Author's Notes: Sorry it took so long! I have exams this week, so I'm pretty surprised I was able to finish this chappie. I know its short, but its where I needed to stop for the next chapter. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Still don't own InuYasha...
Chapter 02- Danger Zone
"Well, well, I thought you would come when you smelled me. That's the only thing you're good at…sniffing people out, you mangy dog."
Salem snarled at the pale man. He was a little shorter than Sesshomaru and had eyes the color of coal. His long blood colored hair was tied into its usual ponytail. The man held Shippo by his tail with an amused smirk on his face.
"Let Shippo go!" Salem growled.
"I don't think I heard the magic word my dear Salem," the man said in a sing-song voice.
"Let him go or I'll rip your throat out!"
"Tut tut, such manners. I don't think your daddy will approve."
"My father can go to hell."
"Don't be silly Salem," the man's whole demeanor changed as he continued, "Because without him, you have no chance of defeating me."
"I'm stronger then you think I am."
The man laughed, losing his blood-thirsty aura, "I doubt that little Salem."
Before Salem could snap back, the man went on, "Your mother, Fukayna, should have never given you up. Even though your real father, Damien, left, she should have given you to me. But your mother thought she was being smart by running. I hated to do it, but I guess I turned her villagers on her. I injured her and they did the rest. However, before they could catch her, she managed to find that bastard walking through the woods and even managed to convince the heartless bastard to take her baby…you. If I could've just been seconds sooner with the villagers, you would have never fallen into the hands of Ses-"
"SHUT UP KAFELE!"
The man smirked in understanding, "You haven't told them who your adoptive father is? Oh this is too rich!"
Salem visibly twitched.
Kafele frowned and said, "It seems your traveling companions are here. No matter. I would never be able to control you in this state anyway."
He tightened his free hand into a fist above him like he was grasping something from the air. Kafele then uncurled his fingers to reveal a silvery dust and blew it towards Salem's direction before she could react. The dust afflicted her sensitive nose as it settled onto her clothing.
"There, that should do it," Kafele smirked again.
"What the hell did you do?!" Salem growled.
"All in good time little Salem…all in good time."
With that he disappeared, dropping Shippo very unceremoniously to the ground.
"You ok Shippo?" Salem asked, swaying a little as she walked over to him and gathered the kitsune in her arms protectively.
Shippo nodded solemnly and replied, "Are you ok Salem? You don't look to good."
Salem blinked in an attempt to clear her blurring vision and reluctantly answered, "I don't know."
"I'll go get Kagome and the others! Stay right here!" Shippo exclaimed, jumping out of her arms and bounding away towards the direction of the camp.
"Be careful-" she started only to crumple to the ground in an unconscious heap.
"Poor Salem," Kagome muttered as she soaked a rag and placed it on Salem's forehead to cool her raging fever.
"Oi brat! You're sure you didn't catch a scent of this Kafele?" InuYasha growled at Shippo.
Shippo shook his head sadly, "He didn't smell like anything, except for ash and smoke. He definitely didn't his own scent."
"Is that even possible?" Miroku asked as he heated some water over a fire.
"I…don't know," InuYasha muttered, "I'm not that old ya know. I don't know a lot about the different types of demons. There's only one person I know that might and he's pretty young for a demon too. AND I REFUSE TO ASK HIM!"
Sango, Miroku, and Kagome exchanged exasperate looks.
"It's Sesshomaru isn't it?" Kagome asked.
InuYasha nodded sullenly.
"Well if he's the only person who can help Salem then I don't think we have a choice," Sango deducted.
"Don't want…that…asshole's help," Salem groaned before slipping back into unconsciousness.
"What does that mean?" Sango asked.
The others shrugged, except for Shippo, who yawned.
"We'll go to sleep and then take Salem to Sesshomaru in the morning. InuYasha, since you don't look like you're going to sleep any time soon, do you think you could watch Salem while we sleep?" Kagome asked.
InuYasha thought about disagreeing, but decided that it wouldn't be wise to piss Kagome off when she was tired, "Sure Kagome."
No no no! Kagome was going to kill him! He dozed off for five minutes and when he woke up, Salem was gone! She left her kimono, but he assumed that she wore battle garb underneath it anyway. Maybe her fever had caused her to remove the kimono and seek out a river? But then what if she drowned in the river?! This was very bad.
"Damn it," InuYasha muttered, sniffing the air around the camp.
The only place he could get a scent was from her kimono and it was throwing his tracking off. If he couldn't find the feverish half-demon soon…
A rustle from the kimono pulled InuYasha out of his thoughts, causing him to whirl around and sniff cautiously.
"Who's there?" InuYasha snapped sharply as he approached the kimono, thinking that a lower demon was hiding behind it.
His harsh tone incited a whimper.
"Come out!"
A little girl with long, thick black hair and silver eyes stepped wriggled around and poked her head out of the too-big kimono. Her ears were pointed delicately and her skin practically glowed in the light of the full moon.
InuYasha gaped at her, "Salem?"
The little girl's expression brightened when she saw InuYasha. She stood up, holding the kimono around herself, and waddled awkwardly over to InuYasha.
She beamed up at him in pure happiness and asked, "Sesmaru?"
Author's Notes: ta da! Hope you enjoyed. Please review! I would really appreciate it.