Chapter 9: Hikari (光)

Avalon walks towards the village with Kaede on her heels. She slows to allow the older Miko to catch up. Once Kaede is beside Avalon, Avalon speaks, "Lady Kaede I cannot stay here."

'So it begins. Though I do not like bending to the will of a youkai, I fear I am no match for him.' "Nay child. Ye cannot travel now. It is not safe. Winter will be upon us soon."

Avalon is shocked as she had assumed it was only springtime. Her time frame has been drastically reduced. "Winter, how soon?"

"Within 3 moon cycles"

'That explains the cold.' "Then I cannot delay. I must move immediately."

"Nay. It is not only the cold but also rōnin. They are about and ye would be easy prey."

Avalon presses her lips together, knowing Kaede is right but she still doesn't want to remain in this village. Any other village would have been fine but she fears she will get the attention of a certain hanyou, Naraku.

"I am sure I won't be alone, the imp would follow reluctantly but he would simply to protect his master's property," she spits the last part out bitterly. She is no one's property but Sesshomaru did not feel the same way.

"I cannot let ye leave, gomen but I must protect this village above all. I have been charged with keeping ye safe and I cannot do that if ye leave."

"KAEDE, so you would force me here against my will!" Avalon's shocked she would do that.

"I have no choice in the matter, ye must be kept safe."

Avalon understands her predicament but still wants to leave.

Kaede noticed when she threw the rock that held reiki, but she doesn't sense any power from her at this time. 'Perhaps she is inexperienced. I will nurture her gift while she is in my care.' "Come child let us rest, it has been a busy day."

Avalon concedes. Her body aches and she's tired. The elder miko brings her arm around Avalon's waist and pulls her along to her hut. "It's not much but it is home."

Avalon pulls back the door flap and steps inside with Kaede following behind. "Are ye hungry?"

Avalon shakes her head no.

"Do ye wish to sleep?"

Avalon shakes her head no.

"Will ye speak to me?"

Avalon walks to the back corner of the hut sits down and looks away from Kaede. Kaede shakes her head. "I must tend my people, they will be worried. When ye are ready to speak, do so." With that Kaede exits the hut as Jaken enters. Avalon's head slumps forward and her tears start to fall. She says barely more than a whisper, "Jaken, I can't stay here."

Jaken says smugly, "Sesshomaru-sama commands you to stay here and I will keep you here."

Avalon shakes her head and continues to cry silently.

Kaede returns hours later, once the sun sets. Avalon fell asleep sitting up. Kaede moves about making dinner, grabbing herbs and vegetables tossing them into a pot of boiling water. Avalon sits up hearing movement. She looks up, seeing it is only Kaede and leans her head back, closing her eyes. "Eat something child." Kaede attempts to hand her a bowl of soup.

Avalon opens her eyes, taking the offered bowl, then sets it down and closes her eyes again. Kaede heaves a sigh. "Would ye little yokai like some?"

"I do not eat ningen food."

Avalon lowers her head into her hands and shakes her head. Leaning back again she tries to sleep again until she hears more movement about the hut. Avalon opens her eyes watching Kaede moving futons out. "When ye are ready to sleep ye may rest here." Avalon nods her head closing her eyes and tries to rest. Soon Kaede and Jaken fall asleep and start snoring.

Avalon finds the sound annoying being in an enclosed area. She slips out of the hut and leans against the back wall looking up at the sky. She misses talking to Sesshomaru and feeling safe. She gets up and finds a tree within the village and climbs up it and gets comfortable and falls asleep.

Kaede wakes the next morning and looks to the empty futon. She isn't too surprised it's empty. Her eyes sweep over and see the little yokai still sleeping and continues to the corner Avalon was in earlier. When she isn't there she scans the rest of her hut and feels panic start to well within. Not finding her, Kaede rises from her futon and rushes out the door. She sees the villages moving about as if it was any other day. Still not finding Avalon, she rushes back into the hut. "Little yokai!"

Jaken wakes slowly. "The name is Jaken."

"The girl is gone."

"The girl, what girl?" Then it dawns on him "Avalon?"

"Is that her name?"

"Hai."

