AN: I posted three chapters today, so be sure to go back to chapter 7 if you missed it!

Disclaimer: I don't see my non-ownership of LoZ or Inuyasha changing anytime soon. The song at the end is called ' Lullaby for a Stormy Night' by Vienna Teng.


After a while of polite conversation, Renado made his way into his house to prepare for his trip to the Goron mines. As soon as the door closed, the children turned their attention to Link. They began to plead with him to allow them to stay and to help fix the problem with the Gorons. Kagome couldn't help the giggle that came from watching Links bewildered look. After a few minutes, Link found himself climbing the base of the mountain to talk to the Goron at the top. The watchman did not even give him a chance to speak before knocking him over the ledge and down to the ground below where his companion stood waiting.

Kagome watched on in shock as Link fell painfully hard onto the ground in front of her. Gathering herself quickly, she rushed over to his fallen form.

"Link!" Skidding to a stop, she fell to her knees beside him, brushing his hair back so she could see his face. "Are you alright? Where does it hurt?"

He gave a weak chuckle at her worried voice.

"I'm fine," he wheezed as he got back up with her help. "The shield absorbed most of the impact. When that Goron hit me, it just knocked the air from my lungs."

He looked down at her face and gave her a gentle smile when he saw the worry in her eyes. Drawing her close to him, he bent down and grazed his lips against hers before whispering in her ear.

"I'm fine."

Their small moment was interrupted when they heard footsteps approach them. Pulling slightly away, they turned and saw Renado make his way to them.

"Ah, Link, how fortunate you are in one piece! I saw you heading up the mountain trail, so I was worried, though it seems not as worried as your lady friend here."

Kagome blushed and looked away when he smiled at her. He turned his attention back toward Link.

"Are you trying to reach the Gorons of Death Mountain? It is far too dangerous, Link! They only recognize strength! A normal person could never persuade them…but…I do know one person who was able to best them and earn their trust…his name is Bo. You may know him as the mayor of your hometown, Ordon. Please go to him. And while you are there, please let him know that the children are safe. Of course, getting them back would be best…but we could not keep them safe from the monsters on the road without a horse and cart… Please…return to Ordon and inform the parents that their children are free from harm. Give them my word. And as for the Gorons…I am sure Bo will be able to tell you how best to win their trust!"

With a nod of his head, he turned and made his way out of the trail and back into the village, leaving the two alone once more.

Shielding his eyes, Link looked up to the suns position.

"If we leave now, we should be able to make it back to my house just before dark."

Kagome looked worriedly up at him.

"Are you sure you want to leave now? That was a pretty big fall; you need to get some rest."

Placing his arm around her shoulders, he began to lead her back to the village.

"I'll rest as soon as I tell the villagers that the kids are fine, I promise."

Kagome sighed.

"I just don't like the idea of you traveling on foot that far without any rest."

"I wish I knew what happened to Epona."

"Epona?"

"My mare," he explained. "The last I saw of her was when Colin, Ilia and I were attacked in Ordon Spring."

They had just reached the entrance to the mountain when they felt the ground began to tremble. They turned their attention in the direction of the spring where they could hear the yells of the children, who were moving out of the way of an approaching cloud of dust. As it came closer to the two warriors, they could begin to see shapes within the cloud.

It wasn't until the cloud stormed past that they could see what caused it.

It was a large mare, and on her back were two bulblins. And it seemed, to Kagome, that she did not want them riding her.

After ridding herself of her unwanted passengers, she turned and ran back the way she came.

"Epona?!"

"What?"

Kagome's question was never answered as Link grabbed onto the horses saddle as she ran past. She watched in fearful anticipation as Link tried to calm her. After what seemed like hours, the horse finally stopped all movement and allowed her master to walk her to the spring to drink and cool down. She made her way to the group of people surrounding the horse.

After a brief discussion with the blonde warrior, it was decided that Kagome would stay and watch over the village while Link took Epona back to Ordon Village to talk to the mayor.

Kagome watched as Link made his way out of the village and turned to find the four children from Ordon staring at her.

"…umm, hi."

The smallest one was the first to speak.

"Who are you and how do you know Link?"

"My name is Kagome, and I met Link while he was searching for you," she patiently began. "I'm not from this area so I offered my help in exchange for his."

