Chapter Five-Past Encounters the Present

"Focus,Saraku. Ye about burned the infusion, girl." Kaede took the spoon from Sara. "Get on with ye. You've done enough for one day." The old priestess waved Saraku out of her hut. "I want you back here at sundown."

"Yes,Ma'm." Saraku skipped off to play with Shippou. Only,she found that Shippou was hard at work with Inuyasha. "Hey, guys...."

"Sara! Look,we're building Kagome a castle. Do you want to help?" The fox demon smiled at her.

"No thanks.....I thought we could play..."

"We don't have time for that. Winter's fast approaching,and we need a warm place for Kagome and the baby when it comes." Inuyasha told her. "See,unlike you,we have to do things for ourselves here."

"I do thing for myself all the time!" Sara retorted,twirling her hair around her finger. "I guess I'll go play alone then...."

"You could help us....." Shippou offered. "The more help we have, the faster we'll get done."

"No thanks...." She left the village then, to go take a walk. For nearly a month, she'd been working with Kaede, and she still couldn't seem to get the hang of the herbal concotions. She didn't understand.

She stopped by her favorite stream, and sat on the bank. What am I doing wrong? Maybe I'm not meant to be a priestess at all....perhaps I'm nothing.......Saraku fingered her mother's locket, and sighed. Dear mama,please show me the path I'm meant to take......please. As she finished this silent prayer, Sara heard rustling in the woods behind her. "Wh-who's there?!" She unsheathed her ever-present sword.

"Calm yourself,Sara. We're friends." A young woman approached with a younger girl at her side. "I am Moiraine, High Priestess of the FireGrove in England. I know you have not heard of me before, but that will not matter. I am your aunt."

"I......" The resemblence to herself startled Saraku into silence. "My aunt? How is it you have not come for me sooner?" She spoke in the commanding voice that a child of a demon prince would have.

"We were observing you this year. " Moiraine replied calmly. "It's time you came back to the Grove with me."

"No. I won't go with you. I don't even know you. My father is Sesshoumaru, the most powerful dog demon in Japan."

"Demons as parents. That's laughable!" The priestess reached out to take Saraku's arm. "Come now."

Saraku swung her sword up,catching the blade on the woman's arm. "I said no!"

"Very well, you little brat. I'll take you by force then!" The woman muttered something, and watched in satisfaction as the girl dropped her weapon. "Girls wielding swords! How rediculous."

"It protected her from you didn't it?"

Moiraine whirled, to see a demon standing there. She narrowed her eyes.

"Kouga!" Saraku bit Moiraine's restraining arm,and ran to her friend,and adoptive uncle.

"I suggest you pack your bags before her uncle Inuyasha finds out what you tried to pull." He took Saraku's hand, and led her away.

"I told that flea bag not to let you wander off alone." Kouga muttered, as he led Saraku on to the village.

"He.......he was busy. They all are. No one wants to play."

"Well, winter's coming. Shelters have to be built. Unlike us wolf demons,humans like you have to build in order to survive. " Kouga looked down at her. "Maybe you can come stay with us awhile...it's been a long time since we've seen you...."

"I'd like that....but I'm training with Lady Kaede..." She sighed sadly. "I think I just want to go home to Lord Sesshoumaru..."

"But you just got here over a month ago,is that right? Forget that old woman. Let's come back to the den. Kyoko will be thrilled to see you!"

"Kouga......." She looked up at him. "I guess I could..."

"Great. Come on." He turned them around and walked with her towards the cliffs where his demon tribe lived.

Inuyasha scowled at this. "Who does he think he is?! Saraku should know better than to go away with him by now!" He'd been collecting firewood with Miroku when he'd come across his arch nemesis and niece talking.

"Perhaps it's a good thing,Inuyasha. She trusts Kouga like a father figure. He might be able to help her work whatever problems she's having out." The monk watched as the wolf demon and young girl disappeared. "I'm more worried about this aunt of hers. She doesn't seem very nice."

"No.....We'll have to keep our eyes open." Inuyasha muttered. "There's always something with that girl...."

"Well, she did come from a different time. She could be Kagome's past self for all we know."

"Feh....." Inuyasha and Miroku went to their separate abodes for the night.

(A/N:I know,lame ending to a short chapter,but I've got exciting stuffs coming up! )