"Avaron is gone."

Jaken jumps up rushing out of the hut. Together they start calling her name. The villagers hear their miko looking for Avalon and join in the search. They call her name over and over again but receive no reply.

She hears them alright, Avalon just doesn't care to answer. She spends hours in the tree until she is ready to come down. Once she's sure no one is around, she climbs down and walks into Keade's hut and rests against the back corner again. She closes her eyes, just then Kaede rushes back in to grab her bow to search the forest. She stops short when she sees Avalon sitting against the wall. "Avaron!" Avalon looks up at her. "Ye must answer when ye are called."

Avalon's gaze turns cold and she rises to her full height towering over Keade. "I will do as I see fit. I was in the village and safe. Your duty is fulfilled. I am not a dog who comes at your beckon call."

Kaede backs down as she had not meant it as such. "I meant no disrespect, I only mean that I need to know ye are safe and that I cannot know if ye do not at least respond."

"Are you that insufficient a Miko that you would not know that a yokai has entered your midst?"

"I feared ye had escaped."

Avalon turns on her heels and walks out of the hut stopping at the flap. "I will not leave the village. I understand your position." She continues to walk out letting the flap drop behind her. Several of the villagers spot her and try to stop her. She lashes out with a kick sending them flying. "Do not touch me!" She continues her walk. The villages who witness the display clear a path for her. She comes to a large tree that offers a lot of shade and sits beneath it closing her eyes.

Jaken sees her and runs over to her. "Where were you?"

Avalon opens her eyes, "Safe."

Jaken gets upset by her answer. "That's not a place."

Avalon closes her eyes and in a tight tone says, "It is the only answer you will get Jaken. Leave me."

"You don't command me."

"Will you stand here and berate me then?"

Jaken sputters and turns his back and walks away. Avalon hears the fading sound of his footsteps and smirks. Until she hears shuffling feet coming her way, the smirk turns into a frown.

"Lady Kaede."

"Avaron."

"It is Avalon." She emphasizes the "L" sound. "Stick your tongue between your teeth and bite down to keep it in place when you pronounce the 'l' sound. Its slightly garbled but it is better than the 'r' sound."

Kaede takes a seat by Avalon. "Child ye need to learn ye place."

Avalon sighs, she knows she has been acting rudely. "I am a prisoner Kaede. This village is my prison. Would you be kind to your jailers?"

"I do not want ye thinking that way child."

"There is nothing to think about, it is the truth."

"Ye seem to be a warrior of sorts. I would like to train ye."

"Train me?"

"That yokai will return for ye, and once he comes, ye will be leaving with him I assume?"

"Hai."

"Perhaps ye can defy him once ye are free of this village and I would like to help ye with that."

Avalon hums thinking of that. She doesn't actually want to defy him but being able to fight better would be an advantage.

"I accept your offer Lady Kaede."

"Well first, no more of this unruly behavior."

"Hmph the villagers need to keep their hands off me."

"None should touch ye child. I think ye proved that well."

"I suppose." Avalon gives her a small smile.

"Come child. We start ye training today but first ye need to eat." Kaede gets up and Avalon follows behind. They make it to her hut and slip inside. Kaede puts the pot of soup on from last night and lets it boil. Once done, she scoops a portion into a bowl for Avalon. Avalon takes the bowl and eats. Jaken returns to the hut finding Avalon and Kaede inside. Kaede offers Jaken a bowl. Again he refuses. Avalon shakes her head and says under her breath, "Stubborn."

Once Avalon and Kaede finish eating, Kaede leads Avalon out of the hut. Jaken exclaims, "Where are you going?"

Kaede responds, "To train."

Kaede takes Avalon out to a quiet lake. "Now child, I need ye to get on the ground and sit in a comfortable position."

Avalon slowly lowers herself to the ground and sits indian style. Kaede raises her brow at the odd pose but continues with her instructing, "Place ye hands like this. "Kaede folds her hands together. "Close ye eyes."

