A/N: Work is still hectic and not leaving much time for recreational writing. However, one bit at a time, yet another long chapter is typed and presented for your kind perusal. We're now approaching the meat of the story, folks. ;)

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 Eleven: A Child of the Moon

Takeo sighed as he watched the water slowly trickle from his hand on to the whetstone before him. Where is he? he wondered. He had expected his grandson to be gone for the better part of the afternoon, but it was now well past supper time and there was still no sign of him, or of Kanaye. And, if Shiro is still missing by the time Akio returns from the fields... The elderly man frowned, knowing his son would very likely be giving him an earful.

He knew that Shiro's mother had also begun to worry, though Izumi had said little since she had joined him on their home's small veranda. But, when he noticed that she had been mending the same shirt for the past hour, Takeo began to regret even more his decision to send Shiro after Hidenori's son. However, when Kanaye had dropped an entire basket of precious seedlings, and then had fled after taking one look at his furious father, the headman could hardly have followed the child himself. Such an action on his part would have only brought about an accusation of interference from Hidenori.

Takeo had long felt sorry for all of Hidenori's brood. The older boys, he knew, had escaped their father's temper now that they were big enough to hit back. However, little Kanaye had no such advantage, and he had been disappearing for long periods of late. The elderly man suspected that one day the motherless child would take it into his head to leave for good.

As the village headman, Takeo felt responsible for all of the community's inhabitants. Lately, however, he had felt overwhelmed by the ill-fortune that had befallen the village. It had been bad enough when soldiers had raided the stores of rice and grain, but then to have lost so much of this year's crop before it had barely begun to grow... and, now, the strange fever which kept rearing its head, and which seemed to be especially hard on the children...

Thank goodness Shiro survived it,the old man reflected. Akio and Izumi would have been heartbroken if... Takeo chose not consider this further, nor to reflect on how he himself would have felt if the boy had died.

Regardless, as he had watched Kanaye run away that morning, the headman had realised with a pang of guilt that he had had little time to consider the plight of one neglected child these past few months. As a result, he had told his grandson to go after his playmate and persuade him to return to their house later... after Hidenori would be well into his cups and unlikely to come looking for his youngest offspring. As hard as Kanaye's home life is, thought Takeo, getting lost in the wilderness is hardly an alternative.

The old man sighed again and regarded the sickle in his hand. I'm not doing any better than Izumi, he thought ruefully. I've just sharpened the same blade twice. There was no help for it, he concluded – he would have to go looking for the boys.

'Grandpa!'

The call, accompanied by a dog's sharp bark, broke the evening's silence. Takeo exchanged a look of relief with his daughter-in-law when Shiro and Yuki appeared at the end of the lane. Both adults assumed that Kanaye was not be far behind.

'The boys will be famished,' murmured a now smiling Izumi as she gathered her mending and stood. Then, she turned and hurried into the small house to heat a late supper for the truants.

Takeo got to his feet more slowly, his joints protesting their sudden activity. 'Shiro!' he called, his tone stern. 'Why are you so late?'

Any further questions the old man had been about to ask died in his throat as he beheld a group of strangers approaching his home, one of whom was carrying an exhausted-looking Kanaye.


Sure, but this land continues to amaze me, Lon thought to himself.

The púca sat leaning against the wall just inside front entrance of the headman's dwelling. He kept his expression carefully neutral as his long, slim fingers rubbed the ears of a very appreciative and drowsy little dog; his eyes, however, were upon the folk conversing about the hearth in the centre of the room and, as ever, he was carefully appraising all before him.

He had been rather surprised by the relative ease with which the mismatched group had been accepted into the headman's home. Of course..., he added, as his inherent cynicism took hold, I doubt the wee fox and the pup would've been accepted so well if they'd arrived without their mortal companions. He then recalled Takeo's initial scrutiny. Even as the elderly mortal had spoken comfortingly to the wan boy he had taken from Miroku's arms, his sharp gaze had continued to flit discreetly across all of the travellers. This grey one, the púca had quickly realised, was no gullible mark.

