I had been wrong. I had been so very wrong.

Kagome's friends had accepted me with open arms. Though, I did not doubt they were wary due to my non-Japanese appearance, they did not judge. How could they? They were a mix of humans and demons all living together. Something like that was rare, even in the present.

Demons and humans did not normally mingle. No, demons stayed away from humans. And perhaps that was for the best. I know I would have panicked if my child suddenly grew dog-ears. I snickered and looked over the group of Kagome's friends.

Out of all of them, I liked Sango the best. Her strong personality and history had me interested. I admired her strength and her hope.

If I had to choose a member of Kagome's small group that I did not like I would have to say the small fox demon. There was something about that cute exterior that I could not quite place my finger on.

While ha had done nothing to me as of yet, I felt wary around him. But I decided against showing it. If my suspicions were correct, I had better no show anything. And so, I treated him like I would have treated any other acquaintance.

Night had fallen and the group had retired to Sango and Miroku's hut. Kaede, the old priestess, had insisted that Kagome and I stayed in her hut during their stay and I had accepted on our behalf. To be fairly honest, I was not all too excited on the idea of staying in a small hut with three children, InuYasha, and Kagome's friends. Including the fox…

No. Kaede's hut seemed far more tempting.

But at the moment we had created a circle around the fire in the middle of the hut. Sango made tea in a large black pot over the heat. It smelled like lavender. Perfect for a late night tea.

I often used lavender before going to bed. It was the most relaxing scent I knew. It calmed my nerves and allowed me to sleep peacefully.

"Lady Hannah?"

Miroku's thoughts brought me out of my musings. "Miss Moore, Master Monk."

"I apologize. Are you feeling alright?"

"Yes. I'm so sorry. It would seem I got lost in my own thoughts for a while." I gave him a smile. "Did you ask me something?"

"Yes. Lady Kagome told me you come from a far away land."

I nodded and kept my smile on my face.

"Yes, I do."

"Can you tell us? What's it like?" It was a small girl in the back of the hut that wore a purple kimono. She could not be more than eight years old by my count. I had learnt that her name was Rin, but other than that, the girl was a complete stranger to me. She seemed rather cute, though.

"Well," I started and leaned my back against the wooden walls. "It's a very beautiful country with high mountains and large forests. We have the world's longest coastline." I hummed. "The people that live there are very indifferent and cold, but that's mostly due to their stressful lives. Whenever you meet someone outside work, they are relaxed and joyous."

"Do you have a job?"

It was Sango who had asked.

"I do," I smiled. "I'm currently working as a professor at the main university in Japan, which is where I met Kagome. I teach history, but occasionally I teach English, which is a commonly called Lingua Franca. It's basically a language you use whenever you travel to make sure you are understood in every country. It's rather useful."

"Why?"

This time it was the small girl, Rin.

I smiled.

"While it's handy to know several languages there are many schools that don't have good teachers. Some countries don't even have proper schools at all, and therefore, English is a good language to know. I chose to learn Japanese because of my family history, but my native language is Norwegian," I explained.

The girl simply blinked.

"How many languages do you speak?" asked Sango.

"Eh…" I bit my lips as I counted. "I speak seven languages, but on different levels. Like – I can't write Japanese, but I can make myself understood speaking it. It's the opposite for my Danish. I can read it without issue, but it's hard to speak."

"I see…"

"Why did you choose history?" Shippou asked. "The past is in the past. We can't do anything about it."

"Well, I see your point, but that usually works for one individual trying to get over, or even justify, their actions. The reason why I chose history is because it's interesting to read and learn how other cultures and countries lived before us. But also about big leaders' mistakes throughout the years – so that we never make the same mistake again – like war. You see – you can make a mistake only once, if you do it twice, it's a choice."

Miroku nodded in thought.

"It makes sense, my Lady. So you teach?"

I raised my eyebrow at the monk. "I just sad that I teach."

