A/N: Hi there, and welcome back. :) Well, here you have one of those oh-so-necessary 'filler chapters'. I thought to take you to the village in the mountains by this installment. But, once I hit the eighth typed page (dialogue really consumes space, doesn't it?), I decided it was time for a chapter break -- in spite of my own impatience to get to the next bit involving Sesshoumaru (who, despite his rather sparse appearances so far, is a key player in this story). Happy reading.

Mar. 7/10: Minor edits made to clarify that this chapter and Chapter Ten take place over the course of the same day as that depicted in Chapter Eight.

Disclaimer: The characters of the anime InuYasha are the property of Takahashi Rumiko/Shogakukan and Yomiuri TV Sunrise 2000. I do lay claim, however, to Aine and Lon. And, Kakusamaru.


Chapter Nine: New Travelling Companions

Sesshoumaru would soon discover that his musings about Dé Danann healing spells would prove to be prophetic, and that the source of that same magic had been journeying in the same direction only a few hours ahead of him.

Much earlier that same day, shortly after sunrise – while the dog demon and his small entourage were still travelling through the dense woodland to the east – at the camp site deep within the foothills, Aine was examining her patient's arm one last time.

The healer nodded with satisfaction as she reached for fresh wrappings. It had taken only a light touch for her to sense that the wounds were now free of corruption.

'Now then, remember,' she said, 'the more you rest that arm, the quicker it will heal.' Her tone was gentle, but firm, leaving no doubt that she expected her instructions to be followed.

'Yes, Lady,' Kenji replied quickly.

The farmer felt almost lighthearted as he watched the foreign woman bandage his arm again. In fact, as the lady jokingly cautioned him to 'be careful with her fine stitchery, so', he found himself grinning in response. The day before, he reflected, he had truly feared that he might lose this limb; however, on this warm, summer morning, he had awoken to discover that much of the swelling and pain in his arm had subsided. The wound still ached, but it was bearable now. This, and the knowledge that his family would soon be safely out of the foothills, gave Kenji some hope that maybe, just maybe, his luck had finally turned for the better.

'There,' said Aine, as she neatly tucked the end of the bandage under itself. 'It's ready for the road you are.'

'We're all set to leave, then?' asked Miroku. The monk smiled as he approached the farmer and the Dé Danann healer – he was relieved to see that the older man's face was no longer grey with pallor. Now, he thought, once we get these people down to a village on the main road, they should be fine.

'Yes,' answered Kenji. He thanked the foreign healer one last time, then called to his two middle children. 'Come on, you two – you're coming with me and Master Miroku.'

Aine smiled as she watched the two children jog over to their father; when she saw that each carried a couple of newly-caught fish along with their small packs of belongings, she silently blessed Lon for his consideration. The púca had left the camp before dawn and had just returned with yet another haul of fish, much to the mortal children's delight.

The healer's gaze turned to her old friend – she watched as he passed the youngest child to Jiro, who was seated behind Midori and Sango on Kirara's back. Jiro's posture suggested that he was still a bit nervous about his unusual mount; however, Aine could see that the youth was putting on a brave front for his little sister; he grinned as he bent forward to murmur something to the child, causing her to giggled in response. The youngest member of the family was obviously very enthusiastic about riding the firecat.

Then, Aine suppressed a chuckle at the sight of Lon presenting yet another string of fish to Midori. Danú, a bhodach, she thought, were you after emptying the stream? She could hear him quickly brushing the woman's thanks aside, saying that he had simply caught more than he needed. He then added, all the while pulling a serious face, that, indeed, Midori would be doing him a great favour by seeing that the catch didn't go to waste.

Ach, my blackbird... you do have your moments, Aine thought fondly. Hearing a step behind her, she turned to see Kagome. The girl was already wearing her knapsack and her quiver and bow were slung over her shoulder. 'I see you're ready for the road, yourself,' Aine observed.

'Yes,' smiled Kagome. 'InuYasha will want to leave as soon as Miroku and Sango have Kenji's family on their way. You know,' she added, as she nodded toward Kirara and her passengers, 'yesterday morning, flying wasn't even an option. Poor Kenji and Jiro were so terrified after being chased, and then seeing demons fighting... Sango knew they'd never have ridden on Kirara, then.'

