Okay, Chapter numero dos. This is where I find out if you people like reading this stuff or not. Apparently, if you're reading this then I can come to the conclusion that you do like it. After all, if you didn't like it, then you wouldn't continue reading, if you're sane anyway. Well, if you like a little mystery then maybe you'll like this chapter. I tried to make it a little mysterious. Anyway, Read, Reveiw and enjoy!

Mayu Kitsune

Japanese Terms

Ningen-human or Mortal

Miko- preistess

Moyuru's Reason for Running Revealed, Suzushi Attacks

"Demon!" sounded a villager that had been working in the fields.

It had been a few days since Moyuru had shown up with her injuries. A poison had been the source of her sickness and had slowed her healing so she was still not yet fully able. She had already attempted to leave, only to be brought back by Kagome or some other do-good villager.

"Where is she?" a strong voice demanded from a distance outside.

Moyuru paled, "Suzushi!" she exclaimed in a whisper. Inuyasha had already gone out to face him, his hand on the hilt of the Tetsusaiga. Moyuru painstakingly got up from the futon, staggering over to her weapons and clothing. She had to fight him herself.

She swallowed hard, trying to ignore the pain that shot through her in violent protest to her movements and hurried outside to face the enraged youkai.

"Where is she?" Suzushi bellowed again.

Just on the outskirts of town the kitsune youkai known as Suzushi stood, glaring at Inuyasha and Kagome as they prevented him from entering. He was tall with cerulean blue eyes and dirty blonde hair that was kept in a high pony tail and trailed down to the nape of his neck.

He wore a katana at his side in a sash that matched the clothing he wore. He wore the same midnight blue color the girl they had rescued wore and seemed to have a fox-tail as well, the same color as his hair except for the end where it was white. It swished back and forth as he continued to glare, seeming to show his agitation.

"She's not here so you can just leave these poor villagers alone!" Kagome yelled in answer to his demand.

"Don't play dumb with me ningen, I traced her scent here to this village. Just hand her over and we just may leave without any problems." Suzushi said coldly.

"You won't cause any problems here, I'll make sure of it!" Inuyasha retorted.

Suzushi smirked, "Then it looks as though I'll be making quick work of you and this village before making quick work of my dear cousin as well." he stated, moving into a ready stance, his hand now on the hilt of his sword as well.

These are the youkai from before, I recognize the scent. Inuyasha thought, But where are the others, I remember there being more than just this one.

"Suzushi, stop!" Moyuru yelled out to him as she approached.

Kagome gasped, hurrying over to her. "What are you doing out here? You shouldn't be up!" she stated, steadying Moyuru as she stumbled. Moyuru winced as Kagome came in contact with her.

"Making my job easier now are we?" Suzushi taunted, "Surely you're not agreeing to come because you fear for the villagers."

Moyuru straightened, trying to hide how weak his last attack had left her. "Who said that I was agreeing to come with you? I'd rather take this fight somewhere else." she stated firmly.

"You want to fight me? In your condition?" Suzushi asked, sounding as though he thought the idea to be laughable, "I thought you learned from your mistakes Moyuru, you couldn't defeat me last time and you weren't hindered by injuries. What makes you think that you will win this time?"

"Suzushi," Moyuru sneered, "You know very good and well that I could defeat you, it wasn't you I couldn't defeat, it was your little army."

Suzushi looked a bit indignant at this, "Cocky little wench aren't you? The last time you got away was nothing but a fluke. I didn't even think it neccesary to bring the 'little army' along, they aren't here--"

Moyuru cut him off, "Why do I find that hard to believe? They're hiding here right now, waiting to take out whatever resistance you come across." she stated as though it were a known fact.

Suzushi growled a bit before brushing it off and trying to keep his cool, "Hm, you know me all too well, don't you? Moyuru."

Suzushi's band of demons emerged from their hiding places, feeling that they had no need to hide now that they had been found out. The soldiers had Inuyasha, Kagome, and Moyuru surrounded on three sides, the way back to the village being the only way left open.

Moyuru began to take her ready stance but Kagome stopped her, "You're in no condition to fight. Don't fight, we'll take care of it." she said, now standing protectively in front of her.

"Just what are you after her for anyway?" Inuyasha demanded.

Suzushi smirked, "I didn't figure she would tell you." he said, "I was sent by the lord of the southern lands himself to capture her, dead or alive. She's wanted for the murder of his son and heir."

Both Inuyasha and Kagome's eyes widened in shock.

"Lair!" Moyuru yelled accusingly, sinking to one knee and cringing in pain as she did so.

Kagome managed to shake herself back to reality. Something about this demon's accusation just didn't seem right. "I don't believe you!" she stated firmly.

