1Searching For Her Past

READ AND REVIEW OR DIE!

Disclaimer/Author Note:

EvilBitch: Hey...something just occured to me.

SexySesshieSama: What is it?

EvilBitch: You are SexySesshieSama...my other FanFiction account (along with many of my other accounts)...so why can't I be IrisJean, the name of this FanFiction account?

SexySesshieSama: Hmm...I guess you can be.

IrisJean: Yay! (So now your not really Iri, you know that, right?)

SexySesshieSama: Hon, I haven't been Iri in a good long while.

IrisJean: ...Hello, Mira.

SexySesshieSama: Heya, babe!

Hikaru: Our fabulous authoress, the Lady God greater than Kami-sama herself, IrisJean, still does not own Inuyasha, which makes her sad; however, she does own this fic—and me!—and if you dare steal any of the plot, the words used, the characters or anything else, I will personally find you, kill you, hunt down all your family and everyone you have ever met. Then she shall bring you back to life and you will really be made to pay!

SexySesshieSama: You have been warned, yo.

IrisJean: Hikaru, you are such a suck-up. Mira, you're just on crack.

Answering Reviews:

IrisJean: KuramaGirl44! I glad you want to know what happens to you, although I doubt your pleas will be noticed and/or listened to. As you can see, this is the next chapter, and if I put it up there must have been a reason. Why would Sesshomaru kill you? Are you nuts? (In this fic) you called me a whore! That warrants death, in my opinion. (In real life he likes you fine now, though. Hey, you know what I just realized? When I use something from real-life to make a story, I stop working on that story, and the info becomes outdated! Like my yu yu ficcy...Isn't that funny?) You are always crazy, but I get your point. You would never call me such things. (Maybe Mira, but she not here yet, and you will!) You will know what happens next if you read on, silly rabbit.

SexySesshieSama: Chaotic Insomnia (formerly known as Nights of Insanity and Insanity Nights)! I would never kill you for not reviewing; not even the old me would. I may have beat you up, but never would I have killed you. Not even when we were fighting. And now I love you more than ever. Thanks for reviewing; it's been a long time since I've worked on this. I doubt you'll want to read anything up to the third chapter—they are too damn long. Sorry! Once you pointed it out I did know I used despite too much, and there is no way its still there by this point. (I think it was fixed way back when, 'cause I didn't notice it this time around). "If you don't know what else to say, that means it is perfection!" (I said that before, and now I go HA!; it's much better now. Perfection attained...just kidding! Not that full of myself!) And don't you worry, I won't stick my head out a car window and shake him off!

Madeline: You Are A Bambishka! What's a bambishka. Do I know you? Why do you think I'm a bitch? (How did you discover my secret? It's outdated now, but still!) ...I wonder who you are.

Iri: RoseOfTheYoukai! Such a long review is welcome, and I thank you for doing so. It's too bad you don't have an account; you have to get one! I know my story is awesome—it is now in any case—and I glad you said it (it warms me up inside). I love Rin too. And of course Iri is too cool for words! And here is some more. I use my favorite lists as a bookmark, but I can recommend kuramagirl44 and Chaotic Insomnia quite highly. Your idea isn't crappy; I was thinking of doing that, but I wasn't sure, and now I think I will. Thanks a ton! (I have to check my reviews to remember what it is you said, though...) I love Fruit's Basket and InuYasha too! And I do care, because they're awesome (and so are you). Those characters you like are awesome, and most of them live at my house or at the houses of some of my friends! But my friend is wondering: Are you crazy? Yoko! Hiei is cool, but Yoko is...is...blegh! Please do keep on reading, and get an account. (It would be Bara no Youkai since no is possessive, meaning "of". So Bara no Youkai would literally by Rose of the Youkai, or Demon's Rose.)

IrisJean: Hellbourne Alchemist (now known as something else – Misery loves Me, I think)! Did you just call me a fucking whore? Thank you, but no, I am not. Sorry about that review; I was a different person back then. Less understanding, more rude, less developed. But, now that I am a better person, I realize that you are even less of a person than even I thought for reacting as you did, tainting my review box with your complete and total non-review. The fic I still hate, although some of your other ones are pretty cool. Good-bye and so long, rude little mother-f...

Chapter Three: Not Him!

