Author-chan's notes: HI!!!! I'd like you all to meet chapter eight!

*Disclaimer- *Director appears holding a giant crate. There are dark circles beneath his eyes; he hasn't slept in over a week. He wears an expression that is a combination of paranoia, sleepiness, and insanity. Hey! A three in one combo! Sugoi!*

Director- *putting down the crate and sitting on it* Now that I have a large supply of medical supplies, I'm prepared for anything! MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

*A giant flame wall appears behind the Director as he laughs triumphantly/insanely. Suddenly, girl-Ranma falls out of the sky and lands right in front of the Director*

Ranma- *grumbling* Stupid Akane! I only said that she looked fat in that dress! Why did she have to take it so personally?

Director- *staring at Ranma in fear* W-who are you? *Ranma turns to the Director*

Ranma- I'm Ranma. Sorry about crashing through your roof.

Director- It's not mine. It's Author-chan's roof. *looking at Ranma suspiciously* Do you know about Author-chan?

*Ranma shakes his/her head. The Director sighs in relief*

Director- I guess that means you're not here to do the Disclaimer. And that means that you're not here to torture me! THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!!!!

Ranma- Um, can you tell me were I can find Taiyo Tsuki? I'm looking for her. Me and that un-cute tomboy, Akane, are supposed to do something for her.

Director- I never heard of Taiyo Tsuki. But that's okay! You can stay here!

Ranma- *blinking* Huh?

Director- Look, you're cute, doll. I'm lonely, you're not going anywhere anytime soon, so why don't we just go out on a date, hum?

Ranma- *getting freaked out* Are you hitting on me?!

Director- *rolling his eyes* Duh, doll. What's the matter? Do you have a boyfriend?

Ranma- HELL NO!!!!

Director- *smirking* Then let me be your boyfriend! *Director tries to kiss Ranma. Ranma sends him flying through the roof with a punch*

Ranma- DIE, YOU FREAK!!!!

*Suddenly Akane appears*

Akane- *pulling out her mallet* RANMA!!!! WHAT DID YOU DO TO THAT POOR MAN?!!!!!!!!!

Ranma- A-Akane! You don't understand!

Akane- *looking very evil* Oh, I understand all right!

*WHAM!!!* Akane slams her mallet on Ranma's head.

Akane- You're such a jerk, Ranma!

*The Director comes crashing back to earth to land right in front of Akane*

Director- Ow! That doll sure can hit hard. More reason for why she should be my girlfriend! *Director turns to see Ranma on the ground* Oh doll!!! What happened to you?! *Director picks up Ranma and hugs him/her*

Ranma- G-get off me, you freak!!!

*Author-chan reappears on scene*

Author-chan- DIRECTOR!!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO RANMA?!!!

Director- *gives Author-chan puppy-dog eyes* Can I keep her? PWEASE?

Author-chan- *growling* NO!!! Ranma doesn't belong to you or me! Ranma ½ and Inuyasha belongs to Rumiko Takahashi! Not me!!!!

Director- *pouting* Aw!

Author-chan- Besides, Director, Ranma is Akane's fiancé!

Director- But, Akane is a girl!

Akane- And Ranma is a boy! *pulls out a kettle of hot water and pours it on Ranma. Girl-Ranma turns into boy-Ranma*

Director- AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! DOLL IS ACTUALLY A BOY!!!!

Author-chan- Duh! That's why they call the show Ranma ½! *turning to Ranma* How ya feeling Ranma?

Ranma- I'm feeling fine, Taiyo Tsuki.

Director- *interrupting* HOLD UP!!! Why did you just call Author-chan Taiyo Tsuki?

Author-chan- *rolling her eyes* Taiyo Tsuki is one of my various nicknames. I thought I told you that ages ago!

Director- *blushing* Oh, yeah…

Akane- I guess you don't need me and Ranma anymore since you already did the Disclaimer.

Author-chan- *blinking* I did?

Akane- Yeah, you said the Disclaimer a little while ago. It's in the bold type. Just scroll up a little bit.

Author-chan- Oh, you right! Silly me! Thanks anyway, though! It was fun having you here!

*Ranma and Akane disappear*

Director- *glaring at Author-chan* You knew I was going to expect a physical attack, didn't you? So instead you set it up so I would get wounded emotionally! This was the most embarrassing day of my life!!! I thought a guy was a girl! I feel so stupid!!! I hope you know that you scarred me for life!!!!

