-1Disclaimer: I checked under my tree, in my stocking, even under my mother's tree: still don't Inuyasha and friends.

Chapter 5

Last time:

Mrs. Higurashi had to wonder if the demon was feeling a little light-headed from giving blood because he followed the nurse without a sound of protest. She was even more surprised when she felt his fur brush her side and his hot breath on her ear as he whispered, "The healer lies. I suggest you explain to me exactly what is meant by the testing of blood, those contracts you must sign and what you meant by 'your time,' or I shall have no alternative but to eliminate that deceitful snake."

Mrs. Higurashi considered his words. Summoning her courage, she looked up directly into his stoic face and replied, "I will tell you what I can, but I expect the same from you. How did you get here? What is your interest in my daughter? And why is your honor at stake?"

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Sesshomaru straightened and silently considered what she had said. Her fear was weaker now, but still present in her scent. He could now see some of the pack resemblance between her and the miko.

"I agree to your terms, but if at any point a question displeases me, I will not answer. Or if at any point you fail to respond to my satisfaction, I will not answer you," he told her in a still voice.

"And the same goes for me," she whispered to him before increasing her pace to keep up with the nurse.

Sesshomaru followed them so deep in thought he scarcely noticed the humans nearly brushing his sides as they passed. He began to wonder now if he had done the right thing in sharing his demon blood with the miko. He had nearly lost control back in that room, his demon blood reacting to being sent out. Yet it had not been in anger as he would have thought, but in passion, a near consuming desire to taste more than the soft flesh of her arm. As soon as his blood had entered her body, it was as though they had been bonded somehow. Even now he could sense her heart beating, feel the slow steady rhythm of her breathing and hear the dark murmur of her unconscious thoughts.

This was the only reason he had been able to leave her with the doctor, he could sense her and her current state down to her exact location within this labyrinth of a building. How had this happened to him? She had somehow influenced his emotions and now had begun to gain power over his body as well.

Sesshomaru slipped his hand into his kimono and retrieved a small, square, unadorned mirror. It had all begun with this. He had simply touched it, then awoken almost two days later in the presence of his brother and his human companions. Their account of what happened seemed too ridiculous to believe, but then so did his current situation. They had claimed the mirror was cursed, and he now firmly believed that was true.

He growled in anger and returned the hated object to its place against his chest. The nurse and Mrs. Higurashi had stopped and stood waiting before a pair of silver panels, but turned to look at him when he growled. He knew instantly they were waiting for something, but withheld a growl this time. He, Sesshomaru, was anything but stupid and if he did manage to encounter something he could not understand, it was only a matter of time until he did. What drove him to frustration was that it seemed that just about everywhere he turned in this place, he encountered another mystery.

"This elevator is sure taking a long time. I guess it's because the building is so tall. It must have to stop at a lot of other floors on its way down to us," Mrs. Higurashi remarked as she glanced back up at Sesshomaru to see if he understood her hint.

His anger boiled, but he kept it in check. The reflection of his face in the metal panels appeared collected and completely void of emotion. They continued to address him as though he, lord of the Western Lands, were a simpleton. He would have to find an outlet for his anger soon, though, or he might have to slay that healer in spite of what he had told the miko's mother.

He heard movement on the other side of the panels, then a soft ding. They slid open and allowed several humans to step out of what appeared to be a large box. Inside, the walls were mirrored. The nurse led them inside then turned to face the doors and pushed a number which, to Sesshomaru's surprise, lit up.

He waited to see what would happen next when the entire box lurched suddenly and began to move upward. Instinctively, his eyes quickly surveyed the enclosure, and his hand settled over Tokijin's hilt. All he encountered though were the many images of himself and the women that were reflected in the mirrors.

He felt what could only be described as relief when the doors slid open and the nurse stepped out and led them into a large, and fairly crowded room. It was brightly lit with glass walls and doors. Outside night had fallen, but the sickly glow of numerous lights lit the entrance and street beyond. In the center stood a large fountain that filled the room with the first soothing sound Sesshomaru had heard since arriving in this place.

"Well, there's the front desk and the waiting room is another floor up. Follow the hall and it'll be the first turn to the right. Good evening," the nurse told them quickly then practically fled back to the strange devise that had carried them here.

Sesshomaru did not bother to acknowledge her, but Mrs. Higurashi bowed and replied, "Thank you."

