Thank you to everyone who has been reading my story, It always makes me happy to see my views increase. Feel free to ask any questions or just post comments I always love reading them, and if you like the story remember to follow to get the next chapter. My updates are sporadic but they do happen. And Once again thank you for reading.

Chapter 3

The winter season seemed to fly by, upon the miko's request Father had stayed in the village even after the snow had melted away. Father informed the miko he only planned to stay until late spring, when his child came upon her fourth year. Though Father's impudent imp follower had arrived mid-winter, the miko,with child once more, offered to again send one of her children along to care for his daughter. Father agreed once again to allow his niece to travel along, she had turned nine during the winter season and Father had sent the imp to find a gift appropriate for the young girl. Though Father would never admit it he'd become attached to the young girl, spoiling her in the same ways he spoiled his own daughter. As Ran's birthday came upon them, Father was forced to allow the miko the chance to throw his daughter a small festival that she called a birthday party. Father didn't understand the concept of it but assumed it was a human tradition, given their short lifespans.

Almost time for his daughter's fourth year the annoying imp managed to make his way back with gifts for both girls. For his niece a small hair comb made from a shell, it was very simple in design but seemed to suit the girl. For Ran the imp had found a more elegant hair comb which held a large cherry blossom with flower petals streaming down it, as well as a new kimono bearing the same design as Father's but in aqua. The kimono was much too large for either girl so Father sat it aside for a later date. With the small festival over and the gifts given to both girls, the trio made their way to Bone Eater's Well,where A-Un was waiting patiently for them to arrive. Helping the girls once again onto A-Un, Father set off, leaving his incompetent follower behind in the village. Much to Father's dismay his niece fell ill within the week, her body was hot, her breathing ragged, she had to vomit every few hours, and she had harsh sounding cough that kept her up during the night, her usually soft lily scent turned to a sour odor. The second night of coughing and chills he realized it wasn't going to go away so he held his daughter in his arms and let his niece rest on A-Un until they could make it back to the miko's village.

It took them almost two days to make it back, they arrived at the village around eight in the morning, villagers were out working fields, children playing, and out by the large herb garden was the miko, hold a basket of herbs scolding some village children for playing in the garden. Sitting his daughter down she grabbed his pant leg after receiving the satchel of goods and waited until Ana was in Father's arm before reaching up to take his hand he'd held out for her. Briskly making his way towards the miko, she looked up to see her daughter's pale face cuddled to Father's mokomoko. Dropping her basket she rushed towards him to see her child, her hair was plastered to her face and she was shaking as though she was freezing, every so often she'd cough. The miko reached to take her daughter only to have Father pull her away from the miko's reach. The miko growled at Father before he gestured to her extended stomach. Realizing the futility of it she called for her oldest child to take his sister to their house and to begin preparing cool water and blankets. After handing the child to the boy, Father picked up his own daughter and followed the miko, answering her questions as she asked them. Satisfied with the answers from Father she sent him on his way to care for his own child, who had been lulled into sleep by the warmth of his mokomoko.

Father carried her back to their temporary home and laid her down on a pile of freshly laundered blankets, letting her keep his mokomoko as she slept. Exiting the house Father encountered one of the demon slayer's twins carrying a large bowl with rice and fish in it. The child smiled at him, but kept her distance, as she held the food out to Father. Father knew she wasn't being rude but cautious, like her mother had taught her, he was a powerful demon and though he felt no ill will towards them or the village, it was always respectful to show that she understood his immense power. Father took the bowl and motioned for the child to follow him into the house, bowing slightly in acknowledgment, she followed him in. Though they hadn't been gone but a week they had managed to stop my a village within that time, Ran had been talking nonstop about the twins and how their birthday was almost there, Ana had informed him they were turning fifteen and that humans celebrated becoming an adult at such an age. Father had followed the girls to a stand selling fine goods, though the human custom of giving gifts on the day of one's birth still confused him, he found satisfaction in choosing items for those other than himself.

Reaching into the satchel at his child's side Father pulled out two elongated bags with the strings drawn, one was sakura colored and the other dark blue. Handing one of the bags to the child, he motioned for her to open it. Carefully she slid a fan out of the bag, carefully opening the fan she found a great, black, dog demon flying through clouds at sunset painted across the fine fabric, a light knock sounded at the door as the other twin made her entrance. Looking at what he sister held in her hand Father handed the blue bag to the other sister, sliding open the bag she pulled out the fan and opened it, on the dark fabric was a great, white, dog demon flying through the night, it's tail seemed to demote that it was from the moon, descending to the earth through the clouds. Smiling, both girls bowed in gratitude and exited the house. Sitting the bowl of food down for his daughter to find, Father made his way to the miko's home to check on his niece.

On the porch was the miko, emptying water from a pail before sighing and sitting down, father sat beside her. The miko told Father his niece has something called influenza, and that she should be fine in a week or so, he should however try to keep Ran away so she didn't catch it. Father agreed and though Ran wasn't allowed to visit, Father visited her often, usually to bring her odds and ends that Ran had found or made for her. It took everything he had to stand by patiently as his niece got well. Though not a day after she was free of her sickness Ran fell sick. Shear panic consumed Father, though his face was as impassive as usual, he refused to leave her side. Her breathing ragged, it sounded painful to Father's sensitive ears, her coughing fits kept her awake most nights, and while the sour odor of her sickness stung his nose he refused to leave her side. To help relieve her coughing father would pull her into a half seated position and hold her while she slept. Every morning the miko would come to check on Ran and assess her condition.

It took only four days for the "flu" to run it's course. The miko claimed it was probably because of her partial daiyouki blood. Ran awoke the next morning wide eyed and happy as could be, and started to prepare her belongings to leave the small home. Father took the items from her and returned them to where they had been. Kneeling to look his daughter in the eyes Father explained to her that they would be staying in the village a while longer so there was no need to pack her things away. Pure delight lit up her eyes and her eyes stood straight up with excitement. Running out the door Ran made her way to the miko's house to spend time with her cousins. Father stepped out of the house and followed her, looking for InuYasha. Not finding him at his home Father decided to follow his nose and found him sitting on the edge of the bone eater's well, looking like he was lost in thought. He hadn't even noticed Father walking towards him. Annoyed at being ignored, Father picked up a pebble and threw it at InuYasha's head, like he would with his incompetent follower

When the pebble hit, InuYasha looked up to glare at the intruder of his thoughts, realizing the source of annoyance was his brother he stood up to confront Father. Father motioned for him to sit back down as he took a seat, Father explained that he and his daughter would be staying in the village for a undetermined amount of time. Usually Father would do as he pleased, however like it or not InuYasha was the guardian of the miko's village and felt a need to relay his decision. The look on InuYasha's face was a mixture of disbelief and happiness, Father assumed it was because he would no longer have to allow Ana to travel with Father. Father stood and began to walk away, InuYasha called out that Father should inform the miko about his decision so she could prepare things to make his home more comfortable. Father just nodded and continued on his way to inform the miko and Ran.