AN: Thanks to everyone who is so kind to review! I know it's been a year since I've posted this sequel but…aren't you now glad that I did? (ducks flying rotten fruits and vegetables, as well as a couple of kitchen knives)

I've grown up during the year and, hopefully, my writing skills have improved too. So, without further ado, here's the next chapter!

By the way, I would like to introduce my Creativity Demon, Daemon! Unfortunately he's still napping after a hard day's work (yeah right! He just laid around my room while I typed my chapters…Sigh. Poor me…) but you'll get to see him after the chapter.

Kudos!

Agony For Happiness

Chapter Two: The Start of A New Life


Minutes passed and all Usagi did was blinked. Finally, the stranger sighed.

"I asked you again child and this will be the last time I repeat. What are you doing here?"

Usagi was shaken out of her reverie at the sound of the voice and this time she managed to answer.

"Ah, I don't know…." Hearing her own words, Usagi was tempted to whack herself on the head.

'Great going, Usagi-baka.' She scolded herself. 'Now the old lady's going to ask you a whole lot of questions, which by the way, you so don't need right now!'

x-o-X-o-x

Kanna peered at the mysterious girl before her, eyes narrowed in suspicion. She didn't sense the stranger until a few moments ago, could she have something to do with the silver light she saw?

The old healer was picking up herbs she needed for her medicine when the forest was basked with a silver light. Kanna had gone to try to find the source of where it came from. She had feared the possibility that the sudden lightshow had attracted nearby youkais. Not only that; but the radiance of the light seemed to seep with enormous power unlike any she had felt before. And she had gone through a lot in her old age.

Kanna moved closer to the girl. She inspected the girl by walking around her, making sure that her back wasn't turned to the girl so that she couldn't creep behind her and possibly attack.

The girl looked harmless but Kanna knew better then to judge another by their physical appearances. She seemed young, perhaps in her late adolescence, but one look at the girl's eyes made even the great healer doubt that observation. They were two twin orbs that radiated sadness, pain, and a wisdom one doesn't usually find in someone her age.

Noticing her clothes, Kanna wondered if the girl was from another time. If that is true, how could she have without passing through the well just like Kagome, the 'supposed' reincarnated self of her sister Kikyo?

Kanna narrowed her already small eyes even further, so much that they seemed like silts. It didn't help in dousing her suspicions that the girl had a unique beauty rarely found in normal human females. And if she was indeed the source of the power surge moments ago, than Kanna would have to be on guard.

After making a complete circle around the younger woman, Kanna stopped and looked up. Her black eyes locked with silver-blue.

"What is your name child and from what time are you from really?" Her voice was calm and had a commanding tone in it. But to those who had sensitive hearing, they would notice a hint of curiosity embedded in the words.

x-o-X-o-x

Usagi stared at the old woman with an odd look on her face. Okayy…

Usagi anticipated for both of the questions to come eventually but what she didn't expect was the calmness of the old woman when she asked the second question. Not exactly the typical reaction one usually has to someone who travels between the portals of dimension and time. Was time-traveling really starting to become a trend?

Yet, Usagi admitted that a small part of her was relieved. At least she wouldn't have to be accused of witch-craft or something else. Besides, having powers of the moon (if she still had them, that is) isn't technically witch-craft, is it? More like…'planetary magic'… if such a term exists.

Mentally, Usagi noted to check a dictionary if she finds one.

Realizing that she had been silent for awhile and that the old woman was still waiting for an answer, Usagi finally replied.

"Ah, my name's …Serenity." Usagi opted to use her formal name, as the memories of her life as 'Usagi Tsukino' was still fresh and vivid in her mind. She just died a few days ago damnit! And now she had to be in this dimension frame instead of eternal sleep! Couldn't she at least change her name?

"No last name?" asked the old woman.

Usagi thought for a moment, then shook her head. "No."

"Can you recall from what time you had came from?"

Again, Usagi shook her head negatively. "I can not remember much of my past but I do know that my home was far different than this place." She lied. Not like she would want to anyway.

Kanna briskly nod her head. "Perhaps it is a side-effect of your dimension-traveling. Such ability is considered impossible here without the Bone-Eater's Well to pass through."

Seeing the terrified look on Usagi's face, Kanna coughed a laugh. "But do not worry. Your secret's safe with me."

Usagi swallowed to prevent a relieved sigh from escaping her lips. Instead, she forced herself to grin. "Thank you…And how about you Grandmother? We've have been talking for awhile and I still don't know your name."

The older woman smiled faintly, emphasizing the wrinkles that old age brought to her face. "Ah, my name's Kanna, a healer of my village."

Usagi's eyes widened with interest. "A healer?"

Kanna nodded her head. "Yes. Would you like me to teach you?"

The question was unexpected, so Usagi was left shocked as seen by her gaping mouth.

"I sense a great source of power radiating from your aura, a power so immense that it allows you to travel in between the threads that hold together the dimensions of this universe. It isn't evil yet not so pure as it must have been before, neh?"

At the younger girl's surprised look, Kanna gave a small laugh. "I may be old, child. But I am not blind."

Kanna turned her back to Usagi, the first time the silver-haired girl had seen her done since their meeting.

