Against his cheek, Link felt a soft caress, and although he felt near the edges of awakening, he opened his eyes tiredly. Surrounding him were lush green plains which stretched on for miles, and he found himself seated against a lone tree in a familiar field. Immediately, the young warrior realized this was not reality, but merely a dream he dreamt before; it was only a distant memory which he slowly started to withdraw from, at least he thought so. The sun shone high in the sky, blazing upon him, yet the wind felt cold.

With a shiver, he glanced down, and his blue eyes fell onto his bare legs and scuffed boots. Adorned in only his long green tunic, which was tied by a common russet belt around his middle, Link recognized that he was no longer a teenager, but rather a child again, though not with the mind of innocence. Beside him lay his item bag, filled with weapons he'd once collected on his travels. Untying the string, he pulled out a small object made from one of the richest minerals; it was the Kokiri Emerald.

A sad memory surfaced within his thoughts, and with narrowed his eyes he stuffed it back within his carrier. 'I wonder…even in death, are you still angry?' A vision of a small boy garbed in traditional Kokiri clothing appeared in his mind, sticking his tongue out at him ignorantly with a foul smirk on his lips.

"Link!" A loud melodic voice called out to him, and it was enough to snap him away from his thoughts.

Link's eyes widened with disbelief. Fluttering before him was a familiar fairy with her shimmering blue light. "Navi?" Was it really her? Even if it was a dream, it was still her, real or not.

"What are you doing? We've got to go."

Regaining his balance, Link found that he could not take his eyes away from his old companion. "Is it really you?"

Navi remained silent but then circled him. "Did that knock to the head in Jabu Jabu's belly injure your brain?" she asked worriedly. "Well, anyway, we don't have all day to sit around. Princess Zelda is waiting for us. So let's go."

Link snapped away from his reverie and pondered over her words. Zelda…The Princess of Hyrule…A sigh escaped him. Not again. Why was it always the same? For once in his life, he just wanted a normal dream. Every dream was different, yet in ways very similar to his own experiences; what bothered him was that in his dreams, he never reached the Temple of Time…for reasons unknown to him…

A chilling wind blew, and the clouds above him darkened ominously. Thunder echoed in the distance and small droplets of rain fell from the heavens above. If he wanted to wake up, then he had to press forward toward the towering walls ahead of him.

Navi sought cover inside his hat. "Better hurry before the sun goes down!" She warned.

Two flames piercing through the darkness guided him forward, along a familiar grassy path. A force unseen pulled him on to the destruction ahead, where the flames drew high into the sky, and the screams and wails beyond that closed gate tormented him. He wanted to turn around and run, but his legs would not obey him. He wasn't in control of this dream; he never was.

With the sun hidden by the raging storm, Link stood before the massive walls of the Castle Market. Before him, the entry was blocked but not for long. Soon it would fall heavily and from its entry, a horse would gallop passed. Dreadfully, he clenched his hands, and he felt his heart skip a beat, expecting it all to happen soon.

The chains which kept the small town just over the moat enclosed suddenly rattled and all at once the bridge collapsed loudly in front of him. Smoke suddenly filled his senses and it was then that out of the inferno a white stallion rode by, and the person seated upon the stead regarded him frightfully; the moment they vanished from view, the scene around him blurred.

OOO

Fearfully, young Shippo's body trembled at the terrifying sight in front of him. While a tall figure, cloaked in the night stood towering over him, he did not move, but rather stood before his mother protectively. How badly he wanted to hide, but he knew he couldn't. For his sake, as well as everyone else, he wouldn't abandon them.

"W-w-who…are y-you?" He questioned, but as much as he wanted to sound brave, he stuttered over his words.

Scarlet eyes never left his person, and as they scanned him from top to bottom, this person couldn't help but chuckle masculine like. With a smirk, he raised his hand to his face which surprisingly was covered by a plain … mask.

It was in that instant that Shippo gasped. "You…you're the one…w-who…"

Delighted by the recognition, he removed from his sleeve a simple pink orb that glistened in the moonlight. Instantly, he turned his back to the child and disappeared through the blackness of the forest; it was as if he were taunting Shippo to follow after.

Frightened, Shippo didn't know what else to do but wake his companions. That man, Sakon, had the Shikon Jewel! And he decided to show his face so soon too! With a push and a shove upon the half demon's arm and leg, the child sighed. There was no way Inuyasha was waking up so easily. "Come on, get up!"