Author-chan- Don't feel bad, Director! You aren't the only one who does that.

Director- Oh? Name a person.

Author-chan- *looking very mischievous* Well, there's this guy with a wooden sword…

*Somewhere far away, Kuno sneezes*

A Clean Slate

(Chapter Eight: First Strike)

Back in Aki's hut

Shiro awoke with an aching head. Sitting up in the bed, he blinked slowly as he tried to remember his dream. All he go was a handful of broken images: Hard golden eyes, a white banner of some sort (or was it hair?), a red sleeve brushing across equally red cheeks, tearful gray eyes, a tall majestic tree, and…and…

"I can't remember," Shiro murmured to himself. He shrugged it off, though. After all, it was just a silly dream.

"Shiro-chan?" a voice next to him murmured. Shiro turned his head.

"Kimiko?" Shiro blinked at the girl sitting next to him, "Where are we?"

"Back at our hut," Kimiko answered, "You fainted, and we had to carry you back home."

"WHAT?!!!" Shiro/Inuyasha screeched, "Why the hell did you have to carry me back here like I was some sort of helpless child?!!!"

"You are a helpless child, Shiro-chan!" Kimiko huffed. The boy glared at her.

"No, I'm not!!!" Inuyasha yelled.

"Then what are you?" Kimiko shot back. Shiro froze. What was he then?

"I-I don't know," the boy answered in defeat. Kimiko sighed.

"Everyone needs help once in awhile, Shiro-chan," Kimiko said, "Even fearless dog-boys like you."

"Feh!" Inuyasha sneered, turning his head away from the girl.

"I'll go get Onii-san, and see if he could make you something to eat," Kimiko murmured, before she got up and left the room. As soon as she disappeared, Shiro looked down at his tiny hands.

"What am I then?" Inuyasha murmured to his palms. The air was silent; he was given no answer.

***

Outside the hut with Miho and Aki

Aki was leaning against the wall of his hut, looking at Miho. Part of him was dazed by Miho's very presence, but the only thing that was keeping him from becoming a blubbering mass of blushes was his concern for Shiro. The magician frowned to himself. Why did Shiro faint like that? It didn't seem natural.

"I'm worried about him," Miho murmured. Aki nodded in agreement.

"Can you tell me what happened when Shiro-chan fainted?" Aki asked. Miho sighed.

"There's not much to tell," Miho admitted, "We were just talking, then suddenly, the poor boy toppled over."

"I don't like this," Aki muttered, "Shiro could have a deadly illness, and he doesn't remember it!"

"He might not have an illness at all," Miho countered, "You said you rescued him from some man wearing a baboon pelt, ne?"

"That's right," Aki nodded.

"What if the man did something to Shiro-chan before you got there?" Miho reasoned, "Maybe the man hit Shiro in a certain way that makes him faint whenever he's exposed to too much heat or something."

"I doubt that," Aki said, "The man wanted to kill Shiro, not wound him."

"I wish Shiro had his memories," Miho sighed, "He'd probably be able to tell us exactly what is going on."

"Onii-san?" Kimiko interrupted, walking out of the hut. Aki turned to face his sister.

"Yes?" Aki asked.

"Shiro-chan is awake," Kimiko said simply.

"Thank you, Kimi-chan," Aki said, "You've been a big help." Aki started to walk into the hut, but Kimiko grabbed his sleeve.

"Um, Onii-san," Kimiko began, "Before you go in, I want to tell you something. While Shiro-chan was asleep, he started talking to himself. He said something about someone named 'Kagome'. Maybe this 'Kagome' is from Shiro-chan's past!"

"'Kagome', hmm?" Aki mused, "That sounds like a girl's name. I wonder if 'Kagome' is Shiro-chan's sister."

"I don't think so, Onii-san," Kimiko murmured, "The way Shiro-chan called out to Kagome, he seemed to care more for her than if she was his sister."

"Oh? Explain," Aki demanded, raising an eyebrow. Kimiko paused.

"Shiro acted like you do around Miho-san," Kimiko said after thinking about it, "He even blushed in his sleep!"

"You have a wild imagination, Kimiko-chan," Miho said, walking over to the two siblings, "Shiro-chan is too young to like someone romantically."

"You're right, Miho-san," Kimiko admitted, "But I think that there is more to Shiro-chan then meets the eye."