"As my apprentice, you will also be entitled to stay at my cottage where you will do every chore I give you without complaint as you learn the principles of healing." The old woman said.

Once Usagi regained the ability to move her feet, the former blonde rushed to follow Kanna, who by then was nearly out of eye-sight.

Usagi got the feeling that Kanna wasn't the type of person to be so charitable and for a person to take somebody, a stranger no-else, in as a follower, that charity by itself.

Usagi, or Serenity as she now is called, smiled as she followed in quick steps behind the old healer.

Remembering Pluto's words, Serenity made a vow to learn everything that Kanna will taught her as well as improve her combat skills and spells.

She will not be weak as she was back home. She will become the person she always wanted to be, the person her fellow scouts would be proud of.

x-o-X-o-x

Kanna felt the shift of her newly-appointed apprentice's aura and smiled secretly.

She knew that the silver-haired girl was keeping something from her. However, the old woman respected her privacy and chose not to pursue the topic any further.

When the time is right, Serenity will tell her everything. That Kanna is sure of.

But for now, she would just have to keep a close watch on the mysterious silver-haired girl.

x-o-X-o-x

"Inuyasha." Kagome called out for the fifth time. A few minutes ago, Inuyasha and Shippo had suddenly become tensed and stood up at the same time. It was as if they were waiting for something to happen, or that something had happened.

"INUYASHA!" The miko's voice was strained with frustration.

Finally, this time the two youkais managed to hear and both glanced at her.

"What!" Inuyasha growled, his golden eyes narrowed in irritation. Even Shippo had an annoyed look on his face, which is a surprise since the chibi fox-demon always adored Kagome.

"I've been trying to call you for the last five times. Didn't you hear me?" asked an esperated Kagome.

Miroku smirked. "It's a sign. Inuyasha's getting so old his hearing's starting to impaired."

The white-haired half-demon tossed a golden-eyed glare at the brown-haired monk.

"Shut up!" Inuyasha growled at him. He lift up a clawed-hand as if to attack when Kagome shouted.

"Inuyasha! Sit!"

The half-demon let out an 'Off' as the spell caused him to hit the ground hard. He rubbed his sore behind.

"Grr…Stupid wrench." He muttered between his teeth, yet Kagome still managed to hear it.

"What did you say! Sit!"

A loud 'thumph' indicated that the spell had prevailed once again.

"SIT! SIT! SIT! SIT! SIT! SIT! SIT! SIT!"

Once satisfied that the idiotic half-demon was sprawling on the ground with swirly eyes, Kagome huffed and stomped away with a comment that she's going to cook some ramen for lunch.

Sango and Miroku had long ago stopped laughing, as the pain in their ribs and torso became too much, and opted instead to smirk at the poor, unfortunate and loud-mouthed Inuyasha.

Shippo was silent throughout the charade, wondering what the source of the immense aura he and Inuyasha felt had come from.

x-o-X-o-x

"Did you feel that Jaken?" asked a deep, throaty male voice as cold as the winter winds.

The smaller frog-demon nodded from behind his much taller master.

"Yes, Jaken felt it Master Sesshomaru. It is truly powerful."

Pale amber eyes narrowed, a touch of red tainting it's emotionless depths. "It was too fast, I haven't had time to pinpoint it's course."

"Is it's Naraku?" asked Jaken.

Long silver-white hair cascade as the owner shook his head. "No. It is much too pure to be his'."

"Do you want me to find out, Master Sesshomaru?" asked the ever-faithful, and sometimes annoying, servant.

A shook of the head. "That won't be necessary. I have a feeling that this won't be the last time we'll come across it."

"In the mean time, we still have other matters to attend to."

"Master Sesshomaru!" A child-like voice piped up.

"It's the human-child Master Sesshomaru has so graciously taken in, Master Sesshomaru." Jaken said.

"My name's Rin, Jaken!" wailed the childish voice again.

The youkai Lord of the Western Lands resisted the temptation to roll his eyes and sigh. That would be uncharacteristic of him.

x-o-X-o-x

"What's the matter Kouga?" The voice shook the wolf demon out of her stuptor.

Kouga shook his head, the dark strands of his hair swaying with each movement.

"It's nothing." He answered.

to be continued.


AN: Well? How was it? I hope it's alright. I haven't updated this fic in a long while so I'm a little rusty with it.

Anyways, I'm looking for someone who knows some Inuyasha sites where I can get the episode guides. It's been a long time since I've watched the anime so I'm not so familiar with it as I was before.

On a lighter note, I am in need of a beta-reader/informant. Someone who knows the Inuyasha anime series like the back of his/her hand. Please do email me (check my bio) or leave your email if you want the 'job'. You may not get paid but at least you'll be the only one else who's entitled to a preview of my future chapters, neh? Hohoho! (winks)

Daemon: (does 'wide-eyed innocent eyes' trick) Please, don't forget to leave a review before you go. (sniffs cutely and wags his tail) (Sapphire: He's a male wolf who can talk and is my Creativity Demon at the same time.)

Readers: Aaww…

Sapphire: (smirks) I knew it was a good idea to teach him that….Hohoho! (grins)