InuYasha's golden orbs spotted a golden head as he walked towards the small river that ran past Edo. He had been meaning to talk to the strange, foreign woman. The previous night, Kagome talked to him. However, there was something she was avoiding to tell him. It made him curious.

And so, InuYasha had made it his mission to talk to Hannah. The woman was bound to know.

The look on Kagome's face did not indicate anything good.

A painful tug in the half-demon's chest had a clawed hand run across, trying to soothe the ache away. He could not risk losing Kagome once again now that she had finally returned to him. No, he would do anything to keep her with him. He would even plead.

Was this the reason Kagome had been acting so strange?

InuYasha growled and shook his head.

He had to ask he foreigner.

Hannah had been difficult to track, he found. He scent, though unmistakably different, was weak – almost non-existent. He frowned at that. He could not recall smelling her scent from the well, either.

As he walked closer to the golden-haired woman he took notice of her peaceful, sun-kissed face.

She was lying on her back, arms crossed behind her head, her hair pooling around her – oblivious to his presence. Her strange, blue eyes were closed.

The sun bathed her form as her feet soaked in the cool water of the river, and the wind played with her golden locks.

He cocked his head to the side. She may be strange, but she was indeed beautiful.

As he came to stand beside her body, he sat down, crossing his arms and his legs. If she had noticed his presence she did not give it away. Not wanting to wait for her to do so, he announced himself rather rudely.

"Oi…"

She popped an eye to look at him. "Yes? Can I help you, InuYasha?"

Her voice was soft, polite. She looked slightly annoyed.

Never being one to beat around the bush, he jumped right to it. "Why was Kagome acting so strange the other night?" he asked.

Hannah raised an eyebrow at him. "I'm sorry?"

"Are you deaf, woman?" he frowned. "I asked you why Kagome –"

She waved her hand dismissively in the air. "I heard you, I heard you, I heard you. What I meant to ask politely is what you mean?"

InuYasha scoffed. "I – Kagome and I went for a walk. She seemed… secretive. Like there was something she kept away from me. Whenever I asked her, she refused to answer."

Not quite understanding what he was talking about, she asked, "Do you think she has reasons to be secretive?"

"I don't know!" he exclaimed.

"Alright, alright, alright! Chill, dog…" she rolled her eyes and sat up from her position on the ground. She steeled her blue gaze onto the half-demon. "If Kagome has a secret, don't you think that there's a good reason for it?"

InuYasha huffed.

Hannah sighed. "I'll give you a few questions I want you to memorize. First, always ask yourself if it's any of your business. If it's not, don't stick your nose into it! People have secrets because they don't want others to know. Are you with me?"

He nodded, slowly.

"Great! Second, if it is your business – remind yourself what kind of person you are dealing with. Who they are, how they are, but most importantly – who are they to you. If they are truly close to you, you must tread very carefully. Some secrets are greater than others. So think about how the other person would react to your prying. Would you really risk losing someone dear to you because you were curious? Just imagine the outcome. Is it really worth it?"

"Keh! Kagome's my…" he blushed and stared into the grassy ground. "She's my future mate."

Hannah's eyes widened significantly. "I'm sorry?" she breathed.

InuYasha shot to his feet, hands clenched into fists. "Why? Because I'm a filthy half-breed and not good enough for her?" he exclaimed.

Hannah blinked. "For the love of Blovas – will you relax? By that I meant – what." She craned her neck to look at him. "Please, sit back down. I absolutely hate it when people stand above me like that. And I don't have anything against you being a half-demon, InuYasha. I like you."

He hesitated, but resumed his former position beside her.

"Tell me," she urged.

The half-demon smiled. "I asked her – yesterday, by the Goshinboku tree where we first met – if she wanted to be my mate. She agreed." His brows furrowed. "But then she became so sad."

Hannah sighed.

"I figured you might know since you're Kagome's friend and all," he continued and looked at her.

"Look, InuYasha," Hannah started and turned her eyes away from his intense gaze, "if you have any questions about Kagome there is only one person to ask, which is Kagome. I can't answer you. When you are concerned about a certain someone, don't go about his or her friends, please. Always go directly to the cause."

Golden eyes narrowed. "So you don't know?"

Hannah grinned. "I think I have a fair clue as to what it is, but it's not a secret…" Before the half-demon was able to open his mouth she continued, "but I'd talk to Kagome if I were you."

"So you do know!"

"Be quiet, will you?"

"I knew it!"

"InuYasha," Hannah turned serious, "you should not hear this from me, so go talk to you… mate-to-be. Okay?"

He gave her a look before he nodded. As he moved to stand, Hannah's hand reached out and grabbed the leg of his fire-rat hakama.

"Let go of me!"

Hannah stood, slowly. Her blue eyes burned into his golden. She went to grasp the sleeve of his haori. "Whatever Kagome tells you, InuYasha, you will remain calm. Kagome has tried and failed to tell you something that she knows is difficult for you both. The last thing she needs is you freaking out over it. Do you understand?"

He nodded.

"Kagome is one of dearest friends and I will not stand by and watch you hurt her. She went through extreme lengths to get back to you," she said slowly. The wind picked up around them, and despite the warmth of his fire-rat kimono, it bit his skin. "If you ever do something to that sweet girl I'll chop off your testicles, roast them and feed them to you before I shove your sword so hard up your ass you'll feel the tip right behind your teeth!" The she smiled sweetly and the sudden gust of wind disappeared, "Okay?"

InuYasha's mouth gaped, but he nodded nonetheless. He turned on his heel and quickly walked away from her. Glancing back, he saw her lie back down on the grassy ground. Somehow, his talk with Hannah had only left him as confused as he had been in the first place. If not even more.

However, he learned one more thing about her – she was dominant. And scary.