Avalon follows Kaedes hand movements and closes her eyes wondering if Kaede was wanting her to meditate. She is all too familiar with it because of her training in martial arts but says nothing. Kaede watches as her eyes close. "Repeat after me, HI FU MI YO I MU NA YA KO TO MO CHI RO RA NE SHI KI RU YU I TSU WA NU SO O TA HA KU ME K NI SA RI HE TE NO MA SU A SE E HO RE KE"

Avalon attempts to repeat what Kaede says but forgets half of it. "Gomen Kaede-sama can you please repeat that?"

Kaede repeats the prayer again. Avalon tries again after about 3 more times she remembers the whole thing. "Avalon I need ye to focus on breathing. I want ye to meditate. Have ye any experience?"

Avalon nods her head and begins to focus on her breathing, bringing positive energy in and pushing negative energy out. Avalon attempts to imagine a beautiful sky with fluffy clouds but soon finds her mind thinking of the moon. The moon makes her mind drift to a crescent moon on a certain someone's forehead, Sesshomaru. Avalon quickly tries to bring her mind away from him. He is only a distraction. After going about it several times, she winds up thinking about him, she tries to make peace thinking of his unnatural beauty. She imagines him in his kimono and hakama standing in the moonlight. It was a most surreal scene and finally she drifts into a deep meditative state while Kaede watches her. After several hours Kaede brings her back out. "How do ye feel?"

"Stiff, and hungry," is the only response Avalon gives. She really doesn't feel anything else, well a little horny but she wasn't going to share that bit.

Kaede shakes her head. It didn't bring her spiritual powers out. Kaede stands and her bones crack. Avalon gets up and stretches backwards to pop her back. 'I will try again tomorrow.'

They head back to Kaede's hut for the evening. Soup is made and Jaken finally relents and joins them in eating. They talk of things around the village while Jaken makes snide comments about ningen. The futons are brought out and Avalon lays on hers. Kaede falls asleep quickly and Jaken as well. Avalon can't seem to stop her restless mind missing a certain dai-yokai and again finds herself annoyed at the snoring. Having enough, she exits the hut and climbs the same tree as last time.

Kaede wakes that morning and finds only Jaken and starts to worry again but her fear is belayed when Avalon steps through the hut door. "Morning Lady Kaede."

Kaede nods her head and gets to work preparing a new pot of soup. "Will ye cut some vegetables?"

Avalon nods. Kaede hands her a knife and she starts to cut up some roots and place them in the pot. Soon the soup is done and readily passed out. Once everyone is finished eating and the hut put back together Keade leads Avalon back to the spot from yesterday and has her attempt meditation again. But, instead of letting her meditate the way Avalon had she instructs her in the art of Kuji, starting with the hand sign for rin and having her repeat the mantra, 'On baishiramantaya sowaka'. Still nothing comes of it. Kaede leads her back to the village where she tends to the sick while Avalon observes. Avalon finds herself interested in the herbs Keade uses. "Lady Kaede will you teach me about the herbs you use for treating illness?"

Kaede is surprised but pleased she is interested, "Hai." Several villagers greet Kaede and also attempt to speak with Avalon. She has no interest in befriending them and would only reply with minimal answers and never engage further. When children would come and wish to play she would regard them coolly. Being as tall as she was, she towered over most of the villagers and used that to keep them at a distance. She was loathe to admit it, but she didn't want to connect with anyone here, for the simple fact that here was too cruel in her eyes. Disease ran rampant and men were brutal. The time was a bloodbath. If she let no one in, then when someone would die, it would not hurt. She would feel sorry for the person who passed sure and pity for the family but it wasn't her burden to bare.

The next couple of days pass similarly, eating, meditation using Kuji as the guide. Each day was represented by a different sign. They treated the ill, learning of herbs and then going back to sleep but Avalon is never in the hut when Kaede awakes. She just can't stand being confined there.

Kaede starts to worry for her charge as the girl would never engage the villagers more than a passing nod. She starts the morning the same teaching her Sha this morning with the mantra of, 'On hayabaishiramantaya sowaka.' After the morning meditations they return to the village where Kaede leads Avalon to her garden of herbs. They get on their knees and start plucking the small little weeds that dare to sprout. Kaede soon stands leaving Avalon to tend the herbs while she walks away, "I Will be back soon child."