They were silent for a moment before the blonde boy spoke.

"My name is Colin, her name is Beth, his is Talo, and that is his little brother Malo."

Kagome smiled down at them. "It's nice to meet you; Link has been very worried ever since he learned that you had been taken."

Talo took his turn to speak. "Have you seen Ilia?"

She shook her head sadly.

"You're the only ones."

She noticed their faces had become crestfallen and though of a way to help fix that.

"Well," she began. "Since it seems that you want to stay here for a while, how about we explore the town?"

Beth gave her a confused look. "Why?"

"Well, to look for a good place to stay for one," she saw that they were thinking on her words. "And for another, just to see if there is anything useful."

"Useful?"

"Yes, like any weapons, cooking utensils, things like that. It could be like a treasure hunt!"

She saw their faces brighten at the idea.

"Why don't we ask Luda if she wants to come along since this is her hometown," suggested Kagome. "She might be able to help us look."

The rest of the afternoon was spent going through all of the empty buildings before deciding to use the inn as their temporary home.

Looking around, Kagome addressed the children.

"Well, it needs a bit of work, but this is the perfect place for all of you to live in until you're ready to go home." The kids cheered at this. "Why don't you go around town and find some things to brighten up the room, and I'll get started on clearing it out."

Talo looked up at her.

"Are you sure you don't want us to help in here?"

"I'm sure; you guys go out and have fun exploring."

They didn't need to be told twice before they ran outside.

The children had been gone for maybe half an hour when Kagome felt, and saw, the building shake.

"This can't be good."

Running down the stairs and out the door, she arrived just in time to see a group of bulblins riding giant boars through the town. Her breath hitched in her throat as she saw Colin's unconscious form in, what looked to be, the leader's grasp.

Looking back the way they came, she saw Beth's still form on the ground. Knowing it would be impossible to chase after them on foot, she made her way over to Beth, to see the extent of her injuries.

She nearly collapsed in relief as she saw Link and Epona come into the town. She slowed down as he stopped beside her.

"What happened?"

"A group of bulblins came and took Colin; I'm going over to check on Beth!"

Giving a nod, Link spurred his horse to run as fast as she could.

It was well past sundown when Link and Kagome made their way to one of the empty houses. After lighting a small fire and putting on a small pot of water to heat, Kagome began rummaging around for something to change into for the night.

Hearing something heavy fall to the ground behind her, she turned to see that Link had dropped his shield and sword and was arching his back, trying to rid himself of some of the tension.

"All right Link."

He turned his confused on eyes on her.

"What?"

"Everything but the pants needs to come off."

"Why?"

"I promised to rub your back earlier, remember?"

Link paused and thought back.

"Oh, yeah, you did, didn't you."

As per her directions, he stripped himself of everything but his pants. Turning to tell her he was finished, he was stopped short at the sight that met him.

Kagome had just finished removing her clothing and was in the process of reaching for a shirt she found. Link particularly enjoyed the view he received when she bent down to retrieve the shirt from the drawer. His eyes took on an odd glint as he silently made his way toward her.

Kagome had pulled on the shirt she found on when she felt an arm wrap around her waist and a pair of warm lips latched themselves on her neck. Giving out a low moan, she tilted her head to give better access to the one holding her.

She rested one hand over top the arm around her waist and the other reached behind her and buried itself into her companion's hair.

Removing his head, Link spun Kagome around and claimed her mouth with his own. Placing his hands on her waist, he picked her up and sat her down on the dresser and continued his assault on her willing person.

"AIEEEEE," a shrill shriek sounded through the night, startling the two and causing them to part.

"TALO, YOU IDIOT!"

Resting his forehead on Kagome's shoulder, let began to chuckle.

"Sounds like Talo decided it would be funny to try and scare Beth," he mused.

"Poor Talo," said Kagome. "I hope Beth doesn't hurt him too bad."

Link laughed at her, until he remembered something.

"Hey! You said you'd rub my back!"

This caused his companion to laugh at the pout on his face.

"I think that might have to wait," she said in amusement.

"Why is that?"

"Because I hear angry footsteps heading in our direction."

Turning toward the door, Link listened.

"Sounds like Beth."

