Hey guys. thanks again VGMaster04, its nice to know I have at least one fan. As for my slacker friends, how freaking hard is it to review! just kidding. you know I love y'all, right...RIGHT?

Just so you know in this fanfic, Shippo is relatively the same age as Kai. I know demons don't age the same, but just for the sake of the story he suddenly sprouted. As a result he is a little OOC, cuz he is grown up! I wasn't going to add him but as my friends have pointed out, it wasn't the same without him. However, you may be a little disappointed if you really want to see the cute little fox demon. Sorry.

VGMaster04: just wait and your question will be answered...

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha...if I did I would make them sit in therapy until they can finally admit their feelings...(but I won't hold my breath...)

Chapter Four: Katsuo

"Where did she go?" A redheaded boy asked. Miroku shrugged. The monk hadn't seen Kai since she brought the children home last night. She had left without saying a word but he didn't press the matter. "Sorry, Shippo, I haven't seen her." Miroku said. Shippo looked disappointed. He sighed went to ask Kaede.

Shippo had grown since he last seen Kai. He was really short for the age he appeared (which is 15-ish...confused? see the top note.) His hair was no longer in the cute little ponytail he had kept it in, it was cut short, but very messy. His emerald eyes glowed with mischeif and life. His cute tail wasn't much bigger than it was fourteen years ago. No longer was he the cute little demon that bugged Inuyasha, but now he was a slightly more grown up demon that still bugged Inuyasha,but with the help of his friends.

Shippo was on his way the Kaede's hut when he heard his name being called. He turned to see his partner in crime, Kohaku. Shippo noted in a twinge of envy that he was more than a head taller than him. He had his father's blue-violet eyes and his mother's dark brown hair. He was a tall, lanky boy, with twice the charm his father ever had.Kohaku caught up with Shippo and said. "I heard Kai found a wounded man in the forest last night."

"Really? When?" Shippo said wondering how he might have missed it. Kohaku just shrugged and raced to Kaede's hut. "Hey, wait for me!" Shippo shouted and sped after him. The two boys rushed through the center of village to the old priestess's hut. When they reached it Kaede was leaving. Kohaku skidded to a halt and Shippo ran straight into him and fell backwards into the ground with a loud thud.

Kaede was startled and clutched her aging chest. "Ye need to slow down, before ye stop an old woman's heart," she warned. The old priestess was not getting any younger and she nearing the end of her life. She had grown to accept it knowing the postion of village priestess was going to passed to Kagome and maybe to Kai after her. So she wasn't worried about that, but their were another things on her mind...

"Sorry Lady Kaede," Kohaku said. Shippo muttered an apology as he lifted himself to his feet. Kaede nodded and wobbled away using her cane. The two boys watched her disappear guilty. They went into the hut to see Kai mashing some herbs together.

She looked up. Delight lit up like a fire in her eyes, as a wide smile spread across her face. "Hey guys." She said. Kai set down the bowl of herbs and the stick she used as a hammer. She walked over and gave them both friendly hugs. With sigh she sat back down on the mat.

Kohaku and Shippo noticed the herbs in the bowl had been ground into a very fine paste and the stick had a crack in it. She had another fight, they realized. Kai seemed happy enough but she was still a little angry. Although it seemed to be more subconsciencly (sp?). They turned there graze to the patient who was moving again.

"He has been like this since last night," Kai said sadly. "His wounds were near fatal but he has managed to recover incredibly fast. Faster than my dad can." She paused. The realization settled. This definely wasn't an ordinary man or demon for that matter. "I don't know, how he healed so fast," She said answering her friend's unspoken quesion. "He thrashes in his sleep. He is probably remembered the attack."

"What do you think attacked him?" Kohaku asked. Kai shrugged. "I am guessing a pack of demons, but I don't know why demons would dare come near here." She said. The village was the home of the now legendary team that slew the evilest demon in Japan. For fourteen years demons didn't dare pursue the town, fearing the wrath of the warriors.

The young man opened his eyes for the second time. Everyone stopped and stared at him as he slowly began to move his arm. Kai said. "Don't move." She jumped and grabbed his wrist pinning him down. "Just because you heal fast doesn't mean I should move so quickly."

Again Kai felt her senses become alert. She tried to drown her unease with her concern for the young man. Kohaku and Shippo noticed their friend's strange behavior, and exchange confusioned expressions. "What is your name?" Kai asked.

"Katsuo," he said. His voice was raspy, and gruff. "And yours?"