'Ah. Well, she was right, no doubt,' commented Aine. ''Tis well that the cat earned their trust. They should make good time – as I remember, Kirara is swift, indeed.' Although, she reflected to herself, when Eadoin and I rode upon the firecat, the need was so dire... there wasn't time to think about being so far above the earth. She was reminded then of the only other time she had flown, when she had noticed just how distant the ground below had been. Despite her belief in Sesshoumaru's assertion that he would not have permitted her to fall, clinging to the dog demon's broad shoulders had felt considerably less stable than being seated upon Kirara's sturdy back and the Dé Danann woman had been profoundly grateful to set foot upon the earth again. As far as Aine was concerned, the mortals were to be admired for daring such an unfamiliar mode of travel.

It had been Miroku and Sango who had come up with the idea that they, with Kirara, could see Kenji's family out of the hills, then rejoin their companions en route to the valley that held the Lake of Tears. Even though no further signs of serpent demons had been detected in the immediate vicinity, the idea of the displaced family being left on their own so far from human habitation, especially when both parents were injured, had not borne consideration. The plan had met with their friends' approval, especially that of InuYasha who was impatient to proceed into the mountains and had not be pleased at the thought of further detours.

Of course, the mortals had taken some persuading when the notion of actually flying was presented to them. Then, surprisingly enough, Midori had settled the matter. On hearing Sango's claim that the entire family could be transported to the nearest lowland village in two trips before noon, the shy-seeming woman had declared herself willing to travel by any means if it meant that her family would reach a safe haven that day. Hearing this, Kenji had given his wife one brief, startled look and had then nodded in agreement.

A shout from Sango interrupted the healer's reflections. 'All right, everyone – we're off!' called the demon-slayer. 'Miroku! We're going to keep low and follow the road going down, but Kirara and I will be coming cross-country when we return for the others.'

'Right,' answered the monk cheerfully. 'I'll be watching for you.'

Kagome ran forward to wave and call out words of encouragement to Kirara's passengers as the firecat rose into the sky. She smiled to see the youngest child grinning merrily. The little girl reminded her of her younger brother Sota when he had experienced the thrill of an amusement park ride for the first time.

Meanwhile, Miroku was ushering the remaining family members down the mountain road, saying they could shorten the distance Kirara would have to fly later by walking part of the way. It was a reasoning with which Kenji wholeheartedly proclaimed his agreement. Then, amid further cries of farewell and thanks, they departed.

Aine turned and walked toward Lon who was busying himself ensuring that the campfires were well and truly extinguished. 'You're a good man, my blackbird,' she murmured with a soft smile.

Lon raised one eyebrow and shrugged. 'Sure, and are you talking about those few fish? Ach, lass, save your praise for when I do something that needs an effort...' Anything more he might have said was interrupted by a high-pitched, angry cry. Sharing a startled glance, both Dé Dananns looked toward the source.


'That's not fair, InuYasha!'

The little fox demon crossed his arms as he glared at an equally angry-looking InuYasha.

'Shippo... I just don't want to waste any more time!'retorted the half-demon, his voice a low growl and impatience evident in every line of his body. He had caught the stubborn undertone of Shippo's voice. 'There may be signs of those snake demons near that lake – it's the first good lead we've had on them since yesterday.' And, he thought, that trail definitely stank of Naraku. If the snake yokai originally came from near that so-called 'haunted lake'... then we might just get a lead on that bastard, too. As far as InuYasha was concerned, the sooner they arrived in the valley of the Mizumimoto clan and began their search, the better.

'But, Lady Aine wants to go to the village, too. Why can't we all travel together?' retorted Shippo.

InuYasha sighed. The fox child, he realised, was not going to back down easily. 'They'll just catch up later, Shippo. What's the big deal?'

'The big deal', to Shippo, was that InuYasha wished to travel at a run, his goal being to reach the distant village by nightfall. The fox demon had quickly concluded that, with Kirara out of the equation, his foreign friends would not be able to keep up with them. Not only would he be deprived of Lady Aine's company (and petting), but that of Lon as well. And, now that the mortals were gone, Shippo had been looking forward to hearing more 'púca stories' like those Eadoin had told. He threw a desperate look at Kagome, who had joined them.

