The next morning, I woke up suddenly when there was a chill in the air. I sensed a thunderstorm coming on. I put a hand to my heart to seek courage from the jewel shard. "Inuyasha, lend me your strength to get me through this upcoming stormy day." The warmness in my heart grew and it made me smile. I felt a lot better. A while later, my best friend, Raye came to bring me some food. I sat there and ate while the possibility of meeting Inuyasha, alive and in the flesh, crossed my mind. I felt myself drawn to him for some reason and I wanted nothing more than to make his acquaintance, if only one time while he's alive. Raye asked, "Princess, what has you so quiet?"

"I've just been daydreaming… about seeing an old friend."

"You mean that half demon who sealed to the Sacred Tree in the village to the south of us?"

"Well, to the east of that village anyway. He's alive, Raye, and I knew that my wish had something to do with it. That was my only wish through those 10 lonely years and it was all that I had to believe in. I figure that if my wish could come true, then anything's possible."

"I've heard from all over that this half-demon is becoming quite infamous. He's defeated countless demons with a powerful sword called the Tetsusaiga."

"Hard to believe he's only half…" I sighed, "Still… the fact I too, am half would give us something in common. Kind of an ice-breaker. Either way, I know that when the time comes, I'll have to be really careful. The only thing I know is the lulling of his heartbeat. If he's really as strong as the rumors claim to be, it's best not to get on his bad side."

There was a clash of thunder and I shrieked in fear. Lightning struck twice and I quickly ducked into my den. The 2nd bolt hit a local set of brush and it caught on fire. I heard someone calling for help from inside of it. I ran out from of my hiding place to get a closer look and they were two of the new cubs. I quickly jumped into the flames to grab them and rush them back into one of the dens. Their parents thanked me and I headed back out. It wasn't until then that I realized I had quite a few scorch marks all over me. The lightning continued and I grew more nervous, somewhat convinced that it was coming after me. I looked up and the clouds grew darker.

I stepped backwards. I had a feeling that the lightning would strike me then. I saw it starting to form and I took a step back. I gasped as my legs started slipping down the hill. I shrieked as I started rolling down the hill at an incredible speed. When I stopped, I landed just on the border of the village. Shivers ran down my spine as I saw the shadows of humans coming towards me. I didn't want to look at their faces, knowing that they just might come after me to kill me for stepping into their village. Their voices sounded angry enough. I curled up into a ball, holding onto the jewel shard in my heart. I shuddered when something suddenly came out of my mouth without me even thinking it. "Help me, Inuyasha! Please help me!"

Inuyasha's ears twitched. He looked outside and saw the clouds gathering. "Doesn't look like we'll be leaving for a while. This storm looks like it'll be nasty." Sango noticed something, "Inuyasha, don't you sense that demonic aura? This thunderstorm is too violent to be normal. Some demon is the cause of it." Kagome looked out the window next, "And I think I sense a sacred jewel shard." Inuyasha turned around to face her, as he grabbed hold of his sword, "Then I'm going. You coming, Miroku?"

"Yeah," he grabbed his staff and kept the prayer beads wrapped tightly around his right hand. The gang headed outside as the storm grew worse. Keilala growled and transformed into her full demon form; Sango then jumped on her back to explore the sky. Miroku, Kagome and Inuyasha followed the clouds to the border of the village. Lightning kept going and Kagome got more nervous. "You don't have to be so scared, Kagome, as long as I wield Tetsusaiga, none of those lightning demons will be able to directly attack us!" She turned her back on him, "Humph, fine! So I'm scared, I'm only human, you know!"

"Yeah, whatever… Which way are the jewel shards?"

"There's just one and it's straight ahead." Back in the skies, Keilala attacked the clouds with her flames and Sango threw her Hiraikotsu through the clouds, getting the lightning demons one by one. That's when the storm calmed down. The villagers started to gather on the border of the village.

Inuyasha suddenly stopped and his ears twitched. "What is it, Inuyasha?" Kagome asked. He narrowed his eyes and looked around, "I coulda sworn that I heard someone call my name."

"What do you mean?" Miroku and Kagome both stopped to listen. Inuyasha heard it again, 'Please help me, Inuyasha!' He wondered curiously, "That's strange. I sort of recognize that voice, but I can't match it up with anyone."

"Where's it coming from, Inuyasha?" Miroku asked.

"The same direction as the jewel shard." Sango and Keilala returned from the skies, "We took care of the lightning demons."