Ever one to appreciate irony, Lon found it amusing that it had been Aine and himself who had taken the most explaining, for news of the European traders now visiting the Japans had not yet reached the isolated valley. However, the monk had proven to be an able diplomat when introducing them, especially when he had mentioned Aine's vocation. Having a trained healer offering her services had caught the headman's interest as much as had Miroku's enquires about the Lake of Tears and reports of serpent yokai in the foothills. Ultimately, the old man had welcomed them into his home.

The púca's gaze turned to Aine and the headman's daughter-in-law who were fussing over the injured Kanaye (who, he noted, was obviously enjoying the attention despite his protests to the contrary). From the snippets of their conversation that were drifting his way, Lon gathered that Aine was gleaning all she could about the mysterious illness which had plagued the village. Then, suddenly, he sensed the subtle healing magic that fleetingly swirled into the child's body.

Ah... that's my lass. The lad's fever will be fading by morning. This thought had barely entered his mind when Lon saw both puzzlement and anger briefly cross the healer's face as she regarded the child. Well, well... what's that about, then? he wondered. What have you found, mo chailín?

A soft snore to his left caught the shape-shifter's attention. His expression softened slightly at the sight of the boy curled up asleep on the other side of the little dog. After bringing him a bowl of stewed vegetables (Lon had forlornly wondered if the people of this land ever ate meat), Shiro had contentedly sat beside him – apparently, Lon thought with some amusement, the boy considered his pet's approval of him to be ample character reference. The child had been eager to talk at first... but, his busy day had caught up with him and he was now fast asleep.

Thus, the púca was free to observe the group before him, who were discussing that which had drawn them to the remote valley. Hmph... More talk of serpents, malevolent ghosts and their ilk. He decided he would keep out of the conversation for now – far better, he felt, to blend into the background and let the dog-eared brat and his friends ask the questions. Languidly stretching out his legs before him, the Dé Danann 'youth' closed his eyes, his hand now still as it rested on the soft fur of a dozing Yuki.

However, the 'sleeping' púca's sharp ears missed nothing.


When the headman gestured for everyone to begin eating, Kagome suddenly felt guilty as she thought of the crop failures the village had suffered. Still, she knew she would insult their host if she didn't eat. Fortunately, Takeo noticed her hesitancy and quickly put her mind at ease.

'Don't worry, miss,' he said kindly. 'Eat. We were luckier than poor Kenji. Our fields were among those spared, and Izumi keeps a large garden. Now that it's summer, vegetables are plentiful. We're glad to share what we have.'

'Yeah – it's the coming winter that's got folks worried.'

The muttered comment came from the headman's son, Akio, who had just returned home from a long day of helping his neighbours replant their fields and who had been more than a little astonished to find his home full of strangers. Fortunately, his father's willingness to grant the unusual visitors hospitality had been sufficient to mollify the younger man. Unfortunately, his fatigue had made him irritable. Still, he hadn't meant to sound as if he begrudged anyone food, and he flushed when he caught his father's eye. Murmuring an apology for his ill-considered words, he bent his head and focussed on his meal.

Nevertheless, Takeo understood his son's concerns. 'True,' he said. 'The crop might fail again. But,' he added as he smiled pleasantly at Kagome and the others, 'we can only hope for better fortune, eh?'

'Well, this smells great!' said Shippo who, with a happy grin, began to tackle his meal with relish. Nodding their thanks to their host, his friends followed suit, for the sweet dumplings they had eaten at midday now seemed a distant memory.

Kagome sighed appreciatively as she swallowed a mouthful of the plain but hearty stew.She then looked sideways at InuYasha who, having swiftly gulped down his meal, sat rigidly with his arms crossed and a slight frown upon his face. Kagome could read him like a book. He wants to leave tonight to track those yokai... even after running all that way.

At least, the teenage girl reflected, InuYasha had been acting less prickly toward Lon since they had arrived at the village. She looked past her friend then, to where the Dé Danann sat with Shiro and the little dog, and she could not help smiling on seeing that all three appeared to be asleep. Lon looks no older than the boys at my school, she thought. Yet, after seeing what he had called his 'true form', Kagome now understood what InuYasha had meant, when he had said that the shape-shifter's eyes didn't match his face.

