Hikari's memory turned to that night…for the most recent time since it had occurred. If she had only stayed for a mere ten minutes longer… everything would have been fine… and she wouldn't have spent so many miserable nights thinking about it, and wishing she had done things differently.

However she was in for even more trouble as she neared the village she smelled trouble. Literally. The smell of wolves was all over. The villagers were all over the are, cleaning up all the damage.. Hikari paused to question one of the women.

"What's going on?"

"Ah, tenshi-san! You have returned to us."

"Yes… What's wrong?"

"A pack of wolves just ravaged the place. They killed a few people, and wounded others. Strangely enough, they left all the livestock alone."

"Some jerk must be ordering them around…" Hikari muttered. Then back at normal voice level. "I will help out with the wounded, but I'm afraid I can not reverse death. In the mean time, can you tell me if anyone has seen-"

"The girl? Yes, she was just here…but she was being chased out of town by the wolves. I don't even know where she is now, nor if she's even alive anymore."

Hikari lowered her head and walked further, ignoring the sapphire that was left on the ground as she walked through from bed to bed, keeping her promise. But it was rushed…

Quickly she said a polite good bye and started following the scent of the trail. Canines are such smelly creatures, and these reeked of death and blood. So it was easy to track. She found indications of a whirlwind, or something else moving at high speeds but it didn't make sense. She kept going. She heard a whimpering sound as she rounded one twisty turn of a rocky path. Lying on its side, near the edge of the path was a small cub. A wolf cub. Probably part of the pack she was tracking. How cruel of them to leave it behind like this.

But why?

Hikari approached cautiously. The cub noticed her presence and growled in her direction. Undaunted, Hikari moved forward slowly still. Eventually she reached the poor thing. She didn't need a sensor crystal to tell her that the poor things ankle was the problem.

"I'm here to help… will you let me?"

The growling subsided, and Hikari took it as a yes. She pulled out of her pack a couple bandages and wrapped it up carefully. Then she whispered a few words that can't be used on humans, but works just fine with animals. The words were to relieve pain.

She helped the little thing stand. "There you go. Now behave, and try not to hurt yourself again…"

The wolf scampered off happily, and howled back a thank you. Hikari resumed her walk. Actually, she began following the cub. Completely by accident. Just happened to be where she was going. Up ahead, she could see someone kneeling next to a furry figure and she was torn between speeding up to help, or slowing down in hopes they'd move on.

She ended up keeping the same speed. She could hear him before he saw her or even realized she was there. Yes she could tell it was a male by the scent of him.

"Hey, girl, what happened to you…why'd you fall behind…Hey…you're bandaged! What happened? Who? A cat? A cat. You're pulling my leg."

Hikari by this point was within range now that he couldn't miss her if he wanted to. The demon male looked up. His eyes widened a little bit, but he said nothing to her and he looked down at the cub. "This her?"

The cub ambled over to Hikari and sat next to her. Unsure of what to do, Hikari patted the pup on the head gently before looking up at the male.

"Hikari."

"Koga. Did you help her?"

"Yes. And now I have a question for you…"

"Okay."

"Are you the jerk who's been having his wolves chase innocent villagers around?"

"Um…I'm not sure how to answer that…"

"How about truthfully? And another thing. You're wolves didn't happen to eat a human girl of about 7, did they? Because if they did, I'm going to hold you responsible."

Koga blinked several times. "Well… I'll have to ask. Yeah, that was my pack attacking that village…"

"If they ate that girl, I'm going to kill you slowly and painfully. So, let's go ask."

"Whoa. I never said you were coming!"

Hikari's eyes flashed. "You are on trial here, not me. Lead the way, or I'll find them myself."

Koga muttered to himself annoyed at being ordered around, yet impressed at the same time. He started forward at first at a normal speed, and then faster. Hikari kept pace. Koga figured he could lose her if he went as fast as he could, but he decided against it. His interest was piqued.

His pack was sitting in a glade near a stream relaxing and quenching their thirst. Hikari stood to one side waiting for Koga to answer her question. He came back shortly.

"They say they chased a girl like that… and caught her… but they didn't eat her, and were they were scared off by a bigger demon. So they don't know if she's dead or not. Why is this girl so important to you, anyway?"

Hikari looked away. "None of your business…"

"Okay…geez, I was just asking."

Hikari's mind was spinning in circles. So now she had no idea where to look and her only lead was a dead end… Maybe that's why she didn't hear the question he asked next.

"What?"

"I asked if you'd like to stay with us for, say two weeks? In that time, we'll look for your friend. After all, it's my fault."

"I should say it is!"

"Alright, I'm sorry… so do you accept?"

Hikari thought for a long while. What harm?

"………….Yes."

"Great."

The next week was spent looking all over, following crazed scents. Hikari actually learned to like it on the move like this. The pack was like a family. Apparently the wolf pup she'd helped had fallen behind and hadn't noticed. Neither had anyone else, though once they'd found out, everyone was worried.

She was settled in and surprisingly happy traveling with Koga. She would do him little favors, and he would surprise her with something new. Apparently he wasn't as heartless as she had thought.

But now the first week was over.

Hikari rarely stopped smiling during this time, and Koga was happy that she was smiling. However, she couldn't forget who she was looking for. So she was never completely free of care.

She continued to grow closer to Koga throughout the second week. He wasn't as bad as he'd first come off as. In fact, he was kind of fun to hang around with.

The last night of the two weeks came. She would be leaving within the next hour or so. She packed her stuff and was saying good-bye to the pack. Koga was the last.

She looked at her feet. "I had a good time, Koga."

"I'm glad…"

"And I……well…I wish it didn't have to end… but I really have to find-"

"The girl… I know…But-"

"But what?"

"I wish you didn't have to go…"

"I wish I didn't either…"

"Then stay!"

"I can't…"

Koga sighed. "I can do nothing to change you're mind then…"

Hikari stood from the tree stump she was sitting on. "No… not really…"

Koga looked straight in her eye. "Can I have one last favor?"

"Of course!"

"Don't kill me."

"Why would I kill you?"

Koga slipped his hand behind her neck and kissed her gently. This surprised her and she sat back down. Koga released her and stood looking his old cocky self. "Let me guess… You're still going to leave…"

Hikari smiled sadly. "I'm afraid I am…"

"Well… good bye then, and if you don't find anyone else, I'll be here…"

Hikari smiled, nodded and started down the path, following her instincts.