"Kagome! What if she is? She hasn't exactly been willing to tell us much about her." Inuyasha said.

Kagome ignored him, "I don't belive you." she stated again. This girl was too young to be a murderer, she didn't seem to fit the part.

Now it was Suzushi's turn to be surprised, he paused a few moments before speaking, "You would take this lowly hanyou's word over the lord's?" He asked as though even the thought of believing Moyuru over his lord was a sin. "Your new friends are foolish Moyuru, but of course you would end up with them, birds of a feather flock together. I guess it would be understandable that you would run to some human and another loathesome hanyou" he said, now agitated.

"Shut up!" Inuyasha snapped indignantly at this insult on his intelligence, "Are you gonna fight? 'Cause I'm getting really tired of just standing out here listening to you talk!"

Suzushi smirked, "Then let's have at it, shall we?" he asked before seeming to disappear.

Moyuru had gotten back to her feet with some help from Kagome. Suzushi's disappearing act had sent her on high alert. There was a flash of silver off to one side and it was headed straight for Kagome!

"Look out!" Moyuru yelled, using what strength she had left to shove Kagome out of the dagger's path.

Inuyasha turned at hearing Moyuru's warning, Kagome! He thought. He turned just in time to see Kagome fall out of the way as Moyuru fell to the ground, a knife now embedded in her shoulder.

Moyuru cried out in pain as she hit the ground hard. She saved Kagome. . . Inuyasha thought. Suzushi came back into view, smirking even more widely than before. "Aww, trying to repent for what you've done? It won't change the fact that you murdered the lord's son." he said mockingly as he approached her.

Inuyasha went on the offensive, swinging the Tetsusaiga. Suzushi leapt back, narrowly escaping the sword as the blade cut through the air where he had been standing only a split-second before.

Inuyasha placed himself protectively between Suzushi and the two girls. "You tried to kill Kagome!" Inuyasha yelled accusingly, now fully ready and willing to fight.

Suzushi shrugged, "She was in the way." he stated simply. "Besides, you and her both deserve to die for taking the side of that pitiful half-breed." he added harshly.

She saved Kagome. If she really was a murderer, she would've just let Kagome take the hit, but she didn't. Inuyasha thought to himself, making up his mind that Suzushi wasn't making it out of his sight with Moyuru.

Suzushi seemed to be amused, his small band of soldiers had blocked off all means of escape. Kagome loaded her bow with an arrow, leveling it at any that came too close. Moyuru stood in a weak ready stance, not having removed the dagger yet, removing it would only cause her to bleed more and she had no idea how long this stand-off would last.

A few of the youkai tried to rush in. Kagome didn't hesitate, launching an arrow at one of them. The soldier barely avoided it and it landed in the ground, sacred energy visibly flowing from it. The others stopped in their tracks.

"Don't come any closer." Kagome said in a threatening tone.

"Kagome, don't worry about me, just save yourself." Moyuru said, trying not to show how much pain she was in. She didn't want Kagome to get hurt trying to protect her.

"No way." Kagome answered.

"It's me they want, they'll kill you if you try to protect me." Moyuru argued.

"I can't just leave you here." Kagome answered stubbornly. Some of the soldiers looked timid to attack now that they had identified Kagome to be a miko.

"Ah, she's a priestess." Suzushi stated, "No wonder I was so compelled to kill her." "You'd better not lay a hand on her!" Inuyasha yelled, rushing another attack on him, swinging wildly with his sword.

Suzushi dodged again, having leapt into the air to do so.

Inuyasha smirked, I've got you right where I want you. He thought. He changed the direction of his swing "Wind Scar!" he yelled out as he unleashed the Tetsusaiga's power in Suzushi's direction.

Suzushi's eyes went wide in shock as he fought to dodge. The energy engulfed him before he seemed to vanish. As he did, his soldiers dispersed, disappearing as well.

"Damn," Inuyasha growled "He got away."

Moyuru was now avidly staring at the place where Inuyasha had directed the wind scar. She had never seen anything like it. How could anything have so much power?

Inuyasha was now standing with the Tetsusaiga over one shoulder, looking as though he were posing with it. He gained an indignant expression, placing one balled up fist on his hip and storming over to Moyuru. "What do you think you're doing out here!" he demanded angrily.

Moyuru blinked a few times, it took a moment for it to sink in. She hadn't been expecting to get yelled at. She glared at him before turning away from him. If she could have crossed her arms, she would have.

"You weren't going to convince him that I wasn't here, if I hadn't come out he would have sent his little band of soldiers into the village!" she retorted a bit heatedly, "I came out here to keep the fight away from innocent people."

