Author's Pre Notes: Well second chapter's up and it's pretty slow going like the first but I promise it will pick up. The first few chapters or the ideas for them have been sitting on my computer for a while so I have to get through them and lay the foundation first, then the real fun starts.
Thanks so much all of you that read!
A special thanks to rainbow-monkey88 and Asfaloth5 for putting me on their favorite author and author alert lists. Thanks so much for your support!
Now I make a custom to reply to those who have been so kind as to give me there input . . .so rainbow-monkey88 this is for you . .
rainbow-monkey88 Thanks so much for reviewing !! And you were the first reviewer . .I know that can be fun! I'm glad you were . .my number ONE! And only! Lol Thanks so much! I'm glad you're interested. I am doing this for you guys! Thanks again hope you like this chapter and to hear from you again. Your input really does mean a lot to me! Thanks!
Onto the words . . ..
"I still can't believe you threw me into a tree again!" Kagome cried
"It worked didn't it!" Inuyasha yelled back.
"AH!!"
"At least we got the jewel shard without too much trouble this time." Miroku said.
"I suppose, but you really didn't help when you started hitting on the demon's hostage," Sango said with a glare.
"I do what I can,"
"You try," Inuyasha said rolling his eyes.
"What's that Inuyasha?" Shippou said hearing a thundering sound in the distance.
The group heard the pounding of hooves approaching from behind them.
"Inuyasha look!" Kagome said pointing over the hills.
"Isn't that the woman we met on the road the other day?" Sango wondered aloud.
"She looks like she's in trouble," Shippou piped up standing on Kagome's shoulder.
"We'd better help," Miroku said moving to take action.
Inuyasha stood reluctant his arms crossed and eyes closed. He wanted to help he just needed a reason so as not to look too soft.
"Inuyasha!" they scolded.
That'll do.
"Fine! But after that we have to get moving!" He growled annoyed as he drew Tetsaiga.
Kagome rolled her eyes.
"Let's spread out," Miroku suggested taking his place behind a tree.
Inuyasha nodded and took his post, waiting as the horses trampled their way.
Just as the woman past Miroku through his staff out into one of her pursuers steed's legs. The animal stumbled throwing the rider a few feet away. Inuyasha jumped onto another knocking him out with the base of his sword. Sango took two out with her boomerang. But they were tenacious warriors and were back up in a matter of seconds.
The woman turned stopping her horse before Kagome.
"Are you alright?" Kagome asked.
"Get down!" Shira yelled jumping from her horse pushing Kagome out of the way of an oncoming spear. She then sat up quickly retrieving Kagome's bow from the ground and stringing it with three arrows. She twisted the string as she pulled it back and then let them fly. They swirled as they flew and fanned out hitting three lizard demons square in their chests.
In a matter of minutes the battle was over, the bodies of the small army of demons strewn over the grass as the victors collected themselves.
Kagome sat up looking at the woman kneeling over her. She stared blankly at the dead creatures before them.
Kagome gasped, Shira's hat had been knocked off during the fray and . .
"A jewel shard!" Inuyasha finished, tensing, seeing a shard hanging from an ornament on the woman's head, resting over her brow just above her nose. Something about her had made him nervous, even uncomfortable, now he knew why. (Author's side remark: Or so he thinks WAHAHA! . .anyway)
Shira looked over at him and visibly sighed, 'not again,' she thought.
"That must be why they were chasing you," Sango said retrieving her weapon.
"You could say something like that," She said coolly standing and extending a hand to Kagome.
"Thank you for helping me. I apologize for causing you such trouble." She said graciously.
"Oh no you're not getting away that easy!" Inuyasha growled.
"I'm sorry for my companion again," Miroku continued glaring at Inuyasha as he attempted to add some civility to the now tense atmosphere, "but we're on a quest for the Shikon Jewel Shards, and it is now apparent that you possess one."
She smiled sadly turning back to her horse and adjusting her tack. " I'm afraid I can't help you."
"What!?! You have it right there!!" Inuyasha yelled getting more irritated by the minute.
"I'm sorry I'd give it to you if I could but-"
"Fine if you want to fight for it!" Inuyasha yelled, abruptly turning her around by her shoulder.
"Inuyasha!!" Kagome yelled at his aggression, mirrored by Shira's voice in a slightly more urgent tone as he lunged for the shard on her head.
"Master Inuyasha!!" Myouga cried out sensing it. But Inuyasha didn't heed and just as his hand reached it, it burst into crackling light striking Inuyasha and throwing him several feet away.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome screamed running over to him and the pit he had put in the ground.
The others stared at Shira shocked.
"I tried to warn him. . . . I can't control it," she said dismayed, "Is he alright?!"
"What do you mean you can't control it!" Inuyasha growled his voice cracking as Kagome helped him off . .out . . .of the ground.
She just stared at them making no response, in her defense or otherwise.
"It's alright," Miroku said calming the tension as he studied her seriously, his brow furrowed.
