a song by Kanye West. I just liked the way it related to the story, and I decided to use it as my own title.)

Chapter two is over, but I'm already starting on Chapter 3. R&R. Love and peace!

Wolfgirl