I wonder... just how old he is...?

Giving the púca one last speculative glance, the girl turned her attention back to the headman, who had been asking for more details of Kenji and his family.

Takeo looked very relieved as he listened to Sango's account of how his neighbours had made it safely to the lowlands. Too many had had to leave the valley, he then said; though the blight which had struck the crops had not been all consuming, the fields at the lower end of the valley, where Kenji's home had been, had no hope of being salvaged. The soil there, Takeo added sadly, was all but ruined.

The companions exchanged looks of understanding on hearing this. They had all noticed a peculiar odour in the air when they had approached the village. In fact, InuYasha and Shippo had complained vigorously about the smell until they had passed the first line of fields. Now, they realised that it had been the rotted crops.

'Wow,' said Shippo. 'No wonder Kenji said he even tried to fish that lake.'

Takeo looked at the fox child with an expression of surprise. 'Fish the lake? He said this?'

'Yes,' said Miroku. 'Jiro told us that it was largely an act of desperation. That was how we came to hear about the Lake of Tears.'

'Ah yes,' Takeo said then. 'And, now, you want to know more...'

InuYasha fidgeted with restlessness – he was far more interested in what might be found in the area beyond the lake. It was with a certain amount of satisfaction, however, that the half demon heard the older man try to discourage the monk from even getting involved with the ghost that haunted the lakeshore.

'Master Miroku,' the headman was saying, 'I must tell you... the last cleric who tried to exorcise the demon's spirit didn't survive the experience.'

'So we were told,' answered Miroku. 'Nevertheless, I'd be interested in learning more about this ghost... and to know if I could possibly be of service. Rest assured,' he added with a hint of a smile, 'I don't plan to do anything foolish.' Especially now, he thought, his eye catching that of a lightly blushing Sango. Not so long ago, the demon slayer had made him a promise which he sincerely hoped would one day be fulfilled.

Takeo looked grim. 'I still say it's too dangerous, but... if you are so determined...' The old man sighed with resignation. 'All would be better explained at the shrine our family tends, for its history is tied to that of the ghost. But, I'll have to ask you to wait for the morning. You'll forgive me... but it's been a long day, and my bones are not up for a hike this evening.'

As Miroku bowed his head in acquiescence, InuYasha, who patience had finally collapsed, brought up his wish to locate the burrows of the serpent yokai.

'They're above that lake, right? Like the other farmer said? Did anyone here spot them yesterday?' asked the half-demon. He leant forward, eager to hear what the old man had to say.

Slightly intimidated by the fervour in these questions, Takeo replied hesitantly. 'Yes, yes... they always came from somewhere beyond the lake, though that was over forty years ago. What you've described must be the same kind of yokai. Kenji wouldn't have been mistaken – he was only young when the beasts were last seen, but he'd remember them.' Then, the elderly man shook his head at the thought of yet another threat to his home. 'Thankfully, there have been no sightings here – I would certainly have been told if there had. Still, it's most... disheartening... to hear that those creatures are roaming about the foothills.'

InuYasha frowned with annoyance. 'Well,' he said, as he cracked his knuckles and began to stand. 'I guess it looks like I'll just have to check things out for myself. Just point me in the right direction, old man.'

'I've nothing against your wish to pursue and destroy those creatures, young fellow,' replied Takeo. 'But, you should wait until morning.'

'Why?' Kagome asked quickly, seeing that InuYasha was about to ignore the warning.

'Because, the only route to the upper reaches of the valley lies along the lakeshore.. and, the sun is setting. The Lake of Tears holds only death after dark.' The old man suppressed a flinch as he met the half-demon's fierce gaze, but he held his ground. 'And, before you suggest it, it would take you the better part of a day to circumvent the lake. The slopes of those mountains are steep and treacherous – even one such as yourself would be hard pressed to navigate them.'