Hikaru could see Sesshomaru's sharp claws as they reached the top of their parabolic arc high above her head, catching the light of the hidden sun and glinting dangerously, already dripping with blood transferred onto them from Iri's stomach. She knew that she had little time to think herself out of this mess; her mind was drawing a blank, and it was all over now. But there's still time! She must use her brain to get herself out of this mess—and fast! There would be no second chances. After all, she's plenty smart; she just needs to start proving it to herself and to Sesshomaru, because if she doesn't...bye-bye goes little Hikaru. This is her last chance, because you can't prove things when you're dead.

When the answer finally did hit her, the simplicity and obviousness of it struck her so hard that she froze, mouth open and eyes wide, looking rather stupid. Sesshomaru noticed and figured that she had something to say. He didn't care. It wasn't until he was almost successful in the killing of her did she shout out: "Wait!"; causing him to freeze, curious. He moved his hand slightly so it rushed past the hanyou, leaving her unharmed, who nearly passed out and died from that alone. After waiting a few seconds and finally feeling nothing, Hikaru opened her eyes. Sesshomaru was waiting. This in and of itself was odd. But then she saw the look in his eyes: sadness. She saw sadness. He really did love Iri, and because of it, he wasn't quite himself.

"Well," Sesshomaru said, slightly impatient; his voice sounded normal, but we all know better—even Hikaru. (Hikaru: Hey!) "What is it?" His tone was demanding, unforgiving, and that really frightened the suspended jaguar. Her lips formed the words, but all that came out was a croak-like bit of breath; her voice box refused to work properly. He glared at her, which did nothing for her nerves; her mouth was dry, and she felt really dizzy... Her luck and accidental good timing, as well as his love for Iri and phenomenal reaction time, was about to be wasted by her gutless, fearful silence—forfeiting her life once and for all.

Sesshomaru sighed softly and raised his claws yet again, muttering, "If you're going to be difficult..." He began to bring his claws down again. The fact that he was going intentionally slow passed over Hikaru's dense little head. (Hikaru: Hey! IrisJean: Oh, shut it.)

His claws were at her throat when she finally spoke up again; geez, you give and you give and you give, and still she almost wastes it all. She didn't notice that he had been waiting all that time. "You need me to save Iri!" she finally called out.

That got his full attention. He allowed his arm to fall limply to his side, although his grip on her didn't loosen; he just moved her down to eye-level, somehow even more trapped than before. "And how is that? Explain yourself quickly," he demanded emotionlessly; today was not his day.

It was now or never, and it seemed likely that Hikaru was going to screw up yet again. (IrisJean: DON'T EVEN SAY ANYTHING! Hikaru: O.o...Meep!) Finally she got over her speechlessness and spoke, after thinking about how to best word the sentence that may save her life. "If you kill me, Iri will die. But if you let me live, I can save her life."

That got his attention. "How so?" He still wasn't convinced. Now this really was to be the sentence that shall save her life; if she messes this one up, all shall be over...You don't mess with the loves of great demon lords like Inutaisho's, Inuyasha's, or Sesshomaru's. Hikaru felt hope surge through her; his voice dropped, the change was slight, but it meant that she had a chance. Now her mind began to work, intelligence making up for a major lack of common sense. (Hikaru: You guys are so mean to me! SexySesshieSama: Yup!)

"I see how your eyes shine, Sesshomaru. You love Iri, and you don't want to lose her. You don't want her to die—even if that means allowing me to live. I can save her, Sesshomaru. Let me go, and I can do what Jaken is now too unconscious to do. I can get help; she still has a chance. Kami-sama shine down on us all, tell me what to do, and I will make sure that Iri lives to see many days to come."

That was a beautiful speech, calm and level despite her feet hovering above the red-brown dirt below—she really is clever. Holding back on us, she was. She still hates him, of course, but people will do just about anything to save their own skins...as well as the skins of those they care for; Iri saved her life, and when someone does that, you feel a bit closer to them all of a sudden. A mystery, I'm sure.

Sesshomaru's grip loosened. He looked away, thinking. Finally he closed his eyes and let her go to fall painfully back down onto the ground. It doesn't matter; her clothes are so filthy and bloodstained in any case, a little dirt won't make any difference. She feels filthy already.