Avalon nods and continues to pluck the weeds.

Kaede later returns with a young girl. "Avalon, I want you to meet Hikari." Hikari offers a low bow to Avalon. Avalon stands up brushing the dirt from her kimono and bows her head in return. "I will leave ye two to talk."

Little do the three know, they have an observer. Sesshomaru had decided to check on Avalon today. He masks his aura and is out of sight but he watched as the miko was followed by a child who limped. When the miko left her with Avalon to talk to he scoffed at the idea. That onna was cold, why would she care to talk to a useless invalid?

"Kaede-sama?" Avalon questions.

Kaede never responds as she walks away. Avalon looks at the girl for a brief moment and then settles for ignoring her while she lowers herself back down to pull more weeds. Hikari sits seiza style next to her clearing her throat. Hikari moves some hair from her eyes revealing a large scar that goes from her eyebrow down to the side of her lips. "Hi."

Avalon nods her head in acknowledgment, noticing the scar and wondering where it could have come from but her curiosity isn't overwhelming. Just the kind of response Sesshomaru anticipated.

"Is your family dead too?"

Avalon's head snaps to look at the girl. She answers in a sad tone "Hai, they are."

"Did the samurais kill them?"

"Samurais killed your family? Gomen." She didn't want to answer how her family died so she hoped to avoid giving an answer. Avalon was right, life was too cruel. The girl looked no more than 14 and has no family She continues to look at Hikari wondering about what happened but she stifles the curiosity. It wasn't her burden to bare.

"Hai," Hikari answers. "Two years ago. How did your parents die?"

'She will never open up to the child,' Sesshomaru thinks from his place in the bushes.

Avalon's lips press together in a thin line, deciding how to phrase it, "They were killed by a drunkard."

"How old were you?"

Avalon wants to snap at the young girl, 'Older than you,' but could see the vulnerability in her eyes, so she went with just telling her, "17."

"Did they kill your husband too?"

"I've never married. I am not fit to be wed. Don't you know I traveled with yokai?"

"I saw when he left you here. He looked mean," she says softly. "I'm not fit for marriage either. No one wants me." Her head lowers in shame.

Avalon maliciousness stops short. She had wanted the girl to leave her alone. "Because of the scar?" She hopes that was the reason but suspects it was not.

Hikari shakes her head and stares off into the distance. "It hurt didn't it?" She swallows, struggling to speak. "There were six of them. They took Ka-chan first."

Avalon swallows the lump in her throat. She was right, this time was too cruel. It wasn't the girls fault but because of it she was left with few options. "Hai it hurt." She says in a soft voice. "Who is Ka?"

"Hahaue, she cried. To-san tried to save her but they killed him. Then they took me. I cried for the first one, but not the ones after that. I was eleven. They burned my village. Kaede-sama found me in the forest after I ran away." She wipes her eyes, trying to stifle her tears.

Sesshomaru shakes his head, 'no honor among these ningen. A child should not experience these things.'

"Is that why the youkai wanted you?"

Avalon shakes her head letting a single tear slip out. She quickly wipes it away

"Does he want to marry you? He doesn't care that someone else had you first?"

Avalon half huffs half laughs. "Ie. He doesn't want to marry me."

Hikari rubs the scar on her face. "The last said this would make sure I always remembered him. He was sweaty and stunk."

Avalon grits her teeth. "Bastards, we don't need physical reminders."

Sesshomaru suddenly wonders what scars he had overlooked on her body while pressuring her for something she wasn't ready to give. Did the first one leave traces of himself behind? The second one?

"They said it's all women are good for. Ka-chan helped me escape. She distracted them, offered herself to them." She buries her face in her knees. "She told me to run. I left her to die!"

She breaks down completely sobbing. "It's all my fault."

Avalon reaches over to put her hand on Hikari, running her palm in a circle over her back. "Hikari there was nothing that you could have done. If you would have stayed, you would be dead too. Any Hahaue would want their child alive. By you living you honor her memory."

Sesshomaru listens shocked to hear Avalon so open and caring. 'Is this truly my Avalon?' He shakes his head, 'she is not mine. Why would I think of her as such?'