The girl sighed, knowing InuYasha wasn't going to like what she had to say. She, too, was not eager to leave the Dé Dananns behind. Kagome enjoyed Aine's company, and she was intensely curious about why the healer had returned to Japan; she had been hoping they could have a good 'chat' while travelling together, as they had done in the past. There were so many things we couldn't talk about in front of Kenji's family... she thought.

'Wouldn't it be safer for everyone if we didn't split up, InuYasha?' Kagome now asked, thinking to use Naraku's possible proximity as a negotiating point. However, as she had expected, the half-demon only frowned irritably at her. Kagome could feel her own temper rising in response. 'I understand why you want to hurry, but...'

'What's all this about "catching up", then?'

This question had come from Lon. He and Aine now stood behind Shippo, their own packs on their shoulders. The fox demon whirled about to face them, his small face flushing with anger and embarrassment as he rapidly explained.

'InuYasha's in a hurry to get to that valley and Kirara's gone so I could carry you both for a little while but I can only fly for so long and...!'

'Whist, little warrior,' interrupted Lon, his eyes widening slightly at the sight of the worked-up kitsune. 'Be at peace – you're forgetting to breathe.'

The púca got down on his hunkers to be at Shippo's eye level. He had already realised the young fox demon had developed a case of 'hero worship' toward him and, in truth, he was more than a little flattered by it. 'Now then, my lad,' he said with a wink. 'You don't have to worry about us. Aine and I have our own way of travelling, and I suspect we'll be well able to keep up with your comrade here. Remember, little friend... you and I are not so different.'

Aine smiled down at Shippo and then at Kagome and InuYasha, who had halted their own argument to listen to the púca. 'Aye,' she said then, with a light laugh, 'Lon will carry me. He's a kind fellow, you see – ever ready to provide transport to those who need it.'

The Dé Danann shape-shifter suddenly ducked his head and coughed; he then sent Aine an admiring glance for managing to catch him off-guard. Well said, he thought, as he swallowed another laugh. Indeed I am... though most have regretted the experience, so. Then, he grinned and addressed InuYasha. 'Aye. Never fear, puppy... I've been called many things that were less than flattering in my time... but, "slow" was never one of them.'

'What did you call me...?' asked InuYasha in a low growl. However, the slim, dark-haired 'youth' gave no indication that he had heard him. Instead, he quickly turned and stepped away from the group. Londubh's face took on a rapt expression as, following a brief stretch and a crack of his spine, he began to change shape.

Only Aine saw the fleeting glow of his Dé Danann aura, although the others, including Kagome, felt the faint surge of magical power that surrounded the púca. Used to Shippo's instantaneous 'popping' from one shape to another, both InuYasha's and Kagome's eyes widened with surprise to see Lon's form expand and shift with rapid fluidity until a shiny, black horse stood before them.

No wonder they were travelling on foot, a slightly stunned Kagome observed to herself. Wow... he looks like a real horse, too, she then thought, recalling Shippo's past efforts (horses having never been the kitsune's forte). She glanced sideways at InuYasha but, when she caught his eye, the half-demon only shrugged and tucked hands into his sleeves, assuming an air of indifference.

Kagome sighed – she was at a loss as to why InuYasha was being more touchy than usual when it came to Lon, for she and the others had agreed that the new Dé Danann seemed a pleasant sort – a different personality from the bard, certainly, but friendly enough. Then, wondering what Shippo thought of Lon's transformation, the girl looked down at her little friend... only to see him already bounding over to the púca.

'That's... that's great!' the kitsune squeaked, still bouncing in one place. 'You're as good as my pa was! How long can you hold it?' he then asked eagerly.

Lon chuckled, the sound coming out much like a nicker. He lowered his head and gently butted Shippo with his muzzle, briefly lifting the laughing fox child off his feet. 'Oh, long enough, a mhadraín rua,' he replied. 'Long enough.' He then looked back at Aine who was draping their packs across his withers. 'Ready for another wee jaunt, mo chailín?' he asked.