"You will fetch help if I allow you to go..." Sesshomaru stated, thinking about it. Hikaru nodded; he didn't see. It didn't matter. He turned to her, eyes blazing, more brilliant than the sun—at least they weren't red any longer! "If you run, and Iri dies, I will hunt you down. If you fetch help, and it fails, and she dies, I will hunt you down. If you cannot find help, I will hunt you down. If in any way, for any reason, Iri dies, I will hunt you down and make you experience pain like nothing you have experienced ever before. Do I make myself clear?"

For someone who isn't much of a talker he just said a mouthful. Numbly, Hikaru nodded her head. Oh Kami-sama, please don't let me die... "Yes."

Sesshomaru seemed calmer, more distant, contemplative. He stared out over the trees, towards the hidden horizon. He was off in his own little world with his own little thoughts, ignoring Hikaru's existence. He was thinking, trying to figure out who she could fetch that may be able to save Iri's life. His lack of recognition was something she ought to have been grateful for...but, strangely enough, it made her feel empty, exposed, cold and alone.

Iri groaned; Sesshomaru ignored it. Hikaru crawled over to Iri and peeled the once magnificent cloak off of her shoulders. The blood had begun to dry, and the wound was no longer bleeding; she appeared to be "out of blood", so to speak. Iri's brow was slick with sweat as she shuddering slightly from side to side; she looked as if she were in pain, haunted by nightmares from which she cannot escape. Hikaru shushed her, wiping her forehead off; Iri calmed at the warmth of Hikaru's hand on her freezing cold forehead. Covering Iri's torso and hips with her vest, Hikaru did all that she could do to help—which wasn't much, but in such instances, it's everything.

Rin walked back into the small clearing, no longer crying, her eyes dry; she looked perfectly normal. She wasn't laughing, however, and her brown eyes seemed a bit duller, older, less humorous. She wasn't smiling, her face set and blank. In her small hands she held a bouquet fo very pretty, nice smelling flowers—purple, pink and yellow ones, small, with green leaves and stems, roots still intact with some dirt clinging to them. She seemed solemn, as if tired but not drowsy; almost as if she were mourning the death of a long-dead relative she was close to as they lived.

She set the flowers down next to Iri's head; the woman turned slightly, as if to rest her cheek on them. Hikaru gasped, wide-eyed, amazed. Still Sesshomaru did not turn, although he knew Rin had arrived, and Rin merely smiled slightly—a horribly sad and depressing gesture. "Milady loves flowers," Rin explained to Hikaru, who had tears in her eyes; "When she wakes up she'll want something pretty smelling to make her feel better."

Hikaru lowered her head, tears streaming down her cheeks, trying to halt them. She didn't sob and remained totally silent, so only Rin noticed, and she said nothing. "Who shall I go fetch?" Hikaru finally croaked, not knowing what else to say. She didn't want to be here anymore, surrounded by such love and pain that she felt was all her fault. Besides, the sooner she leaves the better chance she'll have of saving Iri and then not dying.

Sesshomaru remained silent, as if he hadn't heard her, or was just ignoring her existence. After a few seconds, Hikaru was about to speak up again; although this would test his wrath, she needed to know, otherwise Iri would die, and she would follow soon after. Every second that ticked by felt like an eternity; another grain of sand lost in the hourglass that was her life. However, as if to save Hikaru from her certain demise, Rin spoke up in her usual, kiddy-voice—although now she seemed more somber, grown up and mature; calm and collected, as well. Which was odd. "Hikaru-kun could fetch Inuyasha-sama. Kagome-chan is good with medicine."

Sesshomaru turned his head; Hikaru recognized that look in his eye as the one he had when he was about to kill her. It only flashed, however, and was gone by the time he began to speak.

"I am not going to ask that bastard of a brother of mine for help!" he snapped, more at the thought of his half-sibling than at Rin, one of the few he would never snap at. She knew that quite well and so she did not get scared. Hikaru did, ironically enough.

Rin shrugged and spoke again, sounding wise beyond her years. "I know you hate him, Milord, but we have no other choice. He's our best bet; that's all we can do. For Iri." That struck him so hard he cringed lightly. "And you would do anything for Iri-sama, of course. Right, Sesshomaru-sama? Even ask your younger brother for help? Correct?"

Sesshomaru scowled and was forced to agree, nodding his head as if it pained him. "Yes...but if I beg for his help he will never respect me. I will appear weak."