He could feel her nervous gaze, but Mrs. Higurashi simply sighed then walked to the nearest seat and began to write on the papers given to her.

"These are the admission forms," she said as she wrote. Sesshomaru had not moved, or even glanced in her direction, yet he listened carefully.

"I put in all the information about Kagome and our family and the information on how we will pay for this, then I also sign a waiver that says I agree to the procedures the doctor orders like the blood transfusion and other things." She quickly wrote and flipped through the pages.

"Is there no contract the doctor must sign giving his information and to affirm that his procedures are indeed necessary and effective?" Sesshomaru pressed her, intrigued by the staunch legality.

Mrs. Higurashi finished and stood up. "Um, well, not really. I mean we could always look up his information on the computer and we could sue for malpractice if he does something unethical or negligent that hurts Kagome."

Sesshomaru bit back frustration. Apparently, this would not be such a quick conversation after all. He had not understood much the woman had told him.

"Let me turn these in and then we can go to the waiting room and talk more," she told him and jogged towards a large desk.

Sesshomaru felt the eyes of humans watching him with curiosity rather than anger and fear. Did they have no respect for demons, or did they really not recognize them because there really were none in this place?

He moved over to the fountain, drawn by its soothing, familiar sound. Sesshomaru settled onto its rim and closed his eyes, battling the nausea caused by the stench of humans that assaulted his nose. The water was surprisingly clear, though it, too, smelled strangely and caused him to wrinkle his nose. Humans were disgusting to drink such water, yet he could be grateful that it diluted the other smells somewhat.

Another scent began to dominate the others as he sat there inhaling deeply. Opening his eyes and glancing down, Sesshomaru noticed Kagome's blood on his arm and kimono. The smell both enticed and repulsed him, and it needed to be removed. Though he had no desire to do this in the presence of humans, he saw no other source of water. Giving a mental sigh, he dipped his arm and sleeve into the water. A crimson cloud billowed into the clear pool. He splashed water onto his chest and scrubbed it as best he could with one arm. Fortunately, the demon silk cleaned easily.

Ignoring the murmurs of passing humans, he wrung out the sleeve and then shook his arm to rid it of any excess water. Suddenly, one of the creatures dared lay a hand on him as they gently said, "Hey man, there's a restroom just over there you could use- "

Sesshomaru turned using his demonic speed and gripped the offending hand in his claws fully intending to remove it not only from his person, but the owner's arm as well. Fortunately for the man, Sesshomaru hesitated when he laid eyes on the strangest looking human he had ever seen. In fact, he had to sniff the man's scent to make certain it was not a demon.

All the man's hair had been shaved and instead metal spikes stood out from the top of his head. White paint gave his features a ghostly pallor which was enhanced by the black painted around his eyes and on his lips. More metal objects covered almost any piece of flesh that could be pierced, and several of them had chains running between them. He was dressed all in black, like a shadow of the white of Sesshomaru's hair and clothing.

Apparently equally as shocked by the demon's appearance, the man's mouth dropped open and Sesshomaru was inwardly horrified to find a piece of metal through his tongue as well. How could the man even speak after being so tortured? No wonder he was seeking a healer. But why did he not appear to be in any pain?

"Whoa, man!" the man exclaimed in an awed voice. "Where'd you get the ears done? Did it cost much? I've been wanting to get mine done like that, but all the places I've been tell me it'll cost a small fortune. And where'd you get the tattoos on your face?"

A small female attired in a similar fashion leaned in to see what had attracted the man's attention. "Yeah, that's a wicked job," she agreed and to Sesshomaru's complete horror tried to run her fingers through his hair. "But I wanna know where he got this gorgeous hair?"

Sesshomaru abandoned the first offending hand to knock the second aside. He narrowed his eyes at the two, flexing his claws, and asked dangerously, "Humans, are the answers you seek worth the cost?"

Mrs. Higurashi had just turned from handing in her paperwork to find Sesshomaru standing near the fountain wringing water from his kimono. He had not washed himself in a public fountain, had he? She moved quickly towards him when she noticed a couple trying to engage him in conversation. She had just pushed past the last person in time to hear Sesshomaru's question to their remarks and forced her way in between. Seeing her, Sesshomaru lowered his claws and allowed himself to be led away.

"Come on, Sesshomaru, let's go up to the waiting room," Mrs. Higurashi said to him. "And if you didn't want those kinds of questions, you shouldn't have washed your kimono in the fountain."