In his sleep, Inuyasha turned over and grumbled about stupid runts and ramen.

Even Miroku, too busy dreaming of women, also refused to wake up, nor was Sango willing to pull away from the comfort of Kirara who cushioned her and Miroku under one of the trees near the burnt out fire. Kagome was dreaming of her home world, so that only left Shippo to turn to the one person in his group that would no doubt wake at such a time.

While the young warrior slept silently against the opposite side of the camp against a tree, he was not aware of the fox child running towards him or for that matter, tugging on his tunic and grabbing his arm.

Shippo shook his friend's shoulders, but if proved useless. "Link…Link…wake up…"

Link turned over, but he did not stir. His eyebrows scrunched together and sweat fell from his brow. A few times, he muttered a single name while he slept, a name which puzzled the kit. "…Zelda…"

Shippo gave up and turned his eyes in the direction in which Sakon had taken. None of his companions had woken when that 'man' appeared, and right now he had two options; he could either go back to sleep and tell everyone in the morning, or he could chase after and hopefully get the Jewel back. Obviously the first one sounded more appealing.

"What do I do?" He questioned himself. Should he chase after and attempt to retrieve it? Or should he try to wake the others again? He didn't know what to do…Besides, he was just a kid. No…he was a demon…but he was also a member of the Bombers…he was a demon…a kid…

Gulping, Shippo made his decision. With one last glance at his friends, he stepped foot into the darkness. He had to do this, if only for Kagome; he would avenge her!

OOO

Link found that his eyes could not look away from the burning structure a distance away; it was the castle which once stood majestically but now was swept up in a horrendous fire. After seven long years had passed, he learned that the king had been murdered; that was when the daughter of the Royal Family went missing for some time, along with her guardian, Impa. Afterward, evil reined for seven long years.

A shiver crept down his spine at the sound of a high pitched scream. Turning his head back to the destruction around him, he watched helplessly as innocent people fled for their lives. In the process of fleeing from beasts and thieves, many were not so fortunate. Bodies lay scattered around the town square, slaughtered and lifeless. Even palace soldiers, whose duty it was to protect the civilians, including the royal bloodline were strewn lifelessly around the square, while others still fought.

Clenching his teeth, the young warrior couldn't do anything to stop it. Although it was only a dream of his past, he found that the visions before him seemed quite realistic and terrifying.

The buildings fell and the fire blazed. Eventually a silence crept around the demolished town. So intense were the flames that it seemed impossible to escape from the inferno. Angrily, he searched around what was left of the market. Any second he'd wake up…but he was still there…in his dream…why? Normally his wouldn't last too long, and by this point he would surely have woken out of fear and anger. This was not the case.

OOO

A howl in the distance startled the child as he sped in the night after the culprit. So far, he knew he was lost. He'd been running for a while now, and so far, he couldn't seem to pin point exactly which path Sakon had run off in. Shippo knew the consequence of his actions, but he had to do something; besides, he didn't think he was pulling his weight in the group.

A branch scratched his face and arms as he darted through the thicket of trees. The trail ahead of him proved difficult and muddy. He knew he was probably an interesting sight to see, but that didn't matter.

Mid-run he stopped and his emerald eyes searched his surroundings. Which way had he run off in? Surely the thief hadn't gone very far. Squinting through the brush, Shippo ventured forward, but immediately after taking that step, he tripped and fell into the thick mud which now coated his lower torso and chin. He picked himself up and grimaced. It was too dark to see anything.

"Over here…over here…"

Frightened, Shippo jumped and looked around. A child's voice had called out suddenly, but he didn't know where. "Huh? W-w-who's there?"

"I'm over here…here I am…over here…" The childish voice replied with much enthusiasm, though the owner of this voice could not be seen easily.

"Huh?" Shippo canted his head and curiously turned around. The voice didn't seem ominous. "Where are you?" A gentle tap upon his shoulder was enough to send the adrenalin flooding through his veins. With a start, Shippo fell back on his rump and stared at the person responsible. "W-who are you?"

A laugh greeted his small ears. "See, I was right here."Her small lips curved into a grin. The person who stood in front of Shippo was a small girl who appeared to be around 6 years of age. While her form seemed small, she was cast in a white glow and her body seemed strangely transparent. Although the white glow dimmed her facial and hair color, as well as her clothes, he was able to ascertain some color at least. Long curled wavy brunette locks fell lightly over her shoulders and along her back gently. Her eyes were mysteriously a light blue, and the small dress she wore, though it only reached her ankles, was white with blue ribbons to accentuate the cute style.