"He doesn't respect you now," Rin pointed out indifferently.

"He fears me," Sesshomaru countered.

"But Iri-sama is more important," Rin reinforced, ending the argument.

Sesshomaru knew it was over, but he still wouldn't give up. "No. She is, but I refuse to beg for his help. She'll have to fetch someone else."

"Who?" Rin inquired; he said nothing. Then her face lit up. "There is one other that could save her! I could take Sapphire and go to her time, grab Tora-chan, and she can come here and save Iri! That's an even better plan; you were right, Milord. That is the much better course of action."

The dog's mouth twitched and his pupils narrowed. His whole body rejected that idea. The demon lord turned all the way and faced Hikaru. "You are to go and fetch my brother, Inuyasha. Bring him here immediately, or your life will be forfeit. Go. Now."

Rin was smiling again. She had won. Things would turn out alright. Her lord and lady have never failed her before; she trusted them with all of her little body. Iri would not die; Sesshomaru would not let her.

Hikaru had still not moved. Sesshomaru glared at her, eyes making direct, frightening contact. "Are you waiting for something? Go get Inuyasha. Now!"

Never mind the fact that she didn't know what Inuyasha looked like, what direction he was in, or how to find him; when Sesshomaru speaks in that tone of voice, you obey, or you die. She had finally learned something out of all recent events. And so she leapt up and began to run; the direction was completely random, and it didn't really matter. Oh, please, Kami-sama...let this be the right way...if it's not I'm dead meat!

With the hanyou finally gone, Sesshomaru knelt down beside Iri and straightened her out, tucking the vest in, wrapping his tail around her legs to keep her warm. Rin snuck out fo the clearing, praying in that small child, kiddy sort of way; she skipped over to Sapphire, mounted her, and they silently took off through the forest.

None of them, least of all Sesshomaru, realized that Jaken and Ah-Un were nowhere to be seen.

After a few minutes, Hikaru had run several miles, and so she felt it was safe to stop and collapse down by the river which flowed toward Iri and the others; thank god. If it flew in the opposite direction it would be stained red and undesirable for use. Hikaru felt about ready to pass out; not from the running, but from a lack of oxygen thanks to all that fear and shock. Taking several deep, harsh but refreshing breaths, she felt almost back to normal. Her head was spinning and throbbing some, while she felt downright filthy, but things were already getting better. After several minutes of laying there, seeing spots, slipping almost into unconsciousness, Hikaru sat up, leaves and dirt sticking to herm getting in her mouth, twigs tangling themselves in her hair. She didn't really care. She spit them out and quickly dunked her head into the river, which was deeper here. She let the slow paced but still moving water wash over her sweaty brow, her bloodstained face. Coming the larger sticks out of her hair, rubbing the dried blood off of her cheeks, she felt a lot better, even though her shirt was now sticky and stiff, her mouth still stained with the taste of the hot, metallic liquid abomination. She could feel her heart beating, and she needed a few minutes to breath and relax, think and calm down.

Things had happened so fast; it seemed like a mere minutes ago that she had been hiding in those bushes, eager for a drink; having accidentally come across another creature had made than a necessity. She was waiting for a chance to get some water, wanting nothing more than to be left alone. She wishes now that she had moved farther downstream; why couldn't she just have waited another minute or two? Stupid!

Hikaru wiped most of the water off of her, slicking her hair back some, and pulled herself up. Looking around, she tried to figure out where to go next. Everything looked the same as it had before; same small clearing, same river, same trees. Only difference is no blood and no woman horribly wounded in two—technically four—places because of her...Snap out of it! Mustn't think like that! You have a mission to complete; focus!

Another difference: she couldn't see the sun any longer. It was hidden by some trees; at least she knows the direction from which she came. It would be embarrassing to go back to where Sesshomaru waited with his love. Deadly, too. But that was it. She knows from where she came, but these forests aren't that familiar to her, and even if they were, she still doesn't know enough to find Inuyasha!

She's as good as lost.

Panic threatened to take over. If she didn't find this mysterious Inuyasha—and soon—Iri would die. And then, more importantly (to her, at this moment) she would as well. Iri had just become her top priority, which was sadly ironic. It was her responsibility (although she saw it as more of Sesshomaru's fault, but this isn't the time to argue) and she was going to make things right...or die in the process.