'Always, a stór,' answered the woman, and she lightly sprang onto his glossy back.

The púca lifted his head, tossing back his long forelock as he did so. His blue eyes regarded InuYasha. 'So, lad,' he said, 'we can all be off, then. When we next stop, though, I'd like to be hearing more of these serpents that so interest you. There was something about them that you couldn't discuss in front of the mortals, wasn't there?'

InuYasha scowled, still smarting from the 'puppy' comment. Only Koga had ever called him that, and he silently vowed he wouldn't tolerate it from this Londubh any more than he would from the abrasive wolf demon. 'They're mine to deal with,' came his terse answer. 'You're better off staying out of it.'

Kagome winced at his rude tone. She believed that her friend's brusqueness was partially due to the fact that the hanyo simply did not want involve others with anything that might be connected to Naraku. Nevertheless, she hoped neither the púca, nor Aine, would take offense.

Lon stared briefly at InuYasha. Then, he nodded. 'Fair enough,' he said. 'You're welcome to them. But, you don't quite understand, lad... the snakes might be your concern, but Aine is mine. If there's a danger ahead, I want to be well informed of it.'

Once again, InuYasha had the sensation of having been thoroughly scrutinised. He shrugged his shoulders irritably. 'Yeah. Like you said – fair enough.' Then, the half-demon turned to the girl beside him. 'C'mon, Kagome... get on. We're going.'

As a somewhat relieved-looking Kagome took up her usual pickaback position, InuYasha called to the kitsune, 'You too, Shippo.' Giving Lon one last appreciative grin, the fox demon scurried over and settled himself on Kagome's shoulder.

Lon glanced up at the sky. ''Tis just as well we're starting off now,' he observed. 'We'll get a good distance behind us before it rains.'

Sniffing the air, InuYasha turned a disbelieving look on the Dé Danann. 'What the hell are you talking about? I don't smell any rain.'

'Really?' answered Lon, proving that a horse could manage a perplexed expression. 'Ah well, perhaps I'm mistaken...'

'Huh!' huffed the half-demon. Then, after glancing suspiciously from the cloudless, early morning sky to the púca again, he bounded up the road toward the mountains. Lon waited only a moment, than began to follow at a smooth canter.

'Well now,' he said to his passenger, speaking in their own language, 'I'm starting to get just a bit fed up with that pup.'

'Ach, a bhodach,' murmured Aine. 'He's young... and, he's a fine sort when you get to know him.' Lon, she knew, had shown incredible restraint in not baiting the hanyo more than he had, and she appreciated it.

The púca snorted. 'Aye, aye... so you've said. He's obviously decided I'm someone he needs to watch, though.' Then, Lon chuckled. 'Then again, perhaps he's not all that dense after all.'

Aine could only laugh in response. After a moment, she, too, looked up at the clear sky.

'You know, a stór,' she said teasingly. 'I never thought to hear one of the Púca Clan admit to being mistaken about the weather...'

Lon tossed his head and struck out with a hind leg, giving his passenger a light buck in the process. 'Don't be saucy. Didn't I say, "perhaps" I was mistaken?'

'Ah,' answered Aine. 'So, you mean...?'

'Oh, aye,' said the shape-shifter, in an utterly smug tone of voice. 'It won't be 'til well into the afternoon, but we're in for a proper soaking.'


By midday, the travellers were well into the mountains and the road had become much steeper. As well, some dark clouds had appeared on the western horizon. InuYasha glared at them. Their presence, and the fact that the air now held the sharp tang that only an impending thunderstorm could bring, had not improved his mood.

It was as they were about to cross an open space of meadow that they heard a familiar voice calling. Kagome looked up to see the firecat swooping toward them. 'Hey!' she called, waving. 'Miroku! Sango!'

As the firecat landed in front of them, InuYasha crouched down for Kagome to slip to the ground. 'Well, you guys made good time,' he said, as the monk and demon-slayer slid from the firecat's back. With a burst of smoke, Kirara suddenly shrank down to house cat size, then leapt purring into Sango's arms.