Inuyasha growled, sheathing his sword, "I could've run him off faster if you hadn't stepped in and screwed things up!" he argued. His eyes then went to the dagger still embedded in Moyuru's shoulder.

He averted his gaze elsewhere, hesitating a few moments before finally saying, "I will thank you for saving Kagome though." His sentence sounded a bit forced, but it was a "thank you" all the same.

Kagome stared a him, blinking a few times as he began to walk back towards the village. Am I hearing things or did he actually say "thank you"? Kagome thought.

Once back in the hut Moyuru slept, now feeling less tense than before. She had caught the scent of blood, Suzushi's blood. He wouldn't be back for a while and that would give her time to heal completely and be on her way. The poison had worn off entirely now and she was beginning to heal at her normal pace.

After a few hours she woke up again, still in pain, but not quite so much. A few of the smaller wounds had healed nearly all the way. The rest of the group had seated themselves around the fire and were now eating.

The enticing aroma of food wafted past her nose, causing her stomach to growl rather loudly. She blushed in embarrassment as Inuyasha's ears twitched at the sound. At her relief, he didn't turn to look at her.

Kagome took a bowl of stew to her, "Try some," she said, "it's good."

Moyuru looked down into the bowl. It wasn't like anything she had had before. She sniffed at it curiously before taking a small experimental bite. Her eyes seemed to light up and she ate more. She had to use all of her self control just to keep from being piggish! After all, she was hungry and this food was good.

The kitsune hanyou finished up the bowl and, still not content, asked timidly for seconds.

Kagome was happy to oblige, filling up another bowl and handing it to her. "If you're not feeling too bad, why don't you come and join us?" Kagome offered.

Moyuru seemed to be a bit confused at this. Kagome was offering her to join them? Moyuru was different from them. For reasons unknown to them she was quiet and withdrawn, yet Kagome was willing to accept her even though she knew so little about her? Kagome was already treating her like a friend and it confused her. No one except her own brother had accepted her so easily.

She sat silently, still looking dumbfounded at Kagome's simple offer.

"Well?" Inuyasha prompted, the sound of his voice snapping Moyuru back to reality. "She asked you a question, don't just sit there. At least say something." he stated, sighing and rolling his eyes as though he thought her behavior to be pathetic.

"So? Would you like to join us?" Kagome asked again.

Moyuru fumbled over her words, "Um. . . yeah, sure." she answered in a nearly inaudible voice. Keeping in mind that her top half was currently covered by nothing but bandages, she used a blanket to cover herself before moving in to join them.

She ate in silence for a few moments before deciding to speak up, "This food is really good." she said in a soft, shy voice.

Kagome beamed, "My mom made it." she said proudly.

Shippo sat his bowl down, having finished his stew. "Kagome's mom always makes delicious food." he said, flopping backwards and letting out a sigh of contentment.

Moyuru finished her second bowl, now seeming content as well. She set the bowl aside before giving a formal bow, "Thank you." she stated, "Thank you for everything." she added, sitting back upright.

"It was nothin', just don't get all sentimental on us when you decide to leave." Inuyasha said.

Moyuru just nodded once. "I plan on leaving as soon as I'm healed." Moyuru replied truthfully.

"That shouldn't be too long if you heal anywhere near as fast as Inuyasha." Kagome thought aloud, "You look like you feel better already."

"I think I'll stay for a few more days, Suzushi won't be back for a while." Moyuru stated.

Kagome looked at her a bit confused.

"You mean he's not dead?" Shippo asked incredulously.

"She's right, he managed to escape before he got too beat up." Inuyasha said.

"Oh, I knew that." Shippo stated,

"Humph, and you call yourself a demon." Inuyasha muttered to him under his breath.

"I caught scent of his blood, I don't think we'll have to worry about him. At least not for a while anyway." Inuyasha said confidently, putting his hands behind his head and relaxing against the wall.

"It's getting kind of late," Kagome pointed out, beginning to unpack her sleeping bag, "I'm going to get some sleep." she announced after a while, crawling into the covers after readying herself for sleep.

Shippo curled up next to her.

"Goodnight." she yawned.

Moyuru wordlessly got to her feet, going back to the futon she'd been occupying for the past few days. Soon the fire burned out and everyone had fallen asleep, drawing the day to a close.

Well, that ends another chapter. Next! (Don't forget to review! Oh yeah, and don't be afraid to tell me if I got anyone OOC, I would hate to do that and not know about it.)

PREVIEW!

Chapter Three: Naomi

Moyuru meets another interesting personality that also says that they'll be her friend. Can this spunky little girl get the mysterious hanyou to reveal more about herself?

PLEASE CONTINUE TO GIVE MY FIC A CHANCE! THANK YOU!

Mayu Kitsune