InuYasha snorted sceptically. Seeing the expression on Kagome face, however, he realised that he was in for an argument (and possibly a 'Sit!'), and he sat down again with an frustrated huff. One damn delay after another... he growled to himself. Then, the headman's son sudden spoke, and immediately had the half-demon's attention.

'Father... what about Old Taro?' Akio was asking.

Taro? What did Miroku tell us? Something Kenji's kid said...? With this thought, InuYasha looked at Miroku and Sango and saw that they had also recognised the name, 'Taro'. Yeah... Someone did survive seeing that ghost, the hanyo remembered.

For a moment, Takeo seemed puzzled by his son's comment. Then, a look of realisation crossed his face. 'Ah, you mean yesterday morning?' He turned back to the visitors. 'I should explain. Taro is an old friend of mine who is... not well. He comes here every morning for his breakfast. But, yesterday, there was no sign of him.'

Akio grimaced and set aside his empty bowl. 'Izumi thought he must've been sick, and asked me to check on him,' he said. 'He was in his hut... rocking himself and muttering,' The farmer thought for a moment. 'At the time, I just took it for one of his bad turns... but, with all this talk of demons, I wonder...'

'Why?' asked InuYasha, his yellow eyes gleaming with interest. 'Did he say something about serpents?'

'He might have...' answered Akio. 'He kept repeating, "Too many," over and over and begging the moon to drive... "them"... from the sky. But... I didn't think it meant anything at the time. Taro is always speaking drivel.'

'The moon?' asked Kagome, thoughtfully. 'What could that mean?'

Takeo shook his head and smiled sadly. 'That we've never known. All I can tell you is that, when Taro has one of his bad days, he always calls out for the moon to protect him.'

Miroku put down his own bowl and turned to the headman. 'Master Takeo... would it be possible to speak with this Taro?'

Takeo shrugged. 'I'm afraid you'd get little sense from him...'

Anything else the headman might have been about to say was interrupted by a loud shout coming from the front yard.

'Takeo! Where is my lazy son!'


Londubh's eyes snapped open as the commotion outside triggered a small explosion beside him. Even though he had only been feigning sleep, he barely had time to blink as a furiously barking Yuki sprang over him and bolted out the door. Then, he saw that Shiro was on his knees, gasping at having been startled out of a sound sleep. When the barking outside turned into a shrill yelp, the boy was on his feet in an instant.

'Stay put, Shiro.' The order came from Akio, who was hurrying toward the door. His father's tone brooked no argument and the boy froze in place. 'Just what we need... a sake-soaked Hidenori,' Akio grumbled under his breath as he passed through the doorway.

Everyone was on their feet. InuYasha and Miroku moved to follow Akio, but were stopped by their host. 'No. That is Kanaye's father you hear. Akio and I will deal with him.'

Outside, they could hear Akio's deep voice calling off the dog and telling someone to calm himself. Takeo's shoulders slumped as he reached for his walking stick – one thing he did not relish was a confrontation with the volatile Hidenori. The man should have been in a self-induced stupor by this time of night, he thought grimly. But, by the sound of him, he's only had enough to worsen his temper. 'I am sorry for this,' said Takeo as, giving them an apologetic look, he exited the house.

'And, sake is...?' Lon put the question to InuYasha, who happened to be nearest to him.

'Liquor... made from rice,' came the gruff reply. The hanyo's ears were pricked forward as he took in the 'conversation' outside.

The púca snorted. 'Thought as much. They'll have little success reasoning with a drunk,' he then said, keeping his voice low. 'He'll be in here in no time.'

InuYasha only grunted in response, but he agreed. He could easily hear what was being said outside and he tersely relayed the gist of the escalating argument to the others. 'He's saying Takeo has no business interfering with his family, or,' he added with a low growl, 'letting demons in the village. Seems word's got around about us.'

Lon then looked toward Aine who, he saw, had placed herself between her patient and the door. He also realised that she was angry. And, seeing the fright in the face of the child behind her, he suddenly understood why.


