Royce walked along slowly, behind the others as usual. In all of the three days she had been with them, she hardly said a word. But that was about to change.
"Royce..." Miroku began slowly, "I have been wondering for some time now why you stopped after spotting Sango and Kagome?"
"No reason..." Royce said flatly, hiding what she really believed.
"Yeah... why did you stop?" Inuyasha inquired suspiciously. "Too afraid to fight in front of a woman?"
"No... it's... not like that..." Royce answered slowly, careful with her words.
"Then what is it? You can tell us you know..." Kagome says, curious herself.
"You wouldn't understand... I'll be back." Royce states, jumping off hurriedly.
"What her problem? She's acting like she's got some big secret..." Inuyasha says, continuing on.
"I want to know how she got her scar..." Kagome says, looking after Royce.
"So do I... I think I'll ask her sometime." Sango states, turning around.
Kagome nods and follows everyone else, wondering if she shouldn't go find Royce.
"They wouldn't understand... None of them would. No one ever has... and no one ever will... I guess I'm just destined to be alone for all eternity..." Royce says to herself, and sighs. "MY parents could hardly even stand to be around me, demons as they were. No one will ever understand me the way you do..." Royce says, tears filling her eyes, and stroking the hair of a rag doll in her hand.
A demon lurks in the shadows, watching, waiting. Remembering the time he nearly succeeded in his task, and gave Royce that fateful scar. "I'm coming for you... your magesty..."