Chapter 3

After about an hour or two of sleeping, San awoke. "...I don't want to wake up yet...but oh well.." she muttered, closing her eyes as she stretched. She stood, rubbing her head as she walked to her bed. She picked up her pack once more, pulling out the kimono, scarf, and leggings she had worn before she came to the pallace. She slipped off her formal clothes, before pulling on her old outfit. As she did, she put the scarf around her nose and below that, so no one could see her face. Then she ran out and to the marketplace in the village. There, she listened to the old man tell his stories again. I'll get help from him. She thought. He can help me with my storytelling...so maybe I can live...just a little longer.

When he finished his story, she gave her money, as usual, but stood and walked over to the hut he stayed in. She knocked on the side of the door. "May I come in, sir?" she asked softly. The old man opened the door, blinking slightly.

"Oh, it's you." he smiled brightly at the sight of her.

She smiled back, bowing slightly. "Sir, i'm in needing of your assistance..." she muttered, eyes closed. The man merly nodded, opening the flap of the door to let her in. She raised her head, smiling a bit more as she walked inside quickley, seating herself on a cushion on the ground. "Alright...I need to learn how to tell a story that will catch someone...ya know, like you make people listen to you so easily..."

"Ahh...I see." the man grinned, leaning forward as he sat in front of her. "My secret is...tell stories that are about their lives, without them knowing it..."

San blinked. Well, that would be easy enough, since she had already started to do that. She stood, bowing slightly. "Thank you sir...you've helped." she said politely, before turning and walking out the door, heading back to the pallace. Short meeting, but it helped her a lot...Once she got to the pallace, she raced into the room, changing back into her formal clothes, and laying down on the cushions once more, hoping to get a few hours of sleep before it got dark out.

Inuyasha walked in only a little after sunset, seeing the girl still asleep on the cushions. "Hey, girl, wake up." he called, nudging her with his foot slightly. San groaned, opening her eyes and looking up at him with a smile. "Good morning Inuyasha-san..." she muttered, sitting up as she stretched a bit. Her Kimono slid down her shoulders, almost falling off. Inuyasha coughed slightly, turning his head away. "It's past dusk..." he muttered.

San blinked. "Oh...well then, good evening..." she fixed her kimono, and bowed slightly. Inuyasha just grunted, sitting down in front of her with a sigh.

"...umm...would you like me to...continue the story?" She asked reluctantly. She didn't want to be killed, after all.

Inuyasha gave her a side glance. He shrugged a bit, looking away once more. "...feh...I don't care if you do or not..." he muttered. That same hint of curiosity was still in his eyes though. San smiled and nodded. "Alright then..."

Seishin and Sai were continuing their journey to the next village. All was silent for the moment, the air tense between them. I have to kill her after I kill all the other girls...if I don't, I won't be able to save Mother and Itsuki...he thought silently, glancing over at her from time to time. Though, his side-glances were beginning to irritate Sai. "If you're gonna keep looking at me, at least say something!" she snapped.

Seishin huffed, looking away immediatly. "Women, always thinking guys are looking at them just to get attention..."

Sai merly scrunched her nose in distaste, turning her head once more with a low growl. "My mother once told me something, which I'M going to tell you now, Seishin! 'If you don't have anything nice to say, then shut the hell up!'." she retorted angrily, ears flickering lightly as they layed back.

Seishin growled at her comment, turning his head to look at her, his hand balled into a fist. "What'd you say! I don't gotta do ANYTHING you tell me to! Remember, i'm the one letting YOU come with ME! So if you don't want to die RIGHT NOW, I suggest you shut up and walk." he pointed his balled fist towards their destination. Sai merly sent a cold glare at him. She walked past him, her shoulder bumping into his and knocking him back a bit. Great...now she's even more mad...Seishin thought once morebefore sighing as he walked after her.

The two stayed in complete silence for almost a mile or so. Finally, Seishin twitched. "Okay! This is getting WAY too quiet. What do you want me to say, 'I'm Sorry'?"

Sai merly glanced back at him. There was more sadness in her eyes. She turned her head away quickly once more. ...He doesn't remember...she thought, closing her eyes. She raised a hand, wiping away the dampness from her eyes.