Aine's normally even temper was indeed flaring. The look of Kanaye when he had heard his father's voice had said volumes to her; the boy's shoulders now sagged dejectedly as he ignored his friend's mother's efforts to comfort him.

When the shouting in the yard increased, Izumi rose to stand beside the healer – quickly, she told Aine why Shiro had been instructed to bring Kanaye to their home. '.. but, we didn't expect this,' she said softly, as she glanced back at the boy. 'Hidenori is usually... oblivious by evening. And, more's the pity, we really don't have the right to keep Kanaye from him.' Her brow puckered with worry. 'Takeo will try to reason with him, but Hidenori has little respect for my father-in-law.'

Suddenly, there was a crash on the veranda. Then, a dishevelled-looking man burst into the headman's house. He staggered slightly, then straightened and glared about the room. His eyes widened when he saw InuYasha and Shippo. 'So, there are demons...' he muttered. 'Did you think no one would see them, you old fool?'

Takeo had entered behind him, followed by Akio who held a growling Yuki. The younger man thrust the little dog into his son's arms with the abrupt command to take his pet to the storage shed and remain there with him. Shiro sent one sympathetic look toward Kanaye, then did as he was told.

'Hardly, Hidenori,' Takeo answered, unable to entirely keep sarcasm from his voice. 'These people didn't come here in secret, and their business is with me.' Then, he placed a hand on his neighbour's arm. 'Please,' he said calmly, 'listen to reason, man. There are no women at your house – your boy's hurt... and, he has the fever. Izumi is glad to care for him and we've a...'

'No,' the drunken man slurred as he roughly shrugged off the older man. 'The brat's not sick. He's just lyin' to get out of his chores.'

InuYasha's eyes narrowed in anger as he watched the child seem to shrink into himself at these words. Then, he noticed the Dé Danann shape-shifter beside him was watching the boy's father and, seeing the icy chill in the púca's eyes, the hanyo was once again forcibly reminded of his half-brother.

Hidenori suddenly halted in mid-tirade – his muddled brain had only just registered the woman standing beside Izumi. He now gaped as he took in the sight of red-gold hair and deep green eyes and features that were, to his sake-fogged mind, too alien to be human.

'Takeo!' he growled. 'What is this yokai witch doing with my son?!' He stepped toward the healer with his arm raised.

Hidenori's intended action was never revealed. Before even Aine could respond, the drunken man found his way blocked by Lon. With a casual ease, the black-haired 'youth' flipped the folds of his brat over his shoulder to expose the dagger sheathed in his belt.

'That's as far as you go, a amadán,' the púca said softly.

Hidenori sneered. 'Oh? You think you can stop me, shorty?' Then, he blanched as he found himself also facing one who was definitely not human.

'You know, I've had just about enough of you,' InuYasha was saying, as he, too, stepped in front of the healer. Then, he held up his hand – his knuckles cracked as he flexed his claw-like nails before the now-frightened man's eyes. 'If you're smart, you'll go home and dry out. You see, I don't care a whole lot about manners, or about who here has the right to toss you out on your sorry ass.' The hanyo's tone was offhand, but his fierce, yellow eyes told another story.

'Hidenori,' snapped a very distressed and angry Takeo, who, with Akio, had also stepped forward. 'You will not threaten guests in my home! This young lady is a trained healer, and she has offered our people her services. Would you jeopardise the welfare of the village with your foolishness? Leave now.'

'"The village's welfare?"' Hidenori's next words were ground out from between clenched teeth as he backed away from the dog-eared being before him. 'Hasn't this village gone through enough this year? Now, you let demons walk amongst us? This will only prove to everyone that I was the right choice for headman, after all.' Then swearing forcibly, and apparently forgetting about Kanaye, he turned and stalked out of the house.

No sooner had Hidenori stepped through the door, however, when those within heard another loud shout.

'Get out of my way, you mad simpleton!'

Miroku and Akio were the first ones to reach the doorway, just in time to see Hidenori aim a solid kick at a figure in front of the veranda. With an earthy oath, Takeo's son swiftly grabbed his drunken neighbour's arms and pinned them behind his back. This served to finally subdue the truculent man. Realising that he had pushed the usually stoic Akio too far, Hidenori sullenly allowed himself to be frogmarched to the lane.