Plus, I think this one might be different. Sure, she was dressed...blegh! Only a breastband and a loincloth (or whatever the hell those odd piece of cloth were), her cloak open and exposing herself, but it didn't seem like she liked it too much. She didn't hate it, and she had dignity about it, but she seemed upset about it when I insulted her, so it seems as if she didn't have a choice. Her not complaining is commendable, actually; whiners are useless. She's not useless. She is a rarity among full grown humans...or perhaps demons. I can't tell which. Hikaru sniffed the collar of her shirt, which Sesshomaru had gotten Iri's blood all over; her overly-sensitive nose scrunched up at the strong, offensive smell. Human, most definitely not demon. But...that's not all. She's something more even than that. She's powerful; something in her blood sets her apart. I can't tell what it is, but she is definitely more powerful than me. Maybe even more powerful than that son-uva-bitch she travels with. Man I hate that guy.

Jaguar demons are well-known for their intelligence; the ability to perceive and understand things other people pass over or miss. (As well as for their ability to hold extremely long grudge for-freaking-ever.) Camouflage and puzzles are their strongest points; they brag about them all the time. They notice what others miss, see what others are too blind to see, hide as if invisible, unable to be found. No one hides better than those whose specialty is to expose the truth. Very hard to conceal against. However, these strengths are not always good things. They are sought after, captured at young ages, to be raised as hunting dogs for lazy-ass humans who are just that cruel. They become average animals, slaves, no longer glorious demons, but rather common dogs, docile and beaten.

The very thought of it makes Hikaru feel sick and pissed-off both.

She knows all of this firsthand, from her own tragic past experiences; or rather, should I say, from what happened to her youngest and most darling siblings, Fuumi and Fuyumi, full-jaguar demon cubs; the only ones born after her, her mother's twin daughters.

Hikaru was physically and actually thirteen years old at the time; she has just reached the age at which jaguar-hanyou's stop aging normally and begin aging at a much slower rate. Fuu and Umi had been born a few years back, their aging already slowing down some. They are darling little girls, a bit chubby, giggly and energetic. They loved everyone and everything, too little to know how to hate; they didn't know any better. The rest of her siblings, human and demon, hated Hikaru; her father had died and her mother was always away. She would spend her days having her food stolen from her so that she hardly had enough to eat, while the most comfortable and soft places to sleep were taken from her, as her jaguar siblings beat her, her human siblings taunted her; all she wanted was love, all she got was scorn. Her only real pleasure, her only real protection, the only real goodness in her life came from her youngest siblings.

After her father died, her mother took her in; she already had many children from her previous mate, and she was just about to give birth to twins from her current mate. Her human siblings were all older, crueller; heirs and heiresses, bastards the lot of them. Ten female jaguar siblings she had; all of them pure evil. Only Fuu and Umi made her want to keep on living. Her mother was always away, so although she loved Hikaru, she could do little to help her. All her children ran free, living in a very large area of forest and meadow that fell into the human boundaries of her late father. She could never be free of her family, her vile family, so similar in their hatred of her, although they also despised one another...

One day, Hikaru took Umi and Fuu out for a walk, so that they could play under her supervision. She was sore, limping along thanks to last nights beating: she was used to the pain. Fuu and Umi didn't understand; they hardly even noticed. She laughed and winced, happy in spite of the pain, her love for them so great that it took the edge out of the nauseating agony. Ignorance is bliss. Hikaru sat down to rest against a tree, at the edge of the forest; she told them that she was tired, that they should go on and play, she would watch them.

She must have dozed off for a moment; a moment only. For she opened her eyes with a start, the two girls gone. A scream; a horrible scream ripped through the air. Then another. When one would die down, the other would pick up again. Screams of fear, of pain. Screams that set into motion the most horrific and painful event of Hikaru's life, then, now and forevermore.

It will haunt her to her dying day...

I heard Umi scream first. I knew it was her because she is the less high-pitched one of the two. She'll be more serious and less flighty when the two of them grow up. It was also more demanding, as she is. A regular little princess. I immediately shot to my feet, grimacing at the pain; my side hurt, I think a few of my ribs were broken. But I didn't care. I began running, hearing Fuu scream next, more frightened; crying. I couldn't see them. In front of me there was a green hill, which they must be over. I'm coming, babies, I'm coming.