Picking himself off the ground, he couldn't help but frown. "What are you?"

"Me?"She questioned curiously. "Why, I'm a girl, silly."She giggled at his expression.

Accepting this, he pondered why she was in the forest so far from town. "Why are you out here? It's dangerous."

She didn't answer right away, but instead, she spun around in circles with her same jovial expression. "I was looking for something…"Ending her spin, she moved closer to the kit in front of her and smiled. "What's your name? Mine's Charlene."

Unsure of how to take this, Shippo scratched the back of his head. Wasn't this girl afraid? Why was she wondering around the woods at this time of night, and where were her parents? "Uh…my name is Shippo…"

"Are you a raccoon dog?"She asked as she touched his tail with child wonderment.

Pulling his tail out of reach, he turned away and frowned. "I'm a fox." Seriously, why did people seem to confuse him with raccoon dogs? Obviously he was a fox; the tail was proof of it.

Charlene giggled. "I like you!"

Surprised, Shippo couldn't help but blush. Although this little girl seemed ghostly in appearance, he couldn't help but not find her frightening. She didn't seem dangerous at all.

Musing, Charlene suddenly circled the boy, smiling from ear to ear. "Shippo…could you help me find what I lost?" She stopped and stood before him, staring at him expectantly.

"Huh? What did you lose?" He asked.

"My doll,"she explained."I know it's around here somewhere…but I can't find it. Will you help me search for it?"She asked hopefully.

Realization brought the kit out of his ponderings and he stepped away from the mysterious girl. "Sorry, but I'm kind of busy. I don't have time," He explained. "You should go home." As he turned away from her, ready to continue in his search for the thief, he did not notice the frown grace her face.

"I can't…"

Blinking, he turned and saw the saddened expression cross her features. "Huh? Why not?"

"I'm lost…I can't remember which way my home is in…"She confessed. Suddenly, her frown changed into a smile. "Won't you help me find my doll?"

Shippo remained uncertain. A defenseless little girl was lost in the woods, but she cared more about finding her doll than returning back to her family. Then again, he didn't have time to waste on such a trivial matter; he needed to chase after Sakon, for the sake of his friends, for Kagome.

Noticing his hesitation, the child giggled. "If you help me find my doll, I'll help you find that person you were chasing."

His mouth fell open. "You saw him? Which way did he go?"

Charlene placed a finger to her mouth thoughtfully. "Hm…not far. That person sometimes comes here…In a way, we're almost alike,"She laughed to herself.

What? How could that 'thief' and this little girl be somewhat similar? They were total opposites. He was a criminal who kidnapped and stole for his own sick pleasure, while Charlene was merely a child, full of innocence and joy. Shippo couldn't see it. So, if what she said was honest, then if he helped her find her doll, then she would lead him straight for him? "Ok. I'll help you."

She clasped her hands together and smiled her brightest smile. "Thank you!"

OOO

There was nothing left. The town had vanished along with the fire, and all that surrounded him was an eerie blackness. Alone and cold, Link stood there, seemingly out of sorts in such a chilling void, filled with a puzzling silence that left him feeling somewhat tensed and alert. The air, thick with tension, suffocated him, as if some unseen force were choking the breath from him.

"Oh how the mighty have fallen…wouldn't you agree?"

Questionably, Link searched around. "Who's there?" When a reply failed to call back, he reached for his blade strapped to his side. His hand rested over the handle. "Show yourself."

"My, aren't we prudent…Just what is it that makes a hero?"

Link narrowed his eyes. What made a hero? Just what was this? "What do you want? Are you responsible for those visions?"

"Me?"For a moment, there was silence, until the voice spoke once again. "What is it that makes a dream? Is the person themself responsible…or is it someone else?"

What? Now this was unexpected. He had expected a yes or no, but instead he was questioned with his own question, which left him feeling somewhat perturbed and ignored. "Who are you?"

A laugh resonated around him. Suddenly, a giant eye ball appeared seemingly unattached to the darkness. Its green irises watched him. "Who I am, isn't important, it's me who should be asking the questions, is it not?"