Meanwhile, the young monk had approached the huddled form on the ground. 'Are you injured?' Miroku asked kindly as he reached down to touch the trembling shoulder of what he now saw was an old man. To his dismay, the man whimpered and shied away from him.

'Miroku...?'

The monk looked over to see his companions standing behind him, staring curiously at trembling figure before him. It was Kagome who had spoken. 'What's wrong with him? Can we do something to help?' she asked now.

The elderly man raised his head on hearing the girl's voice. He stared at the group, and they all noticed the vacancy in that gaze. Then, ignoring a surprised Miroku, he slowly rose and shuffled toward them. His eyes moved from Kagome to Sango and a shy, almost boyish smile appeared on his lined face. 'Pretty,' he murmured as he extended a trembling hand toward the younger girl. 'Pretty things. Like flowers.'

Swiftly, InuYasha placed himself between the stranger and Kagome. The old man looked too frail to harm anyone, but the hanyo had learnt long ago not to rely solely on appearances. To his surprise, the human didn't back away. Instead, the old one met his stare and again smiled.

'A child of the moon,' he whispered, much to the half-demon's confusion.

Takeo hurried to the newcomer's side. The headman frowned when he saw the scrapes on the man's face from his fall to the ground. 'Taro,' he said, as he gently took his old friend by the arm to guide him into the house. 'Come inside with me. Izumi has food for you, and we'll clean those cuts, eh?'

The companions traded startled glances as the same thought crossed all of their minds. This, then, was the one man who has faced the spirit of the Lake of Tears and survived.

Taro nodded and allowed himself to be led away. He continued to look over his shoulder at InuYasha, however. 'Do you see him, Takeo?' he whispered. 'A child of the moon...'

The headman was watching his friend with an expression of disbelief. Never, since Taro had lost his mind to the ghost, had Takeo heard his old friend speak so lucidly. His bemusement only increased when they came to doorway where the two foreigners had been quietly watching all that had occurred in the front yard. For Taro, who would normally be terrified of any stranger, stopped to peer at the healer and her companion.

After briefly meeting Lon's appraising stare, the fragile-looking old man's attention was fixed upon Aine. 'Another flower,' he murmured. When she smiled kindly at him, a shy grin again brightened his face. His eyes wide with a child-like wonder, Taro reached forward to touch one finger to the coppery braid that hung over the foreign woman's shoulder.

'Now, now, old friend...' said Takeo. 'Don't bother the young lady.'

However, Aine shook her head and took Taro's hand gently between her own. 'He's no bother,' she said. 'Sure, but you can see there's a soft heart here. I'm pleased to meet you, Master Taro,' she added as she smiled again at the bedraggled old man. Then, her expression became serious and she lightly touched the fingers of her right hand to his forehead. 'But, you should rest now, a stór. You've a fever.'

Just like the boy's... she thought.

Taro stared questioningly at the hand which still clasped his own. 'The moon didn't send you...' he whispered. 'But, you still hold a light...'

Not noticing the subtle, startled glances Lon and Aine had exchanged on hearing his words, Takeo coaxed his poor, demented friend to the warmth of the hearth.


At the same moment that an irate and pensive Sesshoumaru was watching Jaken wave about a small linen sachet in the futile hope that its odour might revive Rin, the one who had given the child that floral-scented memento was immersed in her own quiet contemplations.

Aine closed her eyes as she let the soft, relaxing strains of her harp resonate through and about her. She had asked for, and readily received, permission from Takeo to play the instrument – after the earlier tension and disharmony which Kanaye's father had brought to the headman's home, the Dé Danann woman had felt a great longing for the unique peace that the instrument could always bring to her. To Aine, playing music was akin to meditation, and this day had certainly given her much to think about.