"My name is Kaiaya. But please call me Kai," she said. Turning she pointed to her companions and added. "That's Shippo and that's Kohaku." They waved in acknowledgment. "Do you remember what happened to you?"

Katsuo's face was clouded with trouble. Kai was beginning to regret asking, but Katsuo finally said. "I was wandering looking for clues about my parents. I was raised believing I was an orphan, until my foster mother told me the truth when she on her deathbed. When she passed away I went searching to piece my past together. I went from village to village seeking news of my kin.

"I was near giving up, when I was told my mother was the noble wife of some lord, but she was killed when her husband had found out about me. The samurai that slit her throat was the lord's brother, and he told me the story. They had said my father was a thief and murder. But I really wanted to know of him I would have to find the village with a dry well. They said that the people there could help me.." Kai almost left out a gasp. He must mean the Bone Eaters Well, she thought. "When I was coming here I was attacked by a swarm of demons who mentioned something about reveange. There were many of them and I don't know where they went afterwards but I woke up on the forest floor when I saw you, Kai." He added the last part with a soft tone.

Kai flinched, as unease filled her again. Get a grip girl, she mentally scolded herself. His story was very hard to believe. How can his parents be both human when he was barely half? There was something false about his story. Looking at her friends, Kai realized they noticed it too.

"But then why are you part demon?" She asked calmly.

Katsuo looked surprised and said. "What gives you that idea?" He stared at her and his eyes widened. He was staring at her like he had never seen her before. Kai saw a flicker of fear that was quickly covered with rage. The edge of her mouth twitched at the split second display.

"I can smell the demon in you," She said, her voice was edgy. Katsuo's eyes widened even more. Shippo was confused and sniffed Katsuo. All he smelt was a human, no scent of a demon at all. Shippo looked at her like she was crazy.

"But I don't smell demon," Shippo said slowly. Kohaku looked at his two friends in surprise. They both couldn't be right, but Kai's nose was better than Shippo's, despite the fact he was a full demon.

Katsuogrowled and rolled his eyes. "Does it matter what I am?" Kai felt her anger rise. Why the hell did I save him, she thought. Kai was still feeling the effects on his prescense and it was gnawing at her patience. Kohaku and Shippo don't notice anything, she thought. Why is that? Why doesn't anyone else notice?

Kai heistated and decided not to tell her parents about Katsuo and his story. They didn't need to worry when she was being paranoid. Kai was feeling alienated. She asked herself many times, why she could barely stand to be in the same room as him. She sighed. Kai needed to think this through some more. But now she needed to clear her mind. She changed into her school uniform and reached into the back of the chest in her room and drew out a sword. It was her prized weapon.

Last year Inuyasha surprised Kai with a custom made sword for her birthday. He had said that he had the same man who forged the Tetsusaiga, make to for her. Kai smiled at the memory that made her so happy. The Akahoshii could only be wielded by her unless she allowed it accept others. The blade was beautiful silver color and the hilt was red with some black. The sword wasn't as powerful as the Tetusaiga, but (unknown to Kai) it served a similar purpose. When Inuyasha asked for the blade to be made he requested that it would also shield Kai from her demon blood. Although, she didn't have as much as he did, Inuyasha wasn't about to take any chances. The last thing he wanted was his daughter to experience the same horror he did when he transformed.

Kai unsheathed her sword. She felt the power of the sword ringing through the metal as she adjusted her grip on the hilt. Slowly it began to glow and then it transformed into a larger blade, like the Tetsusaiga did for Inuyasha. She smiled and shoved the sword back inside the scabbard and clipped it to her belt and walked outside. It was her silent reassurance. No human or demon was going to scare her like that again.

She felt better with her sword at her waist. Shippo and Kohaku noticed her strange behavior and were beginning to wonder. What was she hiding? They decided they had confront her if they wanted answers.

Katsuo had regained his strength long enough to sit up. He waited for Kai to return. He couldn't help but think about the young girl and how familiar she seemed. Katsuo still saw her beautiful face it his mind. It was a haunting image that refused to go away. Why was she tense around me? He asked himself. Does she hate me?

"She knows what you are!" a cruel voice echoed in his head...

Sorry about the short chapter, but I am trying to spread the story a parta little to add drama, but I am not sure its working...Next chapter I promise will be longer, and the plot will pick up the pace. So don't worry.

I will try as hard as I can to update quickly but at this point...glares at the heaping pile of heavy textbooks and never-ending homework...I can't make promises. Don't hurt me!