Disclaimer: -grumble- I don't Inuyasha… or a lawyer… -grumble-

Through Her Eyes

Chapter 6: The First Day of Hell

Sango woke first, stretching and shivering in the slight chill of the morning. The first rays of dawn were coming over the horizon as she sat up. Immediately she looked for Datherine; she still didn't quite trust the dog demon. Spotting her in the tree with Rin cradled protectively in her arms, the slayer's eyes softened. Maybe I should cut her some slack… She's done nothing worth my contempt.

Miroku stirred awake, cracking open his eyes and groaning softly as he struggled up. They had decided to take turns at watch through the night to watch not only Tessa, but to keep an eye on the girls as well. Sesshoumaru had slept not at all, and hadn't taken his eyes off the tree where Rin slept soundly. Inuyasha was crouched and watching Kagome sleep with an unreadable expression. Shippo had passed out through the entire night, whimpering on and off for his Kagome in a corner. Miroku looked up at the screen now and watched Sango.

Sango slid out of her sleeping bag and glanced around. With a pang, her heart called for her three missing family members. She swallowed a particularly big lump when a certain monk's face passed before her eyes. Shaking her head, she stood swiftly and put away her sleeping bag.

Miroku looked on sadly. He had always had the ability to read Sango quite well, except when his mind fogged over and his 'cursed hand' wandered. He knew she was yearning for their group to be complete again. Inuyasha had now turned his attention to his say-sister and was watching her stoking the dying embers of their fire for breakfast.

Kagome stretched and yawned, opening her eyes and sitting up. Her cheery visage fell when she looked around the camp.

"It… wasn't a dream." She said quietly.

"No." Sango confirmed. Kagome sighed sadly and hauled herself up.

"I wondered why I couldn't feel Shippo in my sleeping bag." She tried to joke softly.

"Mama…" Shippo said sadly.

"We'll find them Kagome-chan."

"I know." Kagome said determinedly, reaching into her bag for the instant Ramen. 'What the hell!' Inuyasha thought, glaring at her. 'She's using my Ramen!' Sango smiled at her.

Datherine's eyes snapped open, as was her way of waking up, when Sango passed under her to a nearby stream to get water. Looking down at Rin, she saw the young girl was still fast asleep. She couldn't remember the last time she had slept so well. Being demon, she could go for weeks without rest, though it was unhealthy. Datherine readjusted the girl in her arms gently and leap from the tree to land soundlessly on the ground. Sango returned and the two human girls bustled around to get food ready.

Sesshoumaru tore his eyes away from Rin's face to study Dath's. She looked so natural cradling the young girl in her arms.

"Breakfast." Kagome announced, as she finished the Ramen and handed one to each of her companions. Two to Datherine for when Rin woke. Sango ate in silence, chewing quickly and thoughtfully, trying to ignore the memories trying to surge forward in her mind. 'I can't fail another family. I have to get them back.' She set the bowl down and picked up Kirara, cuddling her to her chest as the fire cat mewed weakly in comfort.

Miroku's eyes saddened and he shot a fierce glare at Tessa. The evil miko rolled her eyes.

"Oh drop it lover boy."

Kagome stood and hurriedly cleaned everything up, stuffing away the sleeping bags into the backpack and pulling it on. Rin stirred then, yawning and blinking as she sniffed the air.

"Food?" She asked cutely. Datherine was studying Rin's cup in fascination, having already downed her own.

"What on earth…?" Both Sango and Kagome froze. Didn't she know about the future era?

"It's… not from around here…" Kagome said vaguely, carefully.

"Ah. From the future. It's very good." She said, still holding the cup away from an eager Rin suspiciously. The friends relaxed noticeably.

"It's not poisoned, is it?" The girls facefaulted.

"You ate it didn't you?" demanded Kagome indignantly.

Datherine snorted. "You couldn't poison me if you tried." Her grip tightened slightly on Rin.

"Why would we poison a young girl?" Sango asked coldly.

"This Sesshoumaru person is your enemy, is he not?" Datherine inquired coolly. Sesshoumaru began to panic slightly, silently. The bitch demon had a point. Sango stood swiftly in outrage.

"No matter how much I loathe that demon, I would never, ever take it out on an innocent child." Immediately after Kagome's statement, Datherine gave the cup to Rin.