Seishin blinked. She looked so sad...not angry. A memory flashed back of a young girl. A girl with dark black hair, and eyes like emeralds. Green and beautiful...she was crying underneath a cherry blossom tree his mother had planted when she was a child. It was fully grown now. "Seishin..." the girl cried out. He remembered holding her, as if they were really close...Seishin shook his head, shaking the immage out as he looked to Sai once more. He just stared for a few minutes, before closing his eyes again. What was that? He thought, sighing lightly.

Inuyasha inturupted then, leaning forward. "Does that mean that he knew Sai before they met recently?" he questioned, curiosity now clear in his voice as well.

San gave a gentle, yet teasing smile. "I'd ruin the story if I told you that, now wouldn't I, Inuyasha-san?" she questioned, tilting her head lightly.

Inuyasha pouted a bit, huffing as he sat back once more. "No...because you wouldn't be saying how he kills the girls, OR who this demon is!"

San merly laughed. He was acting much like a child would when they didn't get their way. "You'll just have to listen to the rest of the story..." Her eyes gleamed, giving her a mischevious sort of look. Inuyasha stared at her for a moment, a sort of dazed look in his eyes. Who is this girl..? he thought. She looks...so familiar...she even acts familiar...he brought a hand up to rub his forehead, before sighing. "Continue with your story, then." San nodded a bit, closing her eyes as she continued.

Even though he had had a flashback, and it seemed obvious that he knew Sai somehow, he seemed to deny it. It could have been another girl, right? But she looked to alike the Sai he knew now...just...young. He kept his eyes closed, only to yelp in surprise as he ran into something. He fell back, rubbing his head. "Oww..." he looked up, blinking. It was Sai.

"What're you doing lost in your thoughts at a time like this? We're nearing the village!" she said, putting a hand out to help him up.

Seishin blinked twice. This was real...he shook his head, pushing the thoughts of the past out as he took her hand and stood. "Thanks Sai." he thanked her.

Sai blinked once, smiling with a nod. "Of course! We're partners, right? Even if we fight sometimes, we work together..."

Seishin blinked at her logic. She was right, now that he thought about it. He smirked, ruffling her hair before walking past her. "You're right. Now let's go find lucky number two, shall we?" he grinned at her.

Sai blinked and blushed a bit, eyes slightly wide. This was a different side of him...I haven't seen him like this since we were younger...she thought. Only a while back, she had had a flashback. While they were in their moments of silence after the question of Seishin's mother.

"C'mon Seishin!" Sai had yelled, wearing a pink kimono. Seishin was wearing a white haori and hakama, formal wear. The two looked to be about nine or ten.

Seishin had sighed, following after her with a smile. "Yeah yeah, Sai-chan, i'm coming..."

Sai giggled, wrapping her arms around one of his own. "Thanks for being my date to the festival..." she thanked him sweetly, kissing his cheek.

Seishin blushed and looked away. "Right...whatever..." he then turned his head back, grinning. "Let's have some fun."

The flashback had ended then, leaving her heart beating fast. Why did she feel this way? She wasn't sure...Seishin blinked a bit, seeing that look she had. "What's wrong with you? Are we going ot what?"

Sai blinked once, shaking herself out of her thoughts before smiling. "Of course. Let's go." she ran over to him then, begining to walk. He walked beside her, giving her an awkward look before looking forward once more. As they walked into the village, people stared, giving them awkward looks. Seishin glared at them, turning suddenly. He shoved Sai to the side, catching an arrow that had headed for her back. "What the hell is wrong with you people!" he yelled out.

A couple of humans stepped out, one a younger girl. She glared. "You two are demons."
"Yeah, what of it?" Seishin questioned. Sai had her back to him now. There were other humans coming from his behind, and her front.

"What're we gonna do?" Sai whispered to him. Seishing shook his head. "I don't know..."

The girl stepped forward. She had silver hair, and red eyes. "My name is Shana...what do you want with this village?" she growled out.

Seishin blinked. Silver hair...he sniffed the air. This was the next girl! "Sai...this is the next girl..."

"Are you sure?" Sai questioned, glancing back at him.

Seishin nodded, then looked to Shana. "So...you're Shana? Well, we actually came to see you."