"But no one wants me now," she cries flinging herself against Avalon's chest and wrapping her arms around her waist. "I'm dirty."

'Dirty," he scowls. 'Ningen men are filth.' His mind seethes, children should not be prey to the urges of men.

"You are not dirty." Avalon says as she gathers the young child into her chest. "Men are stupid pigs." She runs her hands down the girls hair. "If it is your wish to be a wife, I am sure there may be a man out there that will want you. But have you considered perhaps you could take a different path? I've resolved to be a warrior. I don't need a man."

'No,' his eyes roll, 'she just wants a demon lover.'

"I don't know how to fight," Hikari hiccups trying to stop her tears. "My arm doesn't work well." She picks up her right hand, showing how floppy it is from the elbow down. "They twisted it. It doesn't work anymore."

"You could be a healer then, Kaede's knowledge is vast and you could learn much from her."

She shakes her head. "Can you teach me? Even with a bad arm?"

"Teach you what? To be a warrior or a healer?"

"A warrior! The next time a man tries to rape me, I can fight."

Avalon shakes her head, 'to think she worries about the next time.' "I can teach you some ways to defend yourself but I don't know how long I will be here for."

"Where are you going to go?" Hikari asks Avalon. "The demon didn't look very nice."

Sesshomaru's eyes narrow in on the child suddenly annoyed with her declaration.

Avalon smiles down at her. "He is difficult, but I am loyal to him. I owe him my life."

"Is that why you let him talk to you like that? To-san said when a man really respects a woman he talks to her heart not screams in her ears."

"He doesn't respect me Hikari but I don't give him the respect he thinks he deserves either so perhaps we are both at fault. The relationship and I use that word loosely is complicated. But he has redeeming qualities like he would never force himself on me."

'She has never shown the proper respect save the first time we met. Relationship? Does she think we are courting?'

"Is that why you want to be with him? You know he won't make you?"

"Hikari, I have no illusion. I doubt I will ever be more than perhaps a lover for him but I can see so much potential. He may look all grown up but he needs to grow up mentally. I am not looking for a husband."

Sesshomaru scoffs, 'grow up, I will never love a human.'

"You want him to love you?" She covers her mouth shocked.

"I would like that."

His anger rages, he will not love her, Avalon is a means to an end, to his father's sword, nothing more.

"He's a demon...you'd have hanyou children. No one likes Inuyasha. Kaede-sama said he was rejected by humans and demons why would you curse your children like that? They wouldn't have any friends. No one would like them. You'd be alone and die before they even grew up."

"I don't think I can have children."

'She can't have children?' He listens carefully.

"Why not?"

"It's complicated." How could she explain that her doctors had warned her of the encroaching danger her endometriosis caused. Each year that passes without conception would lead to less and less chances of it only reason she wasn't gripped with agonizing pain was for a recent birth control known as Nexplanon.

"But why him? He was mean. He doesn't like you."

'Intelligent child, this Sesshomaru has no fond feelings for that onna.'

Avalon shakes her head. "I never said he was the one. I just am very attracted to him and if he hadn't stepped in, I would not be here now. He saved me from being killed by my would be rapists."

"You like how he looks. You remind me of my friend Tori. She had a crush on the village leader's son because he shot an arrow through two men who tried to take her into the forest. He was engaged to someone else. It's nice to like what we can't have sometimes."

Avalon shakes her head. The child was so young but it was more than a simple crush, "I think you are wrong on one point Hikari. He does like me."

'I do not.'

"He doesn't want to admit it but he would do things for me." She pulls the comb holding her hair back, "Like this, giving me this comb it was not necessary for my life but he got it for me." She pushes the comb back in her hair. "The kimono I wear is a gift as well. It has seen better days it was pristine when I got it."

'Because you were naked and had nothing else and your hair was embarrassing.'

Hikari starts laughing covering her mouth. "You have a crush on him. Maybe it's just the way we were made, to have to be with people who hurt us."

'I never hurt her,' he starts and then stops, remember how he flung her to the ground and choked her and the bruises that wrung around her neck. 'She lied to this Sesshomaru,' he rationalizes. 'Why am I here?'