'Yes,' said Sango. 'The nearest village was much closer than we thought, and there was a party of monks there who were on their way to the town. They were very kind, and were willing to take our friends with them.'

'That's great.' Kagome smiled happily. 'I'm glad they're in good hands.'

Meanwhile, Aine and Lon had just emerged from the woodland into the meadow, and Miroku was watching them approach, a puzzled expression on his face – the monk knew he had not noticed any sign of mounts tethered near the camp in the foothills. 'Lady Aine has a horse?' he asked. His bafflement only increased when Kagome and Shippo both began to giggle.

InuYasha only smirked – the monk must have a lot on his mind, he thought, if he hadn't caught on. Of course, he had to admit to himself, the foreigner did make a convincing horse.

Except, the hanyo suddenly realised, for his scent. The púca's scent was definitely human.

Lon had slowed to a walk with the appearance of the firecat. He now ambled languidly toward the group, but said nothing. Snorting and blowing in a very equine manner, he stopped before them and lowered his head to nose at the meadow grasses, his tail swishing about his hindquarters. Realising his ploy, and not wanting to spoil his fun, Aine only smiled and cheerfully greeted Miroku and Sango as she dismounted. 'I supposed we're stopping for a bit of a rest?' she asked, slipping the packs from Lon's withers. 'Surely, you two must want to sit on solid ground for a bit?'

'Yes,' said Sango, also watching the horse with curiosity. However, unlike the monk, the demon-slayer was putting two and two together. Not many horses, she knew, would approach the firecat so casually. 'I bought some food in that village,' she went on to say. 'Some sweet dumplings for us all.'

The cheer with which Shippo greeted this comment brought a smile to the young woman's face. 'And,' Sango added, 'Kirara deserves a break. We met quite a headwind after I picked up Miroku – it looks like it's going to rain later, and I hope it eases this heat.' Then, she looked at InuYasha uncertainly, completely at a loss as to why he would huff so irately on hearing her comment about the weather.

'But, where is your friend, lady?' the young monk asked Aine. 'And where did this fine animal come from?' Then, his eyes widened as he, too, remembered the stories Eadoin had told them. He stared intently at the horse. 'This can't be...'

The púca raised his head and fixed his startlingly blue eyes on Miroku. 'Not that I don't appreciate a compliment, monk,' he said as his form flowed back into that of a cheekily grinning youth. 'But, you're not really my type.'

Miroku's distraction (and his failure to remember that the new Dé Danann was a shape-shifter) was soon explained. As the travellers sat in the shade of a nearby tree to enjoy Sango's purchase, the young monk told them of how he had again questioned Kenji about the Lake of Tears. Miroku had, in fact, become very curious about the Lake itself and the spirit who haunted it, and he had found it puzzling that so little had been done to exorcise the area.

'I've been giving it some thought,' he added, 'and I suspect that the valley's isolation, and lack of a daimyo, has had much to do with its neglect. After that one effort by a priest almost two centuries ago, no one seemed to think it was worth the effort – especially not after the wars began.' He took a drink of water. 'But, I feel that something really must be done to banish this ghost,' he said, his expression determined. 'If it is finally exorcised, perhaps the lake could return to normal and be fished again.'

InuYasha shrugged. 'Yeah, well... just be sure you know what you're getting into.' The half-demon realistically acknowledged that ghosts were out of his league – against such a foe, his strength and his Tessaiga would be of little consequence. However, Miroku's interest in attempting to exorcise what sounded like a particularly powerful wraith was giving the hanyo more than a twinge of concern – though the monk had proven himself to be quite capable at such tasks in the past, he had also had some close calls.

Keeping these worries to himself, InuYasha decided to bring the subject back to what he felt was a more important matter: the possible connection between the Lake of Tears and his prey. 'So, did that farmer have anything else to say about where we could start searching for serpent demons?' he asked.

'Kenji said that if we were determined to investigate the Lake and it's surroundings, we should first speak to the village headman, Takeo,' answered the monk. 'Apparently, he and his family also tend a small shrine on the path to the lake – and, he's a descendant of the steward who served the last Mizumimoto daimyo. According to Kenji, no one knows the history of the area as well as Takeo does.'