Shana gave a startled look, before looking away and nodding slowly. "...I see..." she muttered, before waving a hand for the other's to put down their weapons. "Come inside then..."

Inuyasha blinked. "Nobody would be so stupid to trust somebody that easily." he protested, crossing his arms over his chest.

San smiled a bit and shook her head. "Did I ever say that Shana trusted them..?"

Inuyasha gave her a blank look. She was so tricky and teasing...so...familiar. He leaned over to her, placing a hand on her cheek. "You're so familiar, stupid girl. Why?" he then grabbed her chin. Not roughly, but just enough so she couldn't look away. He narrowed his eyes. "Answer me."

San blinked and blushed a bit, trying to turn her head away. Inuyasha held it there though. "You used to know me, whether you believe me or not..."

Inuyasha glared at her, releasing her chin and pushing her back lightly. "Feh, I don't. You're tricking me or something..."

San gave a gentle smile after pushing herself back so she wouldn't fall. "Say what you think...but I know what really happened..."

"Quite speaking nonsense!" Inuyasha snapped, clenching his fist as he stood. "How the hell do I know you! Every friend I had died except for Miroku! And I only had another who was forced to leave when she was young...she never came back..." he turned his head away quickly then. He was starting to remember that girl...the one he had saved, and cried over. Why had he cried for her? Why had he saved her? Who was that girl..? He thought with a small sigh."That other was me, Inuyasha." San stated, giving him a look that showed she wasn't lying. "I left for a reason...you had grown...you were becoming independant, and my family hated me. What reason did I have to stay, when you obviously didn't want me around anymore?"

Inuyasha blinked at that. "What the hell do you mean! I wanted you to stay!" he blurted. He blinked again. Why had he just said that...?

San smiled. "You did...?"

"Quite playing mind games!" Inuyasha snapped again.

San stood, glaring. "Mind games! I don't play mind games!"

Inuyasha grabbed her by the shoulders then, pinning her down on the bed. He had both a sad, but angry look in his eyes. "You can't be her! She was so young when she left. She had to have died!"

"I'm right here!" San protested, a small blush on her face from the possition they were in. "I'm San! Remember..? You saved me when I was younger...we had always come and played in your garden..and one day I wandered off too far..."

Inuyasha's eyes widened. "And you were attacked by those demons..."

San nodded. "Mmhm, that's right...I was passed out when you came...when I woke up, all the demons were dead..."

Inuyasha stared at her then. "...I had fought them all off...I risked my life to save you. But I thought you were dead..."

"You were crying..." San smiled lightly. "Because of me...I felt so horrible when I woke up...you were ready to become the true prince already, and you had to choose a bride...I knew I couldn't be her, since i'm no princess...so, a week later, I left..."

Inuyasha layed his ears back, releasing her shoulders and placing his hands next to her to hold him up. "...it really is you...how could I forget..?"

"You forgot because of my cousin...Kagome...we both came from the future...you never knew that about me. My mother came from here...my father was a human..." she paused, glancing away. "...My mother took us here when Dad proposed...so, I was born here. When Kagome came...well...we never met. I merly knew who she was from my father..." she closed her eyes then and sighed. "...you forgot about me, because Kagome betrayed you. You thought Kikyou had as well..."

"I didn't think I could ever love again...I thought...I thought all women were going to betray me..." Inuyasha agreed. He couldn't stop staring at her now, an almost serene look on his face.

"Have I betrayed you yet...Inuyasha..?" San questioned.

Inuyasha shook his head, actually smiling. She hadn't seen him smile for so long...he leaned down, kissing her gently before pulling away and standing. "...feh...well..." he looked away. "Now what?"

San was blushing from the sudden kiss. She sat up, putting a hand on her lips before smiling and letting her hand drop. "Dunno...do you wanna hear the rest of the story...?"

Inuyasha grinned, looking at her over his shoulder. "I think I know how it's gonna end..."

San smiled back a bit and nodded, standing and walking over to him. "So...I guess...you're not going to kill me now?"

"Nah." Inuyasha replied with a sigh. "What idiot would kill his wife...?" He grinned at her.

San snickered at that and nodded. "You're right."