Her fingers moved across the strings to produce a lovely, slow air which Eadoin had written long ago. It has always been a favourite of hers and, as her spirit savoured its beauty, her mind's eye saw the green forests of Éire. Then, she recalled one for whom she had once played this same tune and his golden, questioning stare as he had listened...

Ah, mo chú, she thought. It seems our next meeting must needs be delayed... The illness here is no simple matter. The fever which she had sensed in both the old man and the child would be dispersed by morning. However, the original cause of the sickness was a mystery to her.

Aine allowed her glance to roam about the room. Old Taro and the children were sleeping peacefully, and talking between the adults had diminished to occasional low, murmured conversations. The only one absent was InuYasha. Much to the half-demon's discomfort, Taro's fascination with him had not faded – whenever the hanyo had looked his way, he had found the old man watching him with a mixture of awe and delight. Thus, the half-demon had sought the solitude of the outside veranda.

'I always liked that tune,' murmured a familiar voice behind Aine.

Lon spoke softly in their own language as he then sat beside her, his arms resting laxly on his bent knees. 'So, will the mad one be all right?'

'A good question, that, a bhodach,' she answered, allowing the tune she had been playing to come to a soft conclusion. 'It will take longer for the fever to ease from him – it seems to have taken a firm hold on his poor, failing body.' As for his mind, that's another matter to consider...

'So, he has the same thing that caught your attention in the boy?'

'You were ever observant, clever one,' responded the healer with a fond smile. 'Yes, though exactly what that is... I'm not sure yet. Whatever it is, a stór, it isn't natural.'

Lon nodded. 'Neither was your latest patient's reaction to your probe,' he murmured. 'Do you suppose he saw your aura?'

Aine shook her head. 'Ah, another good question, my blackbird. Did he, indeed?'

The púca was silent as he contemplated her words, then he stretched his arms before him. 'You know, mo chailín, it's a lovely cool night. After the mortals are asleep, I think I'll go for a little run...'

Aine gave her old friend a sharp glance. 'Londubh... what are you planning?'

'Ah, nothing much. Just some entertainment. The grey one's son mentioned a shed on the far side of the village – seems it's a certain drunk's favourite drinking spot.'

'Lon...'

The púca's expression became serious then as he met the healer's frank gaze. 'No, my lass... You'll not dissuade me. It's been far too long since I've had a bit of fun, and you can't deny that one deserves a damn good fright. I'm only telling you now so that you won't wonder at my absence later.'

Tonight, Lon thought with anticipation, that miserable piece of cac is mine.


InuYasha had decided to remain outside, even after his friends had gone to sleep. He was enjoying the night air – it was refreshingly cool after the heat of the day. He fingered the hilt of his Tessaiga, and briefly considered hazarding the slopes above the Lake of Tears... then, with a sigh, he resigned himself to waiting until morning. Experience had taught him that patience did have its rewards.

Nevertheless, he thought sullenly, he still hated waiting.

A soft noise at the doorway caught his attention and, to his surprise, Lon emerged onto the veranda. Damn it, he's quiet, the hanyo thought with a frown. I can't believe I didn't hear him moving about inside.

'What're you...?' the half-demon's growled question was halted as Lon casually waved a hand and curtain of magical energies surrounded them.

''Tis only a glamour,' Lon said as he watched the dog-eared youth's eyes widen. 'A wall of "nothing there". Let's not wake those within, eh laddie?'

InuYasha grunted and crossed his arms. 'Huh. I know what a "glamour" is. I saw the bard use one.' He looked sideways at the smiling Dé Danann, wondering if he was again laughing at him. 'What do you want out here?'

Lon stretched and cracked his shoulders. 'With you? Nothing. I'm just going to enjoy a moonlight run.' Seeing the half-demon's puzzled expression, Lon only grinned cheekily. He was about to leave without further explanation – then, he paused and sat on the edge of the veranda.

Gazing up at the moon, the púca spoke softly. 'I appreciate what you did earlier... standing between Aine and that drunken sot.'

InuYasha looked surprised, then embarrassed. He snorted dismissively. 'Yeah, well... he was out of line.'