"Thanks Sango, but there's still the matter of the jewel shard."
"Yeah, I saw a lot of the villagers gathering just ahead." Inuyasha took the lead and started dashing towards the villagers. He stopped when the voice had stopped calling to him, but he caught a new smell. "What is it, Inuyasha?" Kagome asked as she caught up with him.

"I smell blood… but it's unfamiliar to me. It's definitely demon blood, though and it's heading in that direction." He rushed to the villagers and asked, "What happened here?"

"There was a demon who fell from the hills, but she escaped." Another added, "Yeah, but she also seemed to be injured. She had burn marks all over her. She was shaking like a leaf one minute and the next, she ran for her life, but she was also limping."

Kagome said, "I sense the jewel shard in those hills up there."

"You don't think she might have the jewel shard, do you, Kagome?" Sango asked.

Inuyasha folded his arms, "I don't see why a demon with a jewel shard would just run instead of fight!"

"Hey, less talking and more running! She might need our help," Miroku jumped to the head of the group and rushed up the hill.

Sango narrowed her eyes, "Leave it to Miroku to want to save the day." The gang followed him up the hill. Inuyasha then took the lead as the trail of blood started to get thicker. "Whoever has the jewel shard is really bad shape, just look at all this blood."

I don't know what came over me. I was scared that the humans were going to attack me, so the only defense I had was to run. Somehow, my fall down the hill injured my right leg, so I had to resort to limping up the hill. I stopped on the top of the hill just outside my den. I laid down as I started nursing my leg. "Inuyasha? Did you hear me at all?" I wondered if he had heard me and if he and Kagome were coming this way. She probably sensed the jewel shard by now. I held my leg as the pain started to get worse. I couldn't search for Inuyasha like this, who knows what could happen to me in this condition. I then heard some people coming up and I gasped. I quickly hide amongst the bushes.

"I thought I heard something move in this direction…" A female voice called. "Yeah and the blood trail is leading in this direction." I gasped as I looked at my head; I didn't realize it was bleeding that bad. I was guessing that the 2nd voice was a demon because he was paying attention to my blood. I then heard him sniff, "yeah, it's definitely in this direction."

I knew it was a matter of time before they found me. I wanted to lick my wound clean, being a cat and all, but I also had burn marks all over me. I suddenly felt sick and I lay down on the ground. Then a twig snapped from under me. I gasped, wanting to take off, but the pain paralyzed me. I swallowed, curling up into a ball, hoping that they'd just pass me by. My face grew red and felt hot with nervousness. The footsteps grew closer and I shut my eyes as my heart raced. I stroked it and the jewel shard comforted me enough to slow my heart down. The footsteps then stopped briefly and rushed towards me.

"Inuyasha, over here!" Miroku beckoned him with his left hand. He put a hand on my leg, "she looks like she's been burnt pretty badly." Inuyasha approached and sniffed, "Humph, not a very strong demon if she's giving up over a couple of burns." Miroku reached a hand onto my leg and I cringed. "Inuyasha, her leg is broken." Miroku asserted himself.

I summoned up enough courage and strength to open my eyes. I saw a human, maybe a priest or a monk touching my leg. I gasped, "Human…" I inched away, but the pain paralyzed me, making me cringe. "Calm down, I'm just here to help you. You can trust me." The monk assured me. I looked at him and smiled, he seemed gentle enough. I put a hand to my heart, feeling it beat even faster.

Another voice called, "Hey, she's holding onto a jewel shard." I looked and saw a girl in unusual clothes for this time and age. It clicked; she could see the shard, so that had to be Kagome. I heard someone approach me and I gulped in fear. "I'll gladly relieve you of that shard. It's no good to you if you're this weak even with it." I held it closer, "I don't use this shard for fighting… it gives me comfort and confidence. It keeps my heart calm and warm." I looked up and gasped. My heart skipped a beat when I saw Inuyasha glancing at me with curious yellow eyes. I inched up as I saw him come closer to me. I held the shard for confidence.

I slowly forced a smile, "Inuyasha? Is that… really you?" His expression changed, "How do you know my name?" I trembled, "You're… you're really alive… just, just like I wished you would someday be."

"Huh? What are you going on about?" He wondered in a curious tone. I was breathless and I couldn't speak. The pain in my leg radiated through me and I forced myself to lay down. I grew weak and tired. I smiled up at him before shutting my eyes.