His gold eyes suddenly lit with an evil mirth that just failed to reach his face. Once they were back inside the elevator, Sesshomaru finally spoke in an apathetic voice, "Shouldn't I have? I thought you asked that I refrain from killing? In order for me to comply with your request, I had to remove the miko's blood before the scent drove me into a lust for more blood."

Mrs. Higurashi gasped and shifted. The elevator suddenly seemed to shrink around them. Had his face not been so void of emotion, she would have guessed that the thought of a killing spree amused the demon.

They did not speak again until they found the waiting room. It was a large area, well-lit, and filled with chairs and small tables. The far wall was filled with broad windows that only showed a dim reflection of the room since it was already dark outside. A weary looking man and his children sat in one corner, very quiet and still. Another young man was passed out across three chairs with a hat covering his face. A young woman sat reading a book a short distance from the sleeping man.

Mrs. Higurashi led Sesshomaru to the side furthest from people and sank into the cushioned chair and motioned for the demon to make himself comfortable. He eyed the chair disdainfully before finally settling stiffly into it. His silver hair and fur flowed over onto the seats next to him and behind him like the train of some royal person. The demon's very presence radiated a regal air and his statuesque features only enhanced this. Once again she was struck by the deadly grace and beauty of this creature, as well-manicured and lethal as the swords that hung at his waist.

Swallowing hard she thought, Okay, time for business.

"Okay, I've told you about the forms. Now time for you to answer something for me." She paused, waiting to for the demon's response.

He stared dispassionately at her for a moment then said softly, "I am not satisfied with your explanation of the contracts, though for the moment I concede to answer one question still subject to our previous restrictions."

She nodded her understanding, pleased with his rational manner. "Um, well, how did you get here? I thought only Inuyasha could get through, and speaking of him, where is he? He would never stay away knowing Kagome was hurt unless he himself were gravely injured."

"Technically, woman, that was two questions," he informed her, then proceeded to answer her anyway. "I encountered the half-breed and the miko fighting a horde of demons near an old well. My brother failed to protect his wench and she fell into the well, bleeding. I had come in the likelihood that they would need my assistance so I could cancel my debt.

"The half-breed was under attack, so I jumped into the well to retrieve the miko. There was a light and I found her lying at the bottom in her own blood, so I carried her out and discovered this place.

"As for how this happened or why Inuyasha has not come after me, I am as confounded as you. I can only hope he has not been slain by those weak demons. It would be an insult to my father's bloodline, as it would also deprive me of the joy of slaying him myself."

Mrs. Higurashi gasped, as much at the nonchalant tone he used as at the violence of his words. His golden eyes studied her for a moment, then he added, "Now, wench, you will answer my inquiry. What is it you meant by 'your time'?"

"Well, this is the future," she told him quietly. "Yours and Inuyasha's time took place 500 years ago. Kagome was dragged through the well at fifteen by a demon after the Shikon no Tama in her body. She met Inuyasha, the jewel was shattered and, well, you obviously know the rest."

Sesshomaru took in her words, turning to stare at the things around him. "So that is why all these devices and places are so- strange. And what of demons? Why do humans no longer fear us? My treatment today has been proof enough that this is true."

"Well, there aren't any, or if there are, they don't show themselves," Mrs. Higurashi explained. "Humans think you are just stories and fairy tales. That is why Inuyasha has to hide his ears, and why I keep telling everyone that you're an actor. We have weapons that I doubt even a demon could counter, no offense, and if they discovered you were not human, they would immediately take you away to study and dissect for science."

Sesshomaru sniffed and remarked, "I highly doubt a human could have a weapon that could harm my person."

"Sesshomaru, we have weapons that can destroy entire cities, killing millions of people at one time and poisoning the land for years after. Even a demon could not survive one of those bombs," Mrs. Higurashi told him sadly.

By his silence she could not tell whether he believed her or not.

"Now, you tell me why you feel you are indebted to Kagome, though you admittedly care nothing for her? And whether you want it or not, you have my gratitude for all you have done for her."

"Your gratitude means nothing to me, woman," he told her, moving his gaze from its study of the window to her face. "A few days ago, in my time, I awoke in the presence of the miko, the half-breed and their human companions without any memory of what had happened for nearly two days. I do not know exactly what transpired, and the story they told me is ludicrous at best, but I know that they spared my life and even protected me during that time without my consent. Unfortunately, I am now honor bound to repay them."