I ran faster than I had ever run before or could ever run again. It was difficult, it was painful; I would regret it later. But as long as they were safe nothing mattered any longer. Not even my own life. I would regret it far more if I didn't save my little sisters, my babies, my angels, my darlings...

I came in sight of them just as the screaming stopped, the children silenced. I saw both of them, wide-eyed and fearful, in the arms of big, burly, cruel-looking men. They had covered their mouths; Fuu and Umi struggled, but it was useless. The men were too strong, too horrible. Knives were at their necks, touching their jugular veins; what monsters could do such a thing! I grew angrier than ever before in my life—a life of resigning myself to pain and hurt, because that is my curse. I would not stand for it now!

I ran even faster, fire in my black eyes, my claws tensing, ready to render, rip, tear, kill, main, wound, break, torture and wreak havoc and judgement upon those bastards!

They saw me coming and laughed, as if I posed not threat, a simple teenage girl. "Oh look, we've angered the older sister, and now she's come to make us pay." Louder and more horrible laughter rose up; the babies shrieked, frightened, crying.

One of the men casually stepped forward, cocky. He didn't even see my claws coming, hacking off the head of his axe and his body. Leaping over his body and torpedoed for the others, landing several feet before my younger siblings. They all froze, frightened, surprised; my claws dripped with blood. I felt dizzy, but fought off my body's urge to get sick or pass out. Just...a little...longer...

Several of them roared, angry, and began to advance upon me. I killed them; killed them all. My first kill, my first mass murder. Ten lay dead or dying in a matter of seconds, only about five of them left. The one holding Umi handed her off to the one holding Fuu, and the four advanced on me. This time their weapons were heavy, blunt things used to beat the life out of animals. My vision was blurry, my movements sluggish; I was only able to slice one in the arm before being beaten into submission.

I lay there, bleeding, beaten half to death. I heard them leave, eager to escape from the crazy demon they thought was dead. I shakily lifted myself up, tried to call out; only blood came up. I threw up the contents of my stomach—acid and blood—before passing out. I couldn't even lift a finger to stop them, say good-bye, call for help—anything!

And I knew, as I watched them disappear through closing eyes, that I would never see those little ones ever again. They thought Hikaru would die; they were too scared of more of her coming to make sure. Moments later, Hikaru's siblings showed up, finally responding to the commotion. They found tracks wiped clean in both direction and a beaten, dying Hikaru laying there, hardly breathing. There was no way that anyone short of an expert tracker could follow after them, and Hikaru's oldest sister Hitomi is inadequate. Hikaru was knocked out, their mother gone. It was too late. They were gone.

Everyone knew to what they were going. Enslavement, to sell, to grow, to breed them for their senses and intelligence. "It's best ta get 'em young; tha' way thar stupid 'n' weak 'n' easy ta tame 'n' control, 'cuz if ya get 'em older, they'll rip yar throats out. Little thar also easier to whip 'n' tame, 'n' if ya grow 'em up nice 'n' docile thar tha best trackahs; you'll get tha best prey, 'n' thar strong, so you'll soon make back yar money, provided ya don't kill 'em!" Hardy-har-har. They were as good as dead.

Hikaru was beaten by Hitomi, used as a scapegoat for the lost children, again left to die. Somehow she got up and limped away, to heal elsewhere and escape her siblings. Mother Fuumi was in despair; when she ordered Hitomi to fetch her, Hikaru was gone, the track too cold for her to follow. The Great Jaguar could take life no longer. She fell ill and died. Hitomi took her place, and the jaguars collectively feared for their future.

Hikaru went off to search for her little siblings, and even though three years have passed since then, Hikaru hasn't given up. In fact, when trying to sleep at night, she tries to imagine her angel babies as they would be now; looking five or six years old; they could probably talk now, maybe have lost some of their baby fat, still adorable but more "grown up". It makes her feel better, imagining them safe and sound and beautiful and happy...

Hikaru shook her head, splashing water everywhere, forcing her mind off such things; now is not the time. She has other things to do...more important things...In order to find and save her sisters, she must live, and thus Iri must live. So now it's time to think, to try and work her way our of this predicament; else many people will die...

She has no ideas, and so unless Kami-sama blesses her and Lady Luck is on her side, the probability that she will fail is high...

