A few hours passed since the group happened upon the boy in the woods with his fairy companion. By now, they were lost. The air grew chilly, and no matter which direction they turned, they only ended up deeper in the forest. As they walked along a path with upturned roots and scattered branches, they noticed an unsettling fog form around their ankles. Eyes watched the wary travelers from high in the trees, and in all honesty, it was difficult not to take notice.

Inuyasha led the group, refusing to let his friends rest, as they were growing restless. Twice, Kagome had toppled over protruding roots, yet she did not utter a word. In fact, her mind was elsewhere, but Inuyasha ignored it, happy that she was not complaining.

A howl erupted some distance away, startling the little fox child. Scared beyond his wits, he latched onto Sango's leg, searching through the darkness for the source of the noise. At one point, while they traveled, he climbed onto Sango's shoulder, afraid of the fog, which rose.

"Are you certain this is the right way, Inuyasha?" Miroku asked from behind. A familiar small tree with one broken limb caught his eye. Leaves lay crumpled and withered around its base. "I'm sure I recognize that tree," he pointed out. In fact, there were many things which seemed familiar to the monk; this was the same for everyone else.

Fed up with the constant questions, Inuyasha threw his arms up and turned to face the others. "Hell if I know! This place is like a maze, and besides, it's hard to pinpoint everyone's scent."

Hearing this, Kagome asked, "What do you mean? Is something wrong with your nose?" This was a first for her to learn. Since when did his nose stop working?

The half demon searched his surroundings. "This forest is strange, as was that kid and that bug a while back. It's the same scent from him, though not as corrupted. There's no scent of anyone who may have traveled this way, nor ours. I can't even smell those crows in that tree there," he pointed. "All I smell is a forest, but it's different from any forest I've seen."

"No scent? Wait, so you're saying Link had no scent?" questioned Miroku. For a moment, he wasn't sure what his friend was implying.

Annoyed by the monk, Inuyasha glared. "Like I was trying to tell you all before, but no one would listen, that boy smells like the forest. He didn't have his own natural scent. All I could detect from him was blood."

"That's because he was drenched in it, Inuyasha," Kagome argued. "I wonder what may have happened to him. I hope he's okay. He seemed so untrusting of us and his eyes…"

"They seemed empty," Sango replied. "I wonder why?"

"It's like he's killed his entire life. The scent is stained on him," he explained, catching surprised glances from the group. That the child might have killed his entire life bothered Inuyasha, yet he didn't seem like a threat to them. Whatever the case, he would keep his eyes open. Something was not right with this place or the people.

The group absorbed this information, thinking back on their previous encounter. Before they had wound up in this forest, they were walking along a trail in pursuit of Naraku, but a blinding light interrupted their travels. The next thing they knew, they were in a different forest. While they surveyed their new surroundings, they happened upon strange creatures, some of which took them by surprise.

One particular beast took the form of a plant with sharp teeth and acidic breath. It would lunge at the group, but it was retrained to one place. Inuyasha had killed it, but the minute the group turned around, more and more had appeared.

Then there were crows and bats which attacked, some of which were bigger than usual. These birds were easy to kill. The bats attacked in groups of twenty or more, but after a while, they would lose interest and fly elsewhere.

Not long after, they had heard a commotion nearby. When they went to investigate, they came upon a boy that was being attacked by a strange demon, or so it appeared. Before the monster could make a move, Inuyasha interfered with his Windscar, barely missing the boy who landed on the ground in a heap. He didn't appear to have any injuries, but they couldn't help but worry.

This youth wore strange clothing, different from what any of the individuals had ever seen. A shield was strapped to his back, bearing strange symbols, and a sword was gripped in his left hand. From head to toe, he was drenched in the demon's blood. Link had remained quiet during most of the group's bickering, and he and Inuyasha didn't seem to hit it off well. He didn't seem to trust them.

"I wonder if there are others just like him," pondered Inuyasha, who received baffled stares. "What the hell are you all looking at?"

"What do you mean, like him?" Shippo asked, leaning over Sango's shoulder.

Sighing, Kagome shook her head. "There's nothing wrong with him, Inuyasha. I keep telling you. And yes, I'm sure there are others out there." The nerve of him. Kagome could not believe how insensitive her friend was acting. Whenever we happen upon a stranger, he's the first to think there's something strange about them.

With crossed arms, Inuyasha gritted his teeth. He was sick and tired of Kagome always telling him he was wrong or something, when in fact the evidence had been right there the moment they set foot on the boy. "Shows what you know! You had your face in that book of yours, not to mention too busy sitting me!"

Knowing another argument was about to take place, Sango stepped forward, breaking the tension between the two. "You keep saying there's something different about him, besides his scent. What is it?"

"His ears! His scent, but that's beyond any of you," he replied as if it were obvious while turning his nose up and folding his arms. Maybe now they would remember. But judging by their expressions, the news was lost on them.

"His ears?" she questioned. Sango thought back to the boy they had encountered. The image was a little blurred, but she recalled his green tunic, sword and shield. As for his physical appearance, he appeared normal enough, except for the unusual hair color and his eyes. To her, he seemed foreign, and she knew there was no one back home with those same physical traits.

"They were pointed," he explained, noting their surprised expressions. His friends really needed to pay better attention.

"If he isn't human, then are you saying he's a demon?" asked the perplexed fox child. "He didn't look like a demon to me."