"I agree," Aki said, "Shiro-chan is more mysterious than I am!"

"How are you mysterious, Aki-san?" Miho asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Eep!" Aki blanched. He couldn't tell her about his magic!

"ByeMihosan,gottagohelpShiro!" Aki said in a rush. Then he dashed into the hut. Miho and Kimiko blinked in confusion.

"Is it just me, or is Aki-san a bit paranoid?" Miho asked out loud. Kimiko shrugged.

***

Back inside the hut with Inuyasha/Shiro

Shiro was sitting on the cot, thinking about what Kimiko said before she had left. Who was he? What was he? Was he really a child? Something inside of him said "no". But that was impossible, right? He certainly looked like a child. Didn't that make him a child?

"This is confusing," Inuyasha muttered quietly to himself. He began to unconsciously play with his rosary/necklace. Shiro never noticed that the rosary began emitting bluish sparks as he was toying with it.

"Shiro-chan?" Aki called. Immediately, Inuyasha's hands pulled away from his neck as soon as Aki walked into the room.

"That's odd," Aki thought to himself, "I could have sworn that Shiro-chan's necklace was glowing blue. Oh well. It must have been a trick of the light."

"Are you feeling better, Shiro-chan?" Aki asked out loud.

"Feh!" Shiro growled, "You're all going crazy just 'cause I got too much sun. I'm fine!" Aki laughed softly.

"Whatever you say, Shiro-chan," Aki said, ruffling the boy's hair, "Whatever you say."

***

In the hut, a few days later, with Aki, Kimiko, and Inuyasha/Shiro

Shiro and Kimiko were sitting on the floor of the hut, playing with a top. Or at least Kimiko was playing, while Inuyasha was watching the top twirl around with a bored expression on his face. Aki was preparing beans for the evening meal in a corner. The magician began humming a song softly to himself as he worked.

"Aki?" Shiro said out of the blue. Aki broke off his song to look at the little boy

"Hmm?" Aki asked. Inuyasha squinted slightly at him.

"Where did you learn that song?" Shiro asked, "It sounds familiar." Aki blinked.

"Does that mean you're getting your memories back, Shiro-chan?" Kimiko asked happily. The boy shrugged.

"Don't know," Inuyasha murmured, "So where did you learn that song, Aki?"

"I heard that song," Aki began slowly, "during one of my travels. I don't remember the exact location of where I heard it, but I still remember the song because it felt as if I was drawn by its music."

"Too bad you don't remember were you heard that song, Onii-san," Kimiko remarked, "I bet that Shiro-chan came from that area. That's why that song was familiar to him."

"I doubt it," Aki said seriously, "Shiro-chan is as likely to come from that place as the sun is to fall from the sky! It is impossible for him to have come from there."

"How can you be sure?" Inuyasha asked.

"I just do, alright?!" Aki snapped. Shiro snorted.

"Feh! You sure are cranky," Shiro muttered, "I'm going out into the village."

"What?!" Aki cried, jumping up from his seat, spilling the beans on to the floor, "You can't go wandering about the village by yourself! You don't know your way around!"

"Yes I do!" Shiro retorted, "Kimiko showed me around earlier, remember?"

"What if you faint again?" Aki pointed out, "We won't be there to help you."

"I'm not a baby, Aki," Inuyasha snorted, "I can take care of myself."

"Shiro…" Aki began to growl. Kimiko caught her brother's sleeve.

"Let him go," Kimiko sighed, "Shiro-chan has a stubborn streak so wide and thick, even the most powerful of youkai would choke on it. He has more stubbornness than any five-year-old I've ever known. Actually he has more stubbornness than anyone I know, period."

"Fine, you can go, Shiro," Aki sighed, waving a hand in defeat, "But be back soon."

"You worry too much, Aki," Shiro scoffed as he walked out the door. The magician sighed, and sat back down. Kimiko patted his arm.

"He's right you know," Kimiko said, "You do worry too much. You've hardly known Shiro for a week, and already you hover over him like a protective mother duck."

"Can you blame me?" Aki asked bitterly, "That boy has more mysteries about him than even I do. And it's not just because he lost his memories of his past, it's other things. His fainting spells are obviously serious. That baboon man is a strange mystery; why was he trying to kill a harmless child? A few days ago, I could have sworn that Shiro-chan's necklace was giving off magical light, and now, it's that song!"