Hikaru perked up, on full alert; she heard something. There! There it goes again! A rustling in some of the nearby bushes. Mostly hidden black ears twitched at every small sound and bit of leaf movement. Slinking towards the offending noises like a cat on the prowl, Hikaru was able to tiptoe to it without being noticed. Finally the rustling subsided, but it was too late; just like before, when Iri found Hikaru in the bushes. Looking horribly frightening with her shirt plastered onto her body by blood, hair dripping wet and claws still stained, Hikaru dove forward and grabbed the intruder by the scruff of the neck.

Whatever "it" was, the creature was slightly slimy and scaly. Hikaru recognized the feel of blood, slightly dry on its hide. Yanking the beast up, Hikaru exposed a kicking and complaining Jaken. Ah-Uh emerged from behind some trees, munching leisurely on some nice, tasty grass.

Hikaru's ears bent back; she growled, "You. What are you doing here? Why did you follow me? Did Sesshomaru sent you? When did you wake up?"

Jaken scowled at her and kicked her hand, causing her to yelp and drop him. "No, he doesn't know I've awoken. And he never shall! Once I am done here I shall sneak back and resume my state of 'unconsciousness'. Then I cannot be implicated and things will go back to the way they were...Now if only I could rid myself of that pesky little human girl, I could have Lord Sesshomaru all to myself once again..."

Hikaru knelt down by the toad. "Are you planning on killing me?" she demanded, a bit shocked; not at all scared. After being threatened by the great Sesshomaru himself, nothing can frighten her anymore...except, of course, the inu-taiyoukai himself.

Jaken looked up, as if he just then remembered she was there. "Oh...I forgot you were still alive...Easy enough; my magic staff shall handle this..." Setting the Staff of Two Heads on the ground, he aimed and fired; at such a close range he couldn't miss...unless Hikaru knocked him off balance and ducked to the side to avoid the stream of fire.

Grabbing the staff, she tossed it aside and stood up. "Why you pesky, malicious, disgusting, rude, conniving little toad bastard! You're planning on killing me so that I can't save Iri and you'll be the only one left, free from blame..." Having figured all that out rather quickly, she glared at the beast, who shook from fear underneath her unsettling anger. Sesshomaru has never been all that angry with him, and so it was a new feeling; one that frightened him nearly into passing out. Ah-Un was chewing on some leaves now instead of grass.Hikaru didn't feel like killing the little toad; so she kicked him instead. However, she kicked him a little too hard, and so he shot forward and hit a nearby tree so hard that he really was knocked out; the tree itself shook, and a few odd looking fruits fell out of it, so Ah-Un went over and began eating them.

Just then, as if higher beings have declared that no peace or periods of calm without action may exist in Hikaru's life any longer, someone burst forth out of the trees behind her, from the direction into which she had been traveling earlier. Hikaru turned swiftly, on her hands and feet, ready to attack or run. Standing there before her was a half-demon with long silver hair and yellow eyes, wearing a white shirt much like Hikaru's—only not covered in blood—as well as pants like hers, only red, with a red hakama over that. (IrisJean: I think I have the vocabulary right—it's really on and off, huh?) Quickly following him, three humans, one young fox demon and a large fire cat burst forth from the trees into the clearing.

"What is it, Inuya—" one of the humans, an odd looking girl showing an indecent amount of leg, inquired, stepping forth. Apparently she could not see Hikaru. Upon realizing what it was her companion was staring at, she froze, eyes wide, shocked.

Hikaru knew what she was about to say. Looking at the half-demon, she asked, "Are you Inuyasha?" She already knew. If the girl almost saying his name wasn't enough, the resemblance was striking, the scent similar. It was him alright.

He didn't answer. His forehead furrowed inward, creating a sharp upside down-V with his brow and glaring eyes. In an angry tone that told Hikaru she was about to die, he said, "She smells of blood...Human blood...and a lot of it."

A moment later, a demon slayer, a monk and a half-demon began to advance on her. Oh, great—just great! Looks like Kami-sama grant me my wish, to find the ones I need to save Iri and myself, only to have them want to kill me because I'm innocently covered in blood! Lady Luck gives just so she can take away.

Inuyasha reaches forward, grabs her, lifts her up and throws her back, unsheathing his sword and beginning his executioners advance...

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