Avalon scrutinizes Hikari chastising her, "You wish to be with your rapists?"

Hikari bristles at Avalon's change in voice "No, but he was rough with you and you like him for it. What does that say about you?"

He snorts, agreeing with Hikari.

"You wouldn't understand. I don't like him because he was rough with me."

"But you like him anyway, even though he does." She rubs her limp arm and says, "It's going to rain soon."

Avalon looks at the sky and can see the gathering clouds. "Come on, lets go to Kaede's hut we will continue this conversation."

"But you said you would teach me to fight!"

"I can do that in the hut while we talk. Do you wish to be soaked in the rain? We can stay here if you like"

"Okay," She gets up and limps next to Avalon. Her left foot turns in while she walks, revealing not just her arm was injured when she was raped.

Avalon frowns, 'this will be difficult.' As Avalon walks next to Hikari she says, "Sesshomaru is the only one I would allow to be rough with me. I would do anything in my power to stop any other man just so you know."

'As if she could stop anyone,' he sneers. 'She could not stop this Sesshomaru.'

"But you still let him. Maybe it's all we're good for. Maybe the gods just want us to suffer." She hobbles trying to keep up.

Avalon stops and turns on her heels grabbing Hikari's shoulders, lightly shaking her and states angrily "Do not ever think that way. Sesshomaru is a very special case and I cannot explain to you why but trust me." She emphasizes "We are not meant to suffer."

Hikari just snorts. "If you believed that you wouldn't let anyone treat you like that."

Avalon looks at her sadly, "Do you know air exists?"

"Yes?"

"But you can't see it?"

"Did you know the sun will rise tomorrow?" Avalon gets up and starts walking again.

"Those are things we don't have control over...not that we can control what men do. Do you like when he hurts you?" She trips falling on her knees cursing holding her bad ankle. "It wasn't like this before. Kaede-Sama couldn't fix it."

Avalon kneels down to look at her ankle lifting it up to inspect it. "That wasn't my point Hikari. My point is, some things you just know. I know things that others don't, like this ankle, I may know how to fix it."

'She can fix her?' It was a shocking revelation. He recalled that the incident occurred 2 years ago.

"Really?" Her face lights up.

"Hai, it may take time but I think I can. It will be painful."

"What isn't painful?"

"Ummm lots of things. Petting puppies, smelling flowers."

"You must come from a place that isn't here. They killed the dogs first so they couldn't alert the village."

"Well I am sure we can convince a traveling merchant to bring us some puppies then."

"You have money? Did you have sex to get it? Is that what he gave you?"

"I never used my body for sex and I can get money from other things. I never had sex with Sesshomaru-sama." Since Avalon had been helping Kaede with healing the villagers Kaede had been giving her a small allowance. She figures she can use that to get a puppy.

Avalon manipulates Hikari's ankle and realizes it's dislocated and was never properly re-positioned. She would have to pull it from the odd angle it set in and hope it would fit back in. 2 years was a long time but she hopes the child can recover. She knows she will be laid up for several weeks and would have to get Kaede to agree to care for her during that time if she wasn't there.

Being a freelance translator gave her access to many things, one being a hospital that specialized in orthopedic injuries. Avalon was always one to take the opportunity to learn. She would watch the doctors perform their exams and translate between the doctor and patient. She had to familiarize herself with medical terms and understanding human anatomy since English and Japanese wasn't a word to word translation. The doctors appreciated that she knew what she was talking about it saved a great deal of confusion.

"I can stay with you while I am here but I don't know how long my stay will be. I will have to talk to Kaede to make sure you are cared for while you heal if I am gone."

'Longer than you think. I have no need for you.'

"Everyone always leaves. Should have known you would be the same."

"Hikari, that isn't fair. I don't really have a choice in the matter. If it was up to me I would stay, at least until you were healed but even as you heal I will train you in the meantime."

"Life isn't fair Avalon. If it was my parents would still be alive."

'She thinks I will come back to her like a dog returning to it's master. Fool.'