Mrs. Higurashi shuddered as he spoke, though his voice remained as even and cool as ever. His eyes narrowed, giving him a near feral look, and she could almost feel the anger that boiled off of him in waves. Claws bit deeply into the chair beside him, and she noticed a slight hissing and a green light as poison from his claws ate through the vinyl and wood of the seat and began to burn hole in the carpet as it dripped through. This was one demon she did not want bound to her daughter in any way.

"What did they say happened?" Mrs. Higurashi asked.

"That question has no pertinence to this situation. I refuse to appease a wench's curiosity," he told her.

"Fair enough," she countered, her curiosity even more aroused than before. She made a metal note to get Kagome to tell her later.

"Now, I understand those contracts are to ensure payment for the healer for his services and for permission to perform these services. Yet I do not understand this 'computer' or 'suing' if he hurts the miko. Is this some method of revenge should a patient die?"

"Sort of," Mrs. Higurashi said as she thought of how she could explain a computer and law suits. "Well, the computer is a machine we use to store information so that everyone can access it and learn what they want to. We also use them to get messages to one another instantly. Like we can talk through the telephone to someone far away, this is like that only using writing instead of our voice."

"You both have pieces of paper, and if you write on one, the words show on the other?" Sesshomaru questioned.

"No," she corrected. "It's um, more like that strange box with the um- illusion spells. The information displays in a box like that and we use a device to write and do things on it. But that is just a way to find out information on the doctor, for example. The suing is what we can do to get 'revenge' as you call it if he makes a mistake that hurts Kagome or does something against the law. We take him to a court and a judge will decide if he guilty or not. If he is guilty, he is made to pay money as compensation."

"I see," he told her. "And if he lies?"

"What is it exactly that he is lying about?" Mrs. Higurashi questioned, trying to understand why he wanted to kill the doctor. "He's helping Kagome."

"I asked if he had any further use of my blood, and he told me no," Sesshomaru told her. "I could smell the deceit on him which is enough in itself, but he also had my blood hidden on his person as if he has something planned contrary to what he said."

"Oh, dear," she said with a gasp. "That is not good at all." She noticed a light of confusion in his eyes. "We have to get your blood back, and then you need to get out of here. Go back to the well, and go back to your time. It's for your own safety."

"Do not presume that you or any mortal, will give this Sesshomaru an order," he almost growled at her.

Mrs. Higurashi put a hand to her face and tried to mask her concern. "You don't understand what modern humans are capable of. That doctor tested your blood. It told him you were not human, and it must possess some very interesting properties, because he kept it to study it. He'll also want to keep you. He'll use you as a guinea pig."

"I am a dog demon, not a pig," he corrected her harshly.

"Then think of it like this," she snapped at him in irritation. "He'll want to put a leash and collar on you and keep you like some exotic pet."

She heard what sounded like a growl and a laugh choking on one another. "That pathetic mortal could not leash me to do his bidding."

"No, but when he gets a whole bunch of humans with weapons, he could," she argued until she heard him really growl. "Fine, you're untouchable. But he has your blood and could use it for horrible things. We have to get it back somehow."

"That, wench, will be no trouble," he boasted and turned his sullen gaze out the window as though he were a lord officially ending a conversation with an annoying subject.

Mrs. Higurashi sighed and glanced around the room noticing that the man with the children had fallen asleep, and taking advantage of it, the children had begun a game of toss with a ball. She bit back a yawn feeling exhausted herself. She glanced back at Sesshomaru and found that the demon had closed his eyes. Was he asleep!

"Ooooo! Pretty hair!" a small, childish voice squealed and the demon's golden eyes shot open as a pair of chubby hands entangled themselves in his long, white hair.

"Sister, no!" the boy cried out as he ran to pull her away.

Sesshomaru turned with his demonic speed and lifted the child by the back of her shirt. He shook her until her hands released his hair. Her smile faded, replaced by a frightened gape.

"Do not lay a hand on my person, pup," he said to her.

"You put her down, cripple!" her brother shouted angrily and he tossed his ball at Sesshomaru's face.

Mrs. Higurashi cringed and started to move toward the demon lord, hoping to stop any killing, when the boy shouted. Sesshomaru dropped the girl, catching her with his fur and caught the ball in his claws. He stared at the boy and released his poison, melting the ball in his hand. Horrified, the boy backed away, too scared to call for his father.