He blinked. "I apologize. I mean no offense, but it is highly uncommon for women to have such important jobs."

I huffed and crossed my arm. "I'm not offended."

'… but I should be,' I mentally added.

From my readings and studying I knew for a fact that there had been no such thing as women's rights until late nineteenth century. It had always provoked me how men would display women as objects and only half-human. Though the women were beautiful, they were treated poorly.

I barely managed to hide my scowl.

Being the proud, independent woman I was I had issues with men's degrading comments. Looking into Miroku's brown eyes, I sighed.

I would have to keep myself in check. These were Kagome's friends from the past. They knew nothing of our time and its customs.

"When I first met Hannah, I assumed she was any ordinary student. She is only a year older than me, you see," Kagome said. "I talked to her and I remember saying that I hoped that the teacher wasn't too strict. Imagine my horror when Hannah walked right up to the teacher's desk and introduced herself."

Hannah laughed. "Yes! I remember I gave you a hard time the first week. I had so much fun whipping you about the classroom."

Kagome laughed with me. "We became good friends."

I nodded, grinning.

When Kagome had arrived at the university, I saw her running to the front gates, obviously thinking she was late for class. Her expression when she realized class did not start until nine o'clock that day had me laughing.

She had approached me first and from the first day I realized that I liked this girl – so warm and open.

"Lady Hannah?" It was Rin again. I looked at her.

"Miss Moore would be sufficient, sweetheart."

She nodded. "Miss Moore, why is your hair so strange?"

I blinked.

Kagome laughed.

"My hair isn't strange…" I let my fingers trace the French braid I had made earlier that evening. "Where I come from most people have this hair color. But to you, I suppose any color besides black is strange?" I smiled at the young girl.

She shook her head, no.

"Lord Sesshoumaru has silver hair. It's really, really pretty!"

Not knowing how this Lord Sesshoumaru looked like I only nodded my head and kept my smile. But then again, "Just like InuYasha's hair?"

"Keh!"

Glancing at the half-demon positioned with Kagome beside him, I saw him cross his arms – obviously annoyed. "Don't you dare compare me to that heartless bastard!"

"I'm sorry?" I looked at Kagome for an explanation to the half-demon's sudden outburst. InuYasha had not spoke to me since the greetings at the well, and I had not yet had the time to judge his character. Such things were extremely important to me, considering the fact that I could openly talk about just about anything. Meeting new people served difficult – such as this situation.

"InuYasha and Sesshoumaru are brothers," Kagome explained.

"Half-brother!" cried InuYasha.

"… They share the same father, but InuYasha has a human mother."

"Okay…?" This did not explain his outburst though.

"They don't get along very well…" she sighed.

I felt there were more to Kagome's explanation, but she did not voice it. I simply nodded in understanding and let the matter drop. It was not any of my business after all.

I sipped my cooling tea, complimenting Sango for her skill.

"I have only just mastered making this tea. It was something I didn't practice while we were traveling," she answered. "The only tea we would drink were those tea bags Kagome would bring from her time."

"Really?"

Sango nodded.

"That type of tea isn't especially good for you," I explained. "Some, if not most, contain these sweeteners in the bags that you don't see. You might not even taste them, but they are there. Which is why I only buy herbs and dried leaves when I make my tea."

It was true. I had checked.

"But to be honest, Sango, I prefer your tea. It's delicious."

She bowed in gratitude.

oOo

When the hours grew late into the night I finally began to feel tired, and eventually I excused myself from Sango and Miroku's hut. InuYasha and Kagome had disappeared not too long before I decided to leave and I grinned at the thought of what the two might be doing.

Not that I could blame them.

After three years apart from the one she loved, I really would not blame the sweet, innocent Kagome for wanting to be with InuYasha. Besides, they probably needed the privacy to talk.

InuYasha did not strike me like a man who openly acted upon his feelings. I could imagine him to be quite shy.

The cool air greeted me as I began the trek back to Kaede's hut. The first day had been interesting enough.