Avalon pulls Hikari into a hug. "I know all too well, life isn't fair but we must make the best of it. I will do what I can for you while I am able. Come on, let's get going before the rain starts pouring down." Avalon releases her and holds her hand out to her. Hikari takes the offered hand and Avalon pulls her up. Avalon walks back to Kaede's hut with Hirari following. She keeps her pace slow so the child doesn't fall again.

Sesshomaru watches them walk away and wonders if Avalon would be truly generous enough to heal and train the girl. 'I doubt it.' Sesshomaru leaps from his hiding spot once they are out of view in search of Jaken.

In the meantime Avalon arrives at Keade's hut and pulls the flap open to allow Hikari to enter. Kaede is not in the hut and Jaken is absent as well. Avalon hums wondering where they were but knew they would be back once the rain started.

"Hikari, I need to explain what I'm going to be doing and you need to know this is going to be extremely painful," as she points to her ankle.

Hikari gulps.

"When Kaede returns, I will have her gather a couple of the strongest men in the village. I will tell them to hold your leg and I will pull your foot out of its current position. I will have you drink a large portion of sake but I fear it will still be excruciating. Can you handle that Hikari?"

Hikari's eyes widen in fear and she swallows. "They...will they hurt me?"

Avalon reaches out and takes hold of Hikari's shoulder, "Do you remember how this happened?" She points to the ankle. "It looks to me as if you had twisted it perhaps while you ran."

She nodded her head. "Ka-chan, she went to the Okashira because they wanted me again and she said she would go first. But then she bit his face and told me to run. They shot arrows at me, but my foot got stuck in some big roots and I fell. When I got loose I slid down a hill into the river." She thumbs her shoulder quietly. "One hit here." Avalon feels sick to her stomach, the girl had been through so much.

"Do you remember the pain when your foot twisted?"

She nods nervously.

"Well unfortunately it healed wrong and I will have to re-injure it so it can heal properly. The pain will be similar. I'm not forcing you here Hikari. I am leaving this up to you but I want you to know what you are in for."

She closes her eyes thinking then asks Avalon, "Do you miss your parents?"

"Hai, very much."

Hikari closes her eyes, "Ka-chan used to watch me run in the rice paddies. She said it was like watching the light dance on the grass. Will I be able to run again?"

"I can't honestly tell you, if it heals they way I hope then hai you could run again."

Hikari smiles rubbing the scar on her face. "You won't let them hurt me? You'll stay with me?"

"Hikari they will only hold you so I can manipulate your ankle. They won't do anything else to you. I won't let them. I promise."

She nods again. "Okay. It hurts to walk on it anyway."

Avalon goes down and hugs her. "But you need to know for the next few months, you will be in pain. It will be just like when it originally happened."

She shrugs her shoulders and says, "it always hurts. Ka-chan used to give me sweet rice when I hurt myself."

"Well I will see if I can get you some when we are done. Now tell me where do you normally stay?"

She smiles again and flings herself against Avalon. "Kaede-sama said you would be like a big sister!"

Avalon huffs. "Kaede-sama is a pain. Where do you stay Hikari?

"In a house with other children who lost their parents. There's five of us. I'm the oldest. There was another girl but Kaede-sama found her a husband, she can't...not for girls like me."

"How old are the other children?"

"Hina is seven and Yui is three and Haru and Kaito are four and five. I make them dinner and watch them at night."

"Will you be able to make them dinner if you can't walk?"

"Maybe not. I guess you can't fix my foot then."

"I didn't say that Hikari, I'm just trying to figure things out. Hina, can she help make dinner?"

"Probably but she usually burns it. What about that green frog that follows you around. He could help me cook!"

Avalon snorts. "I will have to twist his arm."

"What else does he do all day?"

"It isn't what he does, it's what he is willing to do. He is a stubborn baka."

Hikari laughs covering her mouth. "It feels good to laugh again."

"I'm glad you can laugh Hikari, it is a wonderful sound. I won't set your foot today. I will talk with Keade and figure out everything I will need and then I will get you and we will set your foot."

"Okay," she shrugs pushing herself up on her good arm. "I have chores to do. Ka-chan would like you," she says as she walks out the door.