"What's so special about that song you were humming earlier, anyway, Onii-san?" Kimiko asked. Aki gave his sister a hard look.

"That song hasn't even been invented yet," Aki said, "I heard it when I had a dream of the future a few years ago. And when I mean future, I don't mean the near future, I'm talking about the far future. That song I was singing won't be invented for another five hundred years or so. It's called 'Blue As the Sky'. How could Shiro-chan know about a song from the future? Could it be that he is a magician like me?"

"That would make sense," Kimiko nodded, "That would explain why the monkey man was after Shiro-chan; there are a lot of people out there who hate magic. And if Shiro-chan has magic, it would explain why his necklace was giving off a magical aura, and why he knew a song from the future; for all we know, Shiro-chan has dreams of the future."

"That boy is a mystery," Aki sighed, "And I have a feeling that there are people out there who will track Shiro-chan down because of that mystery."

"Good people, or bad people?" Kimiko asked. Aki raised an eyebrow.

"Is that a rhetorical question, Kimi-chan?" Aki asked.

***

Back in the village with Miho

Miho had finished all her chores for the day, and was now taking a walk. The girl sighed to herself. Even though she had known Shiro-chan for only a little while, she felt worried for the boy. He seemed so fragile when she carried him home; he hardly weighed anything. She couldn't quite explain it, but Miho felt that Shiro was ill, very ill. Even before the boy had fainted, the moment Miho laid eyes on the amethyst-eyed boy, she could tell there was something very wrong about him. And when Kimiko had said that Shiro had lost his memories, Miho became even more positive that the boy was sick.

Ever since she was a little girl, Miho could tell when people were healthy or not. Something about their presence told her if they were completely whole. And for some reason, Miho felt as if Shiro wasn't completely there. And it wasn't just his memories either. Shiro was missing something that he should have. It was almost as if he was missing half of his body. Or his soul.

"I just don't understand what's wrong with Shiro-chan!" Miho complained out loud. Sighing again, the young woman decided to walk towards the forest rather than heading back towards her hut. Leaning against one of the huge trees, Miho decided to take a rest.

"Mortal! Do thou know of he who is connected to the Shikon no Tama?" a chilling voice whispered in Miho's ear. Miho jerked in surprise. Glancing around her, the young woman could see no one.

"W-who is there?" Miho asked in a shaky voice, "Answer me!"

"Do thou know of he who knows of the Shikon no Tama?" the voice hissed again. Miho looked around again, but sighted no being.

"'Shikon no Tama'?" Miho blinked, still trying to find the owner of the mysterious voice, "I don't know anything of this Shikon no Tama."

"But do thou know of he who knows of the Shikon Jewel?" the voice prodded.

"Leave me alone!" Miho cried suddenly. Then she started to run.

"Mortal fool!" the voice growled. Strong rope-like things wrapped themselves around Miho's legs, causing her to trip and fall. When she glanced down at it, Miho realized that it was spider webbing.

"Ow…" the girl moaned. Looking up, she came face to face with something that could only come from her worse nightmares. A spider youkai.

"Let us try a different approach, shall we?" the creature hissed. Miho felt sick.

"Now, do thou know of a boy who wears red garments and a sword by his hip? And does he wear a rosary about his neck as well?" Miho's eyes widened when she heard the description. Her youkai captor smiled coldly at her.

"Ah! So thou do know of him. Excellent. Thou shall make the perfect bait," the youkai grinned. Miho cringed at the sight.

"What do you want with Shiro-chan?" Miho asked fearfully, "He's only a boy!"

"Only a boy? Thou must have your eyes checked, mortal!" he hissed, "He is more than that. Much more…"

Author-chan's notes: You probably all are wondering how in the world does Inuyasha know the song "Blue As the Sky". Well let's just say that Kagome has brought her CD player to the Feudal Ages a couple of times, and she just happens to like Card Captor Sakura music. And since Inu-chan has such sensitive ears, he was able to hear it, even though Kagome wore headphones. (If you read my CCS fanfic "Parties and Bets: Special Edition" I make a reference to "Blue As the Sky" in there too. That song is just so cool!!!!)

So can anyone guess what that spider youkai has against Inuyasha? I bet that some of you already know. If you don't, just think back in the manga, just when we discover something very important about our favorite hanyou.

Please R+R!!! Thanks!!!