"Good enough for me." Rin squealed with delight and eagerly slurped at the noodles. The slayer noted that Datherine's face relaxed when she confirmed there was no threat. So did Sesshoumaru.

"Mmmm! This is so good!" the little girl exclaimed happily.

"Why do you loathe Sesshoumaru?" Datherine asked Kagome. She scowled at her own bowl.

"I'm not hungry." She said quietly, getting up and dumping the remainder of her breakfast onto the flames. "Let's go." Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow. Inuyasha looked stumped. Even Miroku looked confused.

"Okay, then." Datherine said, bemused as she stood up, Rin still eating happily in her arms. "I'll take that as a 'no comment'."

One hour later:

Kagome stomped stubbornly ahead as they made their way through the forest. Sango cradled Kirara, bringing up the rear and Datherine walked calmly in the middle, holding Rin's hand. Suddenly Datherine stopped, her nose up, her eyes wide.

"KAGOME!" In one swift movement, she had let go of Rin and tackled Kagome to the ground as an enormous, hulking form erupted from the trees, right over where Kagome had just been. It landed yards away and whirled. It was a huge…

Rabbit?

Dath sprang back in front of Rin and gripped her katana. She glanced back to where Sango was and was shocked when she saw the slayer already in her armor with her Hiraikotsu out and ready. 'She's fast.'

The gargantuan rabbit roared and charged at Kagome again.

"KAGOME!" Inuyasha bellowed, twitching restlessly. 'I should be there to protect her damnit!"

"What the hell?" Dath appeared in front of Kagome, slashing at the beast, causing it to howl and bound away for the moment. Kagome unsteadily pulled out an arrow and notched it.

"Why is it only after you?" Datherine yelled, flying after it, in offense mode.

"She has Sacred Jewel Shards! Hiraikotsu!" Sango shouted, throwing her weapon. It smashed into the skull of the demon, which howled and turned on her. The giant boomerang obediently returned to Sango's hand, but before she could attack again, one of its giant paws came out of nowhere and flung her into a tree. She cried out in pain as her back was crushed against the trunk.

"NO, SANGO!" Miroku yelled, watching in horror as she slid down to the ground in pain.

"Sango!" Kagome cried, dropping her weapon and making to run to her friend. The demented bunny leapt at her, knocking her to the ground and pinning her there. The miko yelped in pain and panic as she struggled to get free.

"Get off of me you overgrown rodent!" She growled. Inuyasha flexed his claws, his eyes flickering red.

"If that thing hurts her…"

"You'll do what?" Tessa mocked. "Glare it to death?" Inuyasha snarled at her.

The weight suddenly lifted off Kagome as the creature's head went flying off and the body keeled over. Datherine landed, crouched, her back to the corpse and the girl who struggled to get up, her sword extended to the side, a dark look on her face. She stood slowly and returned her katana to its sheath.

Kagome ran to Sango's side. She wasn't moving. Panic gripped Miroku, as he watched her still form. 'No…'

Inuyasha, slightly more relaxed now, smelled his friends fear. "Don't worry about it, monk. Sango's way too tough to let that slow her down." Miroku nodded numbly, but his eyes were glued to the screen.

Sango groaned and stirred. Miroku let the breath he hadn't know he was holding out. Kagome smiled in relief, getting up and extending her hand to the slayer. She accepted gratefully and stood, hissing in pain.

"You alright?" Kagome asked in concern.

"Nothing I can't handle. My pride is more hurt then anything. I got beaten by a bunny." She made a face and her friend giggled. Kirara mewed and rubbed against Sango's leg. She reached down and picked up the neko, who purred contentedly.

"Kagome." The miko turned to face Datherine, who was once again holding Rin's hand and regarding her seriously. "Who taught you to fight?"

"No one." Kagome replied, bewildered. "Why?"

"Nobody?" Datherine asked incredulously.

"Inuyasha always…" Kagome blushed, abashed by the Inuyoukai's tone.

"Inuyasha isn't here." Said dog demon winced. Datherine told her firmly. "You begin training tomorrow."

Author's Comments: Well apparently this story is semi-popular. I'm glad. I like this story. Sorry I haven't updated. I do have a life however. Alright, so Kagome starts to get trained to fight next time! Stay tuned!

dolfingirl101