"I am anything but crippled, boy. Do not lay a hand on my person again," he said in his same smooth tone.

The boy nodded fiercely, still looking at the puddle of melted rubber that used to be his ball. Sesshomaru then used his fur to set the girl beside her brother. He promptly seated himself and closed his eyes once again as though nothing had occurred.

"Be seated, wench," he told Mrs. Higurashi who was still staring open-mouthed at him.

Regaining control, she sank back into her seat and asked quietly, "So, how did you lose your arm?"

Without opening his eyes, Sesshomaru said, "What did I tell you about your curiosity?"

Mrs. Higurashi opened her mouth to apologize, but the demon continued. "You might as well question the miko about that also."

Her cheeks heated and she quickly picked up a magazine and held it over her face. Also! Did he mean that he knew she would ask Kagome about what he had mentioned earlier?

Mrs. Higurashi stared blankly at the glossy pages in the magazine, waiting until she felt her cheeks had cooled. Risking a peek over the top of its pages, she noticed the demon lord sat completely motionless with his eyes closed. As quietly as possible, she laid the magazine back on the little table beside her chair and pulled her phone from her purse.

She wordlessly walked over to the hall and moved back in the direction of the elevators hoping she had moved far enough for the demon to not overhear. She dialed her number and smiled as she heard the brief battle between her son and father as to who would answer.

Sota won.

"Hi, mom, how's Kagome doing? Will she be able to come home soon? Will she have a cool scar? Is Inuyasha there with you?" he blurted out so quickly and loudly that Mrs. Higurashi had to hold the phone away from her ear.

A soft ding reached her ears and one of the elevators opened depositing a couple of nurses, a small army of police, a rather worried looking man, and a badly beaten young girl on a bed. Had the girl's condition not been so serious, Mrs. Higurashi would have laughed at what looked like a hospital version of the clowns in the tiny car. She moved out of their way and thought, Poor child, before trying to answer Sota's stream of questions as well as those shouted out by her father.

A few minutes later she snapped her phone shut and returned it to her purse. Walking briskly back into the waiting room, she let out a tiny squeak as her heart tried to escape through her throat. Sesshomaru was gone.

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Kaede's hut was filled with the unpleasant noise of a snoring green imp and the heavy breathing of an old woman. Rin's soft, shallow breaths could scarcely be heard above the din. The irritated half-demon had finally returned from his tantrum to find this unpleasant symphony awaiting him. Letting out a low growl, Inuyasha chose to perch atop the hut where he had a good view of the village and the path leading to the well. He flattened his ears to his skull, vainly trying to block out the racket below. Finally, he fell into a fitful sleep.

In his dreams, he saw Kagome moving farther and farther away from him. She was injured badly. He could smell the blood, but she continued to move away.

"Kagome!" he called to her. But she did not seem to hear.

A sudden scream shattered his vision. Darkness blinded him as something firm impacted with his shoulder causing a dull ache. Inuyasha opened his eyes to find himself on the ground in front of Kaede's hut. Swearing softly, he ran inside toward the source of the terror laced cries.

Inside, he found Rin tossing and turning on the mat Kaede had prepared for her. The blankets were tangled around her legs and she reeked of sweat and fear. He moved closer.

"Shhh! Kid, be quiet," Inuyasha said in an awkward attempt to calm her.

It was then he realized that she was not even awake.

"She's having a nightmare," he told himself. For a moment he felt a little panicked. He had no idea how to handle a child's nightmares. His gaze fell on the still sleeping Kaede and he sent an angry growl in her direction. She should be the one trying to comfort the girl. The old woman simply grunted in her sleep and rolled over.

"Stupid old hag," Inuyasha muttered under his breath as he tried to wake Rin.

Her eyes shot open suddenly and locked onto Inuyasha's gold ones like a lost ship onto the guidance of a lighthouse. He saw a great joy and relief fade instantly to disappointment.

"You're not Lord Sesshomaru," she whispered sadly.

"Damn right," Inuyasha confirmed harshly, realizing his mistake as the girl cowered away from him.

"Look, I'm sorry, Rin," he told her grudgingly, very unused to apologizing. "I didn't mean to scare you. Were you having a nightmare?"

She nodded and scooted a little closer to him, hugging her knees fiercely to her chest. "When will Lord Sesshomaru return?"

Inuyasha folded his hands into his sleeves and grunted. "How should I know when that bastard is coming back?"