"I can't take it off, I'm sorry but I can't help you, it's out of my hands. I should go," She said moving to mount her steed.
"No, it wouldn't be safe. Night is falling quickly and I'll reiterate the fact that there is safety in numbers Lady Shira," Miroku said, "No real harm was done-"
Inuyasha's head perks up at this statement and he moved to lunge at the monk while Kagome held him down with a bored look on her face.
"So there's really no need for you to move on till morning," Sango finished gently.
She sighed with a weary smile, "Thank you" and with that she led her horse over to the clearing Miroku had pointed out for their camp.
Inuyasha with Kagome's help limped over to Miroku and Sango who were studying their new companion intently.
"It appears there is more to Lady Shira than what meets the eye," Miroku said
"Yeah," Inuyasha winced, " A whole lot more."
"Indeed," Myouga said crossing his arms.
-----------------
Kagome approached Shira. She was sitting on the crisp grass, her horse laying on it's stomach next to her. It's head looking around as if inspecting the perimeter. It made a snorting sound as its eyes settled on her.
"I'm really very sorry, he's alright isn't he?" Shira said not turning to face her.
"He's fine- just a big baby that's all," Kagome offered with a nervous smile.
Shira smiled thoughtfully.
Kagome couldn't help but smile at her original thoughts of this woman, she really liked her but her enthusiasm soon fell at the sight of the jewel shard dangling on her forehead and the recollection of what had happened to Inuyasha when he had tried to retrieve it.
"Shira?"
"Yes Kagome?"
Kagome pulled at her fingernails nervously as she kneeled beside her on the grass, "What happened back there? Are you in some type of trouble? because we-" she continued when the older woman stopped her with a gentle smile.
She sighed, "Don't worry, there's no need for you too. You've been more than kind to me and . . . . I can see that's how you are, deep in your soul. But you have to remember Kagome, I'm still a stranger and not all strangers are good people. You can't always just put yourself out there for someone you don't know. I'll be honest with you, I'm in a position I wish I weren't, but it isn't your problem. I'm sure you have enough of those yourself."
Kagome pouted slightly unsure of what to do. She felt Shira's hand on hers.
"It's alright, it's really nothing for you to worry about. .. .You're too good," she said standing and walking over to the others.
------------- Across the camp------------
"Inuyasha hold still!" Sango growled as she attempted to clean out a gash on his arm.
"She certainly is interesting," Miroku said as they watched Kagome and Shira talking.
"Yeah interesting," Inuyasha huffed.
"If we help her perhaps we can get her shard, Inuyasha," Miroku pointed out.
"It doesn't really seem like she wants us involved" Sango said. "If she wanted our help wouldn't she have told us before,"
"That's fine, I'm not here to fight her battles anyway but she has a shard and we'll leave her alone to deal with her problems just as soon as she gives it up,"
"She said she can't take it off," Sango remembered from earlier.
"It wouldn't hurt if we knew why and what she needed help with," Miroku wondered aloud.
"She seems friendly enough but she has no reason to put confidence in us." Sango said putting the bandages away.
"Perhaps in time, we can gain her trust," Miroku offered.
"But until then I'm keeping my eye on her," Inuyasha said narrowing his eyes as he watched her leaved Kagome and start her way toward them.
---------------- Later that evening--------
Night soon fell and everyone gathered around the fireside. A kind of awkward silence seemed to fall over the group with the company of this mysterious traveler.
And it was really annoying Inuyasha . . .
"So where do you come from Shira?" he suddenly asked a bit arrogantly.
Kagome held back a groan, the suddenly urge to throw something heavy at Inuyasha almost unbearable.
Shira looked up from the fire a bit surprised but received his attention with a smile.
"I hail from the south," she answered good-naturedly.
"No! Where do you really come from?!" He persisted rudely.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome hissed knowing what he was really asking, "Of all the people to ask such a –" she started to scold him when . .
"No no it's alright Kagome," Shira said calming the group. "The truth is," she chuckled looking at the cup of tea in her hands, "I really don't know. I don't know why I look different from everyone else or how I got here. So I'm afraid, Inuyasha, that I cannot properly answer your question." She smiled softly looking back at her tea, her horse nuzzling her from behind.
Inuyasha nodded his eyes closed, ignoring Kagome's annoyed glare.
Myouga had hopped over to Shira during the little spat studied her carefully. She looked down and offered her hand, raising it so that they were eye level.
"Shira? Or--" he said unsure, "Lady Shiraume-Shirat-," but she cut him off by putting a finger to her lips with a gentle smile. No one else had to know. He crossed his arms and lowered his head. He had thought so.
Author's Post Notes: So that's it for chapter 2 . . a little mystery there . .sorta . .it will make sense later I promise. But please PLEASE! Review I would really love some feedback!! Thanks so much!!
Besides if you like it you must . .
Remember Reviews are motivating . . .. .