Hopping off the dresser, Kagome quickly pulled on a pair of shorts she had intended on wearing to bed and takes her medicine bag out and puts it on the table beside the bed.

"What are you doing?"

"You haven't seen your back, have you?"

Giving her a confused look, Link turns his back on the mirror above the dresser and looks over his shoulder at it.

"Ouch," he winces.

"Sit on the bed so I can take a look and make sure nothing is too damaged."

"And you're doing this now, why?"

"So when a certain little girl makes her way here, you will have a legitimate reason for having your shirt off," she reasons.

Giving a shrug in agreement, Link does as he's told and sits on the edge of the bed. No sooner had he done that and Kagome began her inspection than the door flew open to reveal an upset Beth.

"Link," the little girl said angrily. "Talo is an idiot!"

"So I hear," Link laughs, and then winces as Kagome applies pressure to a tender area. "Hey now, be careful."

"This come from a guy that got pushed off a ledge and claimed he was fine."

"That was then," he countered. "This is now."

She snorted in response to his logic.

"What are you doing," asked a curious Beth.

"Right before I went back to Ordon on Epona, I was knocked off the ledge by a Goron."

"Are you alright," she gasped with wide eyes.

"He's fine," Kagome said with a bright smile. "See?" Without warning, she slapped Link's back, making him sit up straight with a pained grunt.

"See, Beth," he said through gritted teeth. "Nothing wrong with me."

Beth didn't seem convinced. "How can you tell?"

"Want me to show you," Kagome asked the young girl.

"Sure," Beth said excitedly as she scrambled up on the bed beside Kagome.

"When did I agree to be your little experiment," questioned an amused Link.

"When you decided to be a tough guy and dismiss you injuries," Kagome retorted.

"He does that a lot," Beth said sagely as Kagome giggled.

Taking the little girls hand, she gently glided it across Link's back where bruises had formed.

"Do you feel anything out place," she asked the child. "Like a bump that shouldn't be there?"

Running he hand around Link's back, she frowned. "No," she said as she concentrated.

"That means we don't have to worry about any broken bones."

"That's it?"

"It's bit more complicated than that," Kagome admits. "But since it's getting late and there was a lot of excitement today, I think it's time for everyone to go to bed."

Beth looks down at her lap nervously and fiddles with her fingers. "I was actually wondering if I could stay here with you."

Link and Kagome shared a look.

"Why don't I head over with the boys while you and Kagome sleep here tonight?"

"Are you sure," asked Beth worriedly.

"I'm sure," Link smiled at her. "I'll have a talk with Talo and see if I can get him to stop playing jokes at the wrong time."

Getting up off the bed, he puts on a shirt and his boots and heads out the door. "You two have fun now," he calls back into the room as he leaves.

Shaking her head with a smile, Kagome tucks Beth into the bed before she goes to a nearby closet and takes out some more blankets and pillows and starts to arrange them on the floor.

"What are you doing?"

Kagome glances up at Beth before continuing her work. "I'm making my bed."

"You're going to sleep on the floor?"

"It won't be so bad," Kagome assures her. "The blankets will make it soft."

Beth shuffled nervously, causing Kagome to look over her in worry. "Is there something wrong, Beth?"

"…I wouldn't mind sharing the bed," she says quietly.

Understanding dawned in Kagome's eyes as she got up from the floor and came to sit on the edge of the bed beside Beth.

"These past couple of days has been rough on you, haven't they?"

Beth nods with tears in her eyes.

"Alright," Kagome agrees. Getting up from the bed, she walks around to the opposite side and gets s in after blowing out the candle they had used as their light source. As she laid in the dark, she felt slide closer to her. Remembering doing something similar when she was a little girl, she did the same as her mother did all those years ago. Gathering the girl close, Kagome began humming a tune she learned as a child when her mother held her.

"Little child, be not afraid

Though rain pounds harshly against the glass

Like an unwanted stranger, there is no danger

I am here tonight

Little child, be not afraid

Though thunder explodes and lightning flash

Illuminates your tear-stained face

I am here tonight

And someday you'll know

That nature is so

The same rain that draws you near me

Falls on rivers and land

On forests and sand

Makes the beautiful world that you'll see

In the morning…"