Rin rested her chin on her knees and let out a soft sigh. "I'm sorry, Inuyasha-sama, but I miss him when he's gone. He always comes for me, though."

Inuyasha's ears perked in interest. She missed the heartless demon?

"What was your nightmare?" he asked her. When she didn't answer right away, he added, "You don't have to tell me if you don't wanna. I don't care or nothin', just curious."

Rin jerked her head up sharply at his words and just looked at him intensely. Inuyasha squirmed, uncomfortable in that gaze. "Really, you don't have to tell me. It just helps to talk about things sometimes, when you're afraid."

To his surprise she smiled at him. "It's not that. It's just, what you said is what Lord Sesshomaru once said to me." Her smile faded. "I was dreaming about the time I died."

Giant demons on the rampage, getting lost in the woods at night, or, hell, walking in on Sesshomaru bathing- these were the kind of disturbing things Inuyasha had expected to haunt the child's nightmares. He could have in no way been prepared to hear her say she had died. He sought to change the subject quickly.

"Oh, so- um- how did you end up with Sesshomaru of all demons?"

"I met him just before I was killed," she told him in a surprisingly somber and adult voice. "My entire family was killed by thieves, so the village had taken me in. I found my lord injured in the woods. I came to him all night with food and water, but he said he did not eat human food and for me to not waste my time. But I wanted to help. When he was well, he went on his way. That was when the- the wolves came."

Inuyasha caught her hesitation to mention the wolves and couldn't blame her. He could think of one wolf in particular he'd like to see gutted.

"They slaughtered the entire village. I ran, hoping to find my lord, but the wolves were too fast and they- and they- " She could not continue, and her tiny form began to shake again.

"It's okay, Rin. There are no wolves around now. And I won't let anything happen to you until that baka gets back," Inuyasha reassured her, moving so he could put an arm around her. He felt her tense at the gesture, apparently as uncomfortable as he was. Well, it was no wonder, he could not even picture his brother embracing the girl.

"Lord Sesshomaru saved me. I woke up in his arm and Master Jaken said he had resurrected me with his Tenseiga." She smiled and looked over at the little imp. "I don't think Master Jaken was very happy about that. And I've followed my lord ever since."

"He- he used Tenseiga to bring you back to life!" Inuyasha exclaimed in disbelief. He could not see his brother caring enough about a mortal to bother acknowledging their existence, much less saving their life and then taking them into his care. Did Sesshomaru sit up talking to her when she had nightmares, too?

"Do you have nightmares often? You know, about that day," he asked her.

"Sometimes," Rin said, but was interrupted by a broad yawn. "But Lord Sesshomaru ordered me to stop that nonsense. He says I have nothing to be afraid of with him, so every time I start to get scared or have a nightmare, I just look at my lord. This is the first nightmare I've had without him being nearby when I wake up."

So that explained her reaction earlier that night. She yawned again and snuggled closer to his chest.

"Thank you for talking with me. I think I'll go back to sleep now. Perhaps my lord will return in the morning," Rin told him and promptly closed her eyes, her lips fixed in a peaceful grin.

Inuyasha felt too unsettled to grin or sleep. This was information he had not been expecting. Rin's constant presence with his brother had always baffled him. True, the demon did seem protective of her, but he had always assumed that to be more of a dog demon possessiveness than true concern. His brother hated humans, yet here was one he obviously cared for despite what he claimed.

Just what was Rin to his brother?

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Mrs. Higurashi stared at the seat where she had left the demon then glanced back down the corridor. Empty. Where could he have gone? She had only been on the phone for a few minutes.

The children playing quietly beside their still sleeping father caught her attention. Bending down to their level, Mrs. Higurashi asked as sweetly as she could, "Did you happen to see where that man with the white hair went?"

The boy looked around as though making sure the demon was no where nearby before answering. "You mean that jerk who melted my ball? No, he just stood up suddenly as those policemen and that girl in the bed were going by and followed them."

The boy glanced back at his sister with a look that said he was pleased by the demon's sudden departure.

"Did he happen to say where he was going?" Mrs. Higurashi asked feeling more nervous by the minute. There were several policemen in that group. Each one would have a gun and would not take kindly to the intimidating demon toting two very deadly looking swords.

The boy shrugged and told her, "He said something, but it didn't make any sense."

"What did he say?" Mrs. Higurashi pressed.

"He said, 'Rin.'"