"Stay safe Hikari."

Hikari only snorts, "a little too late for that."

"Shoo before I tan your hide," Avalon says in a joking manner

She tries to run faster only to face plant again and flops her face in the dirt.

Avalon gets up and helps her up. "Hikari, I told you to stay safe. Now listen to your elders, be careful. Are you going to be okay?"

"That was careful, you should see me when it rains." She exhales and walks stiffly. "It always hurts."

"Well once I set your foot I hope this falling will be a thing of the past."

"Thank you Avalon," she smiles again walking away. "They're going to be hungry soon. I have to go."

"Alright." Avalon waves as she walks away. She sits back and thinks of the things she will need and how to care for the girl once she is gone. She has no way to know when Sesshomaru might show up again. "I will have to talk to Kaede." Avalon sits back waiting for Kaede to show up.

Sesshomaru locates Jaken quickly and lands in front of him.

"Oh Sesshomaru-sama! I am so happy to see you! Are you going to take me away from this wretched place and the ridiculous onna?

Sesshomaru looks down at him. "Ie." Jaken's face falls. "Jaken, I need you to tell me of the girl's progress."

"Avalon?"

"Hikari."

"Hikari, who is that Sesshomaru-sama?"

"Avalon's new deshi (弟子 apprentice). Give her whatever she asks for unless it is a summons of me. She is not to know I was here. Do you understand?"

"Hai, Sesshomaru-sama."

With that Sesshomaru leaps through the trees and out of the village undetected.

Avalon nods off waiting for Kaede. When she hears movement of the flap her head lifts up and Kaede walks in followed by Jaken.

Avalon stands to her full height and starts in a condescending tone "Kaede-sama nazi did you bring me the girl? Did you perhaps think I would take pity on her?"

"Ye looked like ye needed a friend."

"You thought I needed a friend? I have no need for that."

Kaede responds in an old wisen tone, "Really, Ye seemed very lonely to me.

Jaken pipes in, "Who would want to be friends with her?"

Avalon angrily responds, "Gama damare (Shut up toad)." Continuing on in her condescending tone she says, "Kaede-sama, I am not lonely. I am merely alone. There is a difference. I choose to be the way I am."

"So ye did not befriend the girl?"

"Ie I did not, I have become much more it seems. I have conceded to be her sensei."

"What pray tell will ye be will ye be doing?"

"I will teach her self defense. It's not much but it is what I can offer. I also will be fixing her foot."

Kaede stares at Avalon in bewilderment. 'Could the girl really fix her foot?' "Can ye truly fix her?"

"I can put it back where it should be, but it will be up to her to see how well she recovers."

"How would ye know of such things."

"Kaede-sama there are many things I know that others do not. I will not explain how I know them, but I will need help with setting her foot. I also will need help from the villagers taking care of her if I am gone."

"Nani do ye mean 'gone'?"

"I do not know when Sesshomaru-sama will return to collect me. I will go with him at that time. So I will need to teach someone how to help her recover should I not be present."

"I see so ye still intend to leave with the yokai?"

"As hard as it is to understand I would follow him to the ends of the earth and beyond if he would allow me to."

"Ye are correct I do not understand but I can see there is nothing I can do to convince ye to change your mind."

"Will you help me with Hikari?"

"Hai, if ye can fix her foot, can ye fix her arm?"

Avalon presses her lips together. The fact that it is numb and limp tells her there is nerve damage. It is likely a break that healed poorly as it was never set. There is nothing she can do about her arm.

Avalon shakes her head, "The arm is beyond my help."

"Then how will she learn to fight?"

Avalon smiles "One arm is more than enough to fight with."

Avalon explains what she will need for Hikari and Kaede helps plan it out. They will fix her foot tomorrow.

A\N How are you all enjoying my fanfic so far? This is my first ever so please leave a review and let me know what you think. I thrive on knowing my readers are enjoying my writing. Elohiniar has been instrumental in helping coauthor and beta my work.

SabannaLea, I try to update weekly.

ASJS, Thank you for the love, we will get to the tomb I promise and I have every intention of finishing this story.

Emzy2k11, The next chapter is usually a week away.