'Pardon my interruption, but... let me get this straight,' interjected Lon, who had been listening to Miroku with growing apprehension. 'This Lake of Tears not only harbours giant snakes, but its waters are poisoned somehow and there's a spiteful ghost prowling the shores?'

'That would be it in a nutshell,' replied Miroku calmly.

Lon frowned and turned to Aine. 'A charming destination. I'm sure Eadoin and Fionnbharra would be most impressed.' His tone then shifted from sardonic to a soft concern. 'Are you still so determined to go, mo chailín? What about the one you seek?'

'The one she seeks'? wondered Kagome, as she traded a questioning look with Sango.

'I know, a stór,' replied Aine. 'But, the village is not far now, and it's little ones who are ill. Besides, our choice of road would have taken us to the same place regardless, even if we hadn't met up with these dear folk.' She gestured to the others with a smile.

'Aye, but they're also the reason we came this way in the first place.'

This remark of Lon's had everyone's attention but Kagome's in particular. The teenage girl had been wondering how she could ask Aine why she had returned to Japan without appearing too nosey. Now, she had been given an opening.

'You were looking for us?' she asked.

'We were,' answered Aine. 'Ah me... we've not had much time to truly talk, have we, a stór? Aye, Kagome... we knew your own village was in this general direction. And, it was yourselves, and more specifically, you, InuYasha,' she added, her frank gaze turning to the half-demon, 'that I wanted to find.'

'Huh? Why?' came InuYasha's response, his face suddenly reddening. What the heck does she want with me? he wondered, as he quickly took a long draught from the water flask Kagome had just passed to him.

Aine took a deep breath. 'I was hoping you might be able to help me find your brother.'

The stunned silence that might have followed this comment was replaced by an outraged yell from Shippo who was sitting in front of InuYasha – and who had just been struck in the back by a spray of water.


InuYasha coughed some more water from his windpipe. 'Would you quit it?!' he then snarled at Miroku, who was briskly smacking him between the shoulders. 'You're just making it worse!'

Issuing one last cough, the hanyo looked at the healer through watering eyes. She was watching his brief distress with some concern, although her shape-changing friend, he saw, was holding his hand to his mouth and obviously trying not to laugh. Frowning at being a further source of amusement to the púca, InuYasha took a steadying breath and focussed instead on Aine.

'Sesshoumaru and I aren't exactly close,' he said, unable to keep sarcasm out of his voice. 'I don't know where he is, and I don't particularly care.'

Aine nodded, well aware of the enmity that existed between the brothers. 'Aye, lad – I understand. I had just hoped that you might be able to point me in a direction. Perhaps, to where you last saw him?'

'Yeah, well... I've never looked for him on purpose,' said the half-demon. He was still somewhat incredulous that anyone would deliberately want to find Sesshoumaru, in spite of his own speculations about what sort of connection might exist between his half-brother and the woman in front of him. 'He just has a bad habit of turning up.'

'But, our paths have crossed more often with Sesshoumaru lately,' said Miroku, his tone pensive. 'You see, lady...' he said, throwing InuYasha an apologetic look, 'we share a common enemy with the taiyokai.'

InuYasha gave the monk an angry glare. Kagome's earlier suspicions had been right. Although he had agreed to tell Lon what he knew about serpent yokai, for he understood the púca's wish to protect the healer if one of the beasts should cross their path, InuYasha had hoped to somehow avoid mentioning their search for Naraku. It was, he had told himself, too dangerous and, as far as he was concerned, no business of outsiders.

Obviously, the half-demon thought crossly, Miroku had thought otherwise.

Lon crossed his arms, his face once more completely serious as he watched and analysed the tense, silent interchange between the monk and the half-demon, and the apprehensive expressions now held by the two young women and the fox child. Then, he decided that whatever argument was about to erupt within the group could wait. He cleared his throat, gaining the immediate attention of all.

'Right then,' said the púca, one eyebrow raised in enquiry. 'Why do I have a feeling that this "common enemy" has something to do with those bloody snakes...?'


A/N: Next... a destination reached and, perhaps, another glimpse of Kakusamaru.