Since when did his dreams question him? He removed his hand from his blade, though his awareness did not die down. "When one intrudes upon another's sleep, then it is that person's right to ask questions. Now explain. What do you want of me?"

"Were you always this critical? What happened to the little boy that wanted to see it all?"

"What?"

"Hmm? Have you forgotten? It wasn't that long ago that you had big dreams. Care to remember?"

"Excuse me?" Before a protest could reach his lips, he suddenly found himself standing in a familiar place, where the wind caressed the long blades of grass in the pasture where the horses grazed. Where the full moon lingered above the small settlement, upon which both he and she stood leaning against the fence, their faces upturned and their minds wandering of their hopeful futures which awaited them.

Beside him, with her reddened locks cascaded below her back in gentle waves, and her blue eyes which stared earnestly and adoringly at me, she couldn't help but lean towards him. "What's your dream, fairy boy?"

"My dream?" He asked. Nodding, he allowed his eyes to linger to the moon above. "I've always wanted to see the world…to meet new people…"

Thoughtfully, she placed her elbows upon the fence and laid her head into her hand lazily, though her eyes never left him. "Really?" She smiled to herself. "I guess it wouldn't be so bad to see new things…"

"What is your dream, Malon?"

The question surprised the child, but she couldn't help but blush to herself. "Promise you won't laugh?"

Despite that, he merely nodded, and this gave her the courage to reveal her innermost dreams, even if she had only just met him. He seemed sincere in his words, especially when he kept his promises of visiting the ranch every so often.

"Well…my dream is that one day, my prince on a white horse will carry me away some place far…" A blush darkened her face slightly, and Link couldn't help but chuckle.

"Hey! You promised not to laugh!"

Annoyed, Link glared at the vision. "So you say you cannot control dreams…yet you show me this?" As the vision blurred before him, Link's eyes settled on a small fragment of light hovering above him. There was something morbid about the object.

"It was not I that showed you, but merely yourself. You remembered your past and therefore you witnessed it…why place the blame on me?"

"Because you have intruded upon my dreams more than once…" Before he could continue on, he was interrupted.

"Oh? If your dreams bother you so much, then why not stop dreaming?"

"What?"

"But then again…if you stopped…you would in no time forget those you loved…pity…yet you seem better now that you made some new friends, isn't that right?"

Hesitant, Link did not answer back.

"Oh what's this? Surely I'm not mistaken…you're quite drawn to those foreigners, aren't you? Why not admit it? The world's not going to end so soon…"

"Be silent…"

"You deny what's most important to you…if only to forget…in order for your heart to heal…shame…The only one you're hurting is yourself."

"I told you enough!"

"I think you're lying. You actually like those people…especially her…"

"What do you care? Why are you prying into my personal life? Who are you?"

"Hmm…but she wasn't the only one...was she? How long do you think she waited for your return? You said you would come back…and when she and her people needed you the most…where were you?"

Link stepped back, and his eyes widened. What? What was this voice saying? A sudden chill swept through him and he suddenly felt a presence behind him. Immediately, he reached for his sword and turned toward his offender, but as soon as he did, he ceased movement and his mouth fell open with surprise.

A familiar girl, adorned in a richly fashion, stood before him solemnly. Her blonde hair curled about her face nicely, yet her eyes betrayed sadness. "Have you forgotten me?"

"No…never…" He wanted to reach out for her, but he didn't. He knew she wasn't real. Could that intruder have created another vision?

"I waited…but…you never came back…"

Link clenched his hands. How could he return? He was trapped after he saved Termina…if he'd known what would befall the land beforehand, then he could have returned to warn them…but he couldn't.

Noticing his shaken form, the young girl stepped back and smiled weakly. "I guess this is goodbye…"

Glancing up, Link quickly reached out for her hand, fearful that she too would disappear back into his dreams, but he could not touch her. "Wait…"

Green eyes stared with interest upon the boy and the illusion of his first love. "Aren't you forgetting someone?"

Link halted before the girl and hesitated. What was he doing? She wasn't real…why was he so worked up? Only moments, he claimed that what he saw were merely illusions created by the intruder, yet, he couldn't help but want to grab onto the dream.

A feminine scream drifted to into his ears and he quickly turned around only to spot a massive fire around him yet again. Only this time, familiar faces fought in the flames.

"What the hell are you doing?!" Questioned a loud mouthed half demon. He glared at Link and turned his attention back to the creature in front of him. "Don't just stand there gawking!"