'Aye,' answered Lon. 'Although,' he added chuckling, 'in truth, I suspect the two of us actually protected him more than Aine. She was in no mood to tolerate being manhandled by the likes of him. One push from her wards and she'd have made a door with him.'

A slight smile tugged at the half-demon's lips as he pictured this. Then, he wrinkled his nose. 'Gah. I can still smell that bastard's scent out here – he must've bathed in sake.'

Lon pulled a face in response. 'Bathed? Ach, I wonder if he knows the meaning of the word. He was that dirty, if you threw him against a wall, he'd stick.'

InuYasha found himself actually quelling a laugh. At that moment, a small form slipped out of house to join them. 'What are you doing awake, squirt?' asked the half-demon as he looked down at the kitsune. The last he had seen, the little yokai had been curled up asleep with the two boys and the dog.

Shippo yawned. 'Shiro kicks,' he stated as he briefly rubbed his arms. His skin was tingling from contacting the glamour – he hadn't noticed the barrier until he had passed through it, but he had known what it was when InuYasha and the púca had seemed to suddenly pop into view. He turned to Lon. 'And, I saw you leaving. Where're you going at this time of night?'

The shape-shifter grinned. 'Just off to do what I do best,' he answered cryptically. He then gave Shippo a speculative look. 'Little warrior, much of your power is in casting illusions, am I right?'

'Yep!' chirped Shippo. 'That's a fox demon's specialty.'

'Well then,' said Lon, his eyes gleaming with mischief and something which, to InuYasha's mind, could only be called predatory, 'how about a bit of fun?'

A bemused InuYasha listened as Lon explained his proposal to a grinning Shippo. For only a moment, the hanyo almost felt sorry for Hidenori. However, as he remembered the fear he had seen on Kanaye's face, any feelings of sympathy quickly faded.


Jaken roused himself as the campfire began to burn low. With a soft grunt, the little demon fed another branch to the flames. When he looked at Rin, he was hardly surprised to see that the child had not moved. At least, he thought, she was no longer shivering, her clothes having been thoroughly dried by the fire's heat. The kappa then turned his bulbous eyes to his lord, but the dog demon only gave him a perfunctory glance before returning his gaze to the night sky. Sensing it was not in his best interest to disrupt his master's thoughts at this time, Jaken crouched down by the campfire to resume his fitful dozing. After all, dawn was yet several hours away.

Sesshoumaru had barely stirred since giving his 'reply' to Naraku's messenger. His mind, however, had been thoroughly analysing every fragment of his conversation with the unctuous Kakusamaru. The conclusions he had drawn had clarified some matters, but... if he could only be certain of what held Rin in thrall.

It is more than a demon worm. And, as for that vermin's claim of a wraith...

Would the child's death have to occur before he would understand? The dog demon quickly dismissed the option of simply waiting for Rin to die. Such a strategy would be, he told himself, inefficient.

Again, it comes back to a schedule. Hnh.

Eventually the taiyokai found himself watching the girl child who knelt so placidly by the fire. It is as Jaken said... she cannot even sleep. With this thought, he rapidly revised his estimate of just how long Rin's body could withstand such abuse.

Sesshoumaru stood and moved toward Rin, causing Jaken to wake with a start. Just as he had the evening before, the dog demon went down on one knee and placed one finger under the girl's chin to tilt her face upwards. Seconds seemed like hours to Jaken as, wide-eyed and tense, he watched Lord Sesshoumaru stare at Rin. His master's face was impassive, yet the little demon could feel his skin crawling as his survival instincts reacted to the cold anger burning within the powerful demon.

A slight frown then appeared on the taiyokai's brow. He moved his hand so that it rested briefly against the child's cheek, and his sensitive fingertips confirmed the unnatural dryness of her skin.

Standing, Sesshoumaru turned his cold gaze upon his servant.

'Jaken. I have changed my mind. We leave tonight.'


A/N: Just in case you'd forgotten... amadán means 'idiot' or 'fool'. As for cac, it means... ahem... 'excrement'. ;)

Next: Two alpha dogs meet...