Inuyasha shook his head. "No, he's not a demon."

Perhaps Kagome had overlooked their new friend. "Half-demon?" the priestess questioned. This was the first time she came upon any demon or half demon with blonde hair. The traits Link possessed were like Americans back home in her time. And on a couple of occasions, she had actually been close up to seeing some that had visited Japan months ago.

Once again, Inuyasha shook his head from side to side, only furthering their confusion. Link wasn't half or full demon, he didn't have a natural scent, and to top that, his ears were pointed. Was that all true?

As if experiencing an epiphany, Miroku's face brightened, causing the slayer to step away. "I believe I heard the fairy mention something about him being a Hylian!"

"That's weird. I've never heard of that," remarked Shippo, earning a nod from everyone but Inuyasha.

"Guys," Kagome muttered, catching the ears of her comrades. "We're nowhere near home."

Hearing the comment said by the priestess, Inuyasha fell over by her stupidity. "Just now figuring that out? Of course not! That damn light brought us somewhere strange!"

Upon noticing something a few feet away, Sango's attention shifted. "Inuyasha is right. I've never seen a demon like that."

Curiosity getting the best of them, they turned to stare at the being. A small creature, much bigger than Shippo, but smaller than the adults, sat a distance away, watching them curiously. This creature appeared to have been made from wood with green leaves protruding from its head. Its eyes glowed red, yet it seemed gentle enough. Even if this creature were to attack, it was armless, making it vulnerable. The mouth of this creature extended outward.

All the while, Kagome could not help but awe at its cuteness. "Look at it! Awe, I wish I had my camera!"

Upon hearing the young girl's squeal, the plant tilted its head sideways, earning yet another squeal, most of which annoyed Inuyasha.

"Damn it Kagome, stop that! I don't know what's so great about that thing."

If anyone had noticed, a small vein appeared upon the plant's head, and its eyes narrowed at the comment Inuyasha made.

"It seems harmless, though it's best to be on our guard," muttered the slayer. She clutched her weapon on instinct, ready for anything.

Agreeing with her, the monk nodded. The creature sitting there did not seem threatening, but it was wise to be on guard just in case. But he couldn't help but smile, and like Kagome said before, it was a sort of cute, what with its head tilted. "I agree. There's much we don't know about this place."

"Please, a puny piece of wood couldn't lay a finger on us!" Inuyasha explained. He gave the plant quick glance before laughing. "It's the funnies looking thing I've ever seen! I bet if I just flicked it, it'd be down for the—"

Something sailed through the air and smacked the loud-mouthed half demon in the face. Stunned and flabbergasted, he turned on the priestess, who at the moment could not help but laugh. "What the hell!"

Trying to regain what composure she had, Kagome found it difficult. Already, she was bent over laughing, that she couldn't catch her breath. Usually, she wasn't the type to laugh during inappropriate situations, but the look on her friend's face was priceless.

"Damn it! Who did that?" he looked toward Sango and Miroku, who were staring questionable at him and Kagome. Inuyasha knew better than to turn the blame on his friends, seeing as how they were more mature than that, so he turned his gaze straight ahead, staring at the strange wooden creature watching them. He had reasons to believe that 'it' was the cause.

Recovering from laughing so hard, Kagome was just about to inform Inuyasha, but she cried in pain. "Ah!"

With his anger diminished, Inuyasha stared worriedly at the girl next to him, taking notice of her pained expression. "What happened?"

Kagome rubbed at her butt. "Something smacked my butt!"

With renewed anger, golden eyes fell upon a certain monk, who could do nothing but hold his hands up. Inuyasha saw the mixed expressions cross Miroku's countenance, and they were fear and surprise. "Miroku you lecherous monk—"

Fearful, Miroku stepped back as Inuyasha advanced on him with every intention that he was going to hurt him. But Miroku was innocent, but it appeared as if no one believed him. Had no one been watching him? "It wasn't me! I swear! My hands were here the entire time!" As if it were proof enough, he held his hands up, but it wasn't enough to convince the half demon.

"You expect us to believe that!" he spat, fisting his hands.

Shaking his head, he moved his hands back and forth. "No, honestly! Sango," he turned his pitiful eyes upon the beautiful woman next to him. "You believe me, right?"

"I don't know what to believe anymore, Miroku!" she turned her head away, her arms crossed with defiance. Leave it to Miroku to start his perverse actions again. An invisible flame encircled her form, and only Miroku could see it.

"I'm a monk in service of Buddha! I would never disgrace myself—"

"Don't give me that shit! Apologize to Kagome!"

Shippo yelped, cringing as he rubbed at his head. Something had hit him also, and he knew it wasn't Inuyasha because his attention remained focused on Miroku. He knew the answer to the sudden attacks. "I think I know what's hitting us," he said in a rushed voice, and it was enough for everyone to hear.

Off the hook for now, Miroku regained his composure. He noticed Shippo was latched onto Kagome's leg, quivering with fear. "What?"

"Them!" The child pointed.

Their eyes fell on not just one, but several small live plants, similar to the one before, however only their leaves were different; they were brown. Inuyasha and his friends failed to notice that they were surrounded. Since it appeared as if it was a fight these wooden creatures wanted, everyone stood ready. Shaking their bodies out of pure hate, the creatures leaned back, ready to make the first move.

The air grew cold.