Awkwardly, Link fully faced the morbid situation before him. He found that the monk and the slayer were battling against strange oddities in the darkness, and the small fox kit struggling to perform his abilities beside him.

His eyes looked straight ahead, and he immediately found the source of the scream. Angered, he found a certain priestess constricted by a strange giant viper ready to sink its poisonous fangs into her and her companions.

Yet, no matter if the event seemed real or not, Link could not force himself to move. He could neither turn around nor could he aid his companions, although he knew they were asleep just as he was. Then again, why make a move when it was not real?

"Interesting…you are torn between your past and your present…"

A sigh escaped the young maiden, and she turned her back once again to Link. "Goodbye…" She whispered dejectedly.

Turning around ever so slightly, he couldn't help but watch as she ambled away from him and into the darkness where her form eventually vanished from sight. Yet, he couldn't help but hear the echo of her last words.

"This is…forever…"

A silence followed after, and it was within that silence that Link struggled. Why had he been so tempted to reach out for her…even though he knew she was not real? Did he still miss her? But then again, looking back, Kagome was also in danger…and he wanted to run to her side and defend her…but he couldn't…he couldn't make the decision…but it wasn't real…This was only a dream, not reality.

After calmly observing the situation, the eye, which still hovered above him, disappeared along with the flames and the faces of those that were important to the youth. "I think I understand now…interesting…"

With his heart drumming loudly in his ears, Link wakened in the dark of night and ran his hands through his golden locks. Sweat fell from his brow and he inwardly grimaced as his thoughts lingered previously to his dream. He wondered if he might have woken any of his companions during his restless sleep, but to his relief, no one had; each person slumbered quietly. He inclined back, and while his eyes strayed from person to person, he couldn't help but notice that someone in their group was missing. Sitting up, he searched around the small camp, but there was no sign of Shippo. Where had he disappeared to?

OOO

Observing the fog which slowly crept up his legs, Shippo couldn't help but shiver. Several times in search of the missing doll, he thought he heard something in the bushes or someone walking behind him, but there was no one there. Charlene didn't seem the least big alarmed as she led the way, calmly looking around with curious eyes.

He was sure that he'd been walking for almost half an hour, but it didn't seem as if they had made any progress. Briefly, he pondered if the child knew where she was going. "Hey…how long have you been out here searching?"

Glancing over her shoulder in mid-walk, she glanced at the boy before looking ahead once again. "I can't remember…"

"Oh…" After he agreed to help her, she'd been strangely quiet. There was something mysterious about the little girl who walked in her bare feet. What was her story? "Um…Charlene—" Before he could continue, she spoke up.

"My daddy used to take me on walks in the forest…"

"He did?"

"Yeah…but…he can't anymore…"

There was a hint of lament in her voice that bothered the boy, but that didn't stop him from asking… "Why?"

"Mommy told me that he went on a journey far away…but…I know that he's gone…"

"…you mean…"

"He's in Heaven…watching over me and mommy."

Lowering his head, Shippo's auburn bangs fell over his eyes. Charlene and himself were the same. Of course he knew he wasn't the only orphan in the world, but still, to hear it said without so much as a hesitation surprised him. "I'm sorry…I lost my dad too…"

Curious, Charlene stopped and turned around. Her eyes sadly looked upon the boy's face. "Really?" She asked. "What about your mommy?"

This was a topic Shippo never normally revealed to anyone, not even his friends as it was never asked. "I never knew my mom…my father told me she died when I was just a baby."

Charlene frowned. "Then…you have siblings?"

He shook his head from side to side. "I was an orphan…"

She placed a hand to her chest and frowned at Shippo. So, someone else had lost their father…but much worse, he lost his mother too and he was an only child. With forlorn, she couldn't do anything but stare at the youth and then to her own feet. "So…you're alone just like me?"

Hearing this, Shippo once again shook his head. "No…my friends take care of me now. So, I'm not alone anymore." That was true. Was he still technically an orphan? Kagome, who had defended him in the beginning, took care of him as if he were her own. She nurtured him and loved him, and even though she went away, it was never for long; she always returned with treats and her undying affection for him, but also toward her companions. Inuyasha wasn't really a father figure, considering his crude remarks and selfishness, but he was also responsible while his mother was away. In a way, he was sort of like a brother…

Ever so quiet, Charlene turned her back to the boy and clenched her fists tightly before releasing them, though it went unnoticed to the fox child who had been caught up in his ponderings. With a frown, she stepped forward again and resumed searching for her missing doll.

Snapping from his thoughts, he noticed her figure retreat deeper into the forest, and he hurried after her. "Hey, wait up!"

After a few minutes of awkward silence, Shippo suddenly noticed something sticking out from one of the scrubs to his right. With narrowed eyes, stopped and looked closely. He saw what appeared to be a small appendage and soft material of that of a dress, dirtied with mud, lying upon the forest floor, and he immediately halted. He was about to step forward and see what it was…or who it was that was lying in the cold soil, half hidden by the bushes, but before he could, Charlene's voice stopped him.

"I found her!"Charlene cried with relief, but soon a pout formed upon her lips.

Blinking, Shippo took his eyes away from his sudden distraction and followed the little girl's gaze. The object of her attention was a small doll, though dirtied as it was, hung limply by a branch out of their reach in a tree. "How'd it get up there?" How it got up there, he didn't know, but he decided to fetch it for her. "Transform!"

Charlene gasped at the sight of his transformed state, but smiled ever so brightly when he managed to reach her doll and land firmly on his feet. "You did it!" She grasped it from his outstretched hand and held it tightly against her chest.

In his normal state, Shippo smiled a small smile. "Okay, I really have to get going…"

Returning her attention back to him, Charlene frowned. "Already?" She didn't want him to leave, at least, not yet…

OOO

Ten minutes went by but Shippo did not return to camp. Bemused, he had only thought the child had gone to relieve himself, but that seemed unlikely. Shippo wasn't the type to just venture off into the forest on such an eerie night as this.

Turning to glance at his sleeping companions, Link stepped into the forest, following the small footprints in the soil. While any other person might have overlooked the small imprints in the ground, Link was not one of them. His eyes as well as his ears were keen. Tracking was in his blood.

Several minutes went by, and as he ambled past the thick trees and over many shrubberies and upturned roots, Link stopped. His reasoning was not because Shippo's footprints had ended, but because of something else, something that bothered him and it was because of this, that he quickened his pace.

OOO

"You're leaving? So soon?" Charlene cried disappointedly.

Awkwardly, Shippo nodded. "I have to. Can you show me where that man went? I'm in a hurry."

Charlene blinked. "He's not very far…just up ahead," she pointed behind her.

Ecstatic, yet also a bit frightened, Shippo scurried past her, but he stopped on account of her next reply.

"He's not what you think…Shippo."

Baffled, he turned around and looked upon the little girl, who stood with her eyes downcast. "What do you mean?"

"That person you were chasing…is not who it seems..." She looked up pleadingly towards the child. It was as if she didn't want him to chase after the individual.

"If you mean that he's a thief, then I already know," He explained. Charlene's change in attitude bothered him. Why did she seem worried and fearful?

Charlene frowned. "Thief? What person are you speaking of?"

Surprised by her question, Shippo couldn't help but stare questionably at the little girl. Was she not referring to the thief, Sakon? What person was she speaking of? Something didn't seem right. 'I don't get it…'

A frightened look formed upon Charlene's face suddenly, that it took Shippo by surprise. Slowly, she backed away, her eyes scrutinizing the person stepping towards them seemingly out of nowhere. Fearful, she dropped her doll and ran from Shippo deep into the forest.

Shippo picked up the doll and started after the retreating girl whose form faded from sight. "Wait! You forgot your doll!" He shouted, but she did not stop nor did she seem to hear him.

"Stop," A boyish voice said from behind him, and it was enough to startle the kit.

Shippo jumped and turned around with a gasp. "Link!" Looking back in the direction Charlene had run off to, he couldn't help but wonder why she suddenly fled. Did Link scare her? "I wonder why she ran away…" He was tempted to chase after her and explain that it was okay and return her doll, but Link's hand on his shoulder stopped him.

"Let's return to camp, Shippo."

The fox child looked to Link and back behind him. "But…but we have to…"

Link shook his head. He had seen the little girl run away at the sight of him, and of course he couldn't blame the child. Of course he didn't want to tell Shippo the truth. For now, it was best to head back before morning, and he knew that Shippo would need his rest. "Let's go back," he said, and with that, Shippo jumped upon the young warrior's shoulders, still grasping the doll in his hand.