*I DO NOT OWN INUYASHA OR ANY OF ITS CHARACTERS*

*The songs also aren't my own, they're traditional Japanese songs*

Chapter 1

A dark painful intake of breath was my alarm clock in the misty morning. I lay there, watching the early morning mist dissipate as the sun rose to midmorning, giving a raspy gasp of a cynical chuckle at the fact that just yesterday I had complained about a small ache at my shoulder.

My whole body throbbed and pulsed with the loss of blood and the struggle to recover it from healing injuries. Open wounds were not helping nor was the slow blood oozing out of them, indicating that I had little blood left to bleed. The gash on my arm seemed thinner than a long, straight paper cut but as deep as a knifes sharp edge. I licked my blood-caked arm along the obvious cut, hoping the gash wouldn't reopen through the contact.

A tingling pinch tickled my tongue and skin when I licked it forcing me to look at my blood-caked arm with more scrutiny than normal and what I saw certainly surprised me. The wound was gone. Immediately I began to lick as many wounds as I could reach, ignoring the mysterious fixing of my kimono as I worked, only to stop when all I had left were scrapes, scratches, and cuts in places I couldn't reach. I got up stiffly, not wanting to reopen the leftover gashes, and walked cautiously back to the lake.

Small scavenger demons scattered when I went back to the scene, but I saw them long enough to realize that they were the ones who cleaned up the corpses and their bones by feeding their insatiable appetite, though the dirt was still stained a rusty red. Ignoring the little black ball of fur that dashed behind the nearby boulder, I stumbled into the mountain-stream-chilled lake instead of walking over it and let myself sink into its welcome numbness until I was drifting through the lake, my head inches below the surface of it.

I vaguely noticed that the little black demon hiding behind the boulder had left after a moment only to return when I was getting out of the lake into the drying heat of the mid-sky sun. The sun felt like a light blanket around my wet body, especially since I went into the cold lake kimono and all. The little ball of black fur's struggling brought my attention back to it because it was dragging a large cloth with food and bits of cloth I assumed were towels. I was startled to recognize the demon as one like Kilala only the fur colors were reversed on this one.

It scrambled until it was right out of my range before sitting down and watching me expectantly. I couldn't help but give a grim smile before taking the towels to dry my skin and absorb as much water from my kimono as I could because the cloth clung to my skin uncomfortably and weighed a lot more than I expected when wet, like I had weights attached in every movement I made. By the time all the towels were soaked though, my kimono was still somewhat damp and chafing my skin because of it.

My fingers picked at the food as I sighed at the minor discomfort. No matter, it'll dry eventually. I ate the small amount of fruit and vegetables I recognized as well as the few nuts I recognized and the whole time I was eating, the little Kilala-type demon inched closer until it was right next to me. With a casual, but cautious, motion I let my hand wander down to pet the lovely thing to be rewarded with its adoring mewl when it returned my gesture by rubbing its small head against my palm. Then without hesitation or bashfulness, it jumped into my still damp lap and snuggled into an adorable ball there, it's two tails twitching slightly in comfort back and forth. For the first time since I said goodbye to the librarian in my world, I used my voice.

"Are you going to keep me company?" My own voice startled me though my body didn't move. The unfamiliar soft and gentle tone that was now my voice was pleasant to the ears and completely different to what I thought was my own. I tried to ignore the unsettling feeling that I was an alien in a stranger's more perfect body, but truth was often hard to ignore. Instead I focused on the napping adorable demon in my lap who cuddled closer into my lap in response to my question. I laughed and even my laugh unsettled me for the melodic, soothing quality to it.

"I'll take that as a yes." My fingers found themselves scratching behind his ears and he vibrated with silent purring. That such a small demon, no matter how big it can get, approached and helped a demon he must know could kill him after what I did yesterday…this demon is either courageous or a good judge of character….or foolishly naïve. Still, I thought all of these were good traits, even the naïve one. An uncertain smile raised full-feeling lips as a name came to my mind.

"I'll call you Isamu." It mewed again in a sound of agreement. My smile felt more natural now as I pet him. As he slept, I let my mind wander to move past the fear and confusion that was my coming to this world putting it behind me entirely and acting as if I had never lived in the other one. I was here now and judging from my means of transportation I doubt I'm going back any time soon. I frowned as I remembered his painful words. If ever.

I let morbid thoughts go as I breathed in another painfully cold breath of air, the morning chill still lingering just like the low mist. Tips of frost and small patches of snow on the forest floor showed me that winter had not yet left entirely. It must be the start of spring or maybe it already is. Another cold wind blew and shuddered my body by making still damp clothes freezing cold. That's when a song I never knew I knew came to mind and just like that I started to sing.

People say that spring has come, but the wind is rather cold
The bush warblers in the valley are ready to sing their songs
But they cannot sing their songs in such cold weather
But they cannot sing their songs in such cold weather.

The melody, the words, the emotions came to me as if I had known this song all my life. But I hadn't and that frightened me. My alien voice only served to make it worse. Isamu purred softly in his sleep as if he were encouraging me to continue. I couldn't help but smile at his unconscious complementary action. I continued as I thought of the lake and the turmoil inside me.

The ice in the ponds melted and up sprouted the reeds
Then bush warblers in the valley decided to sing their songs
But they could not sing their songs 'cause it snowed day after day
But they could not sing their songs 'cause it snowed day after day.

So much was I focused on the song and the emotions it caused that I was unaware of the presence nearby as I finished the last verse.

I wouldn't have known spring had come if someone hadn't told me
So I decided to hurry to tell my true feelings to my love
But would she receive my love with her warm heart?
But would she receive my love with her warm heart?

I let the last note die out and fade as I recalled that even in my old life, I had never held anyone close to my heart. Isamu startled me by snapping his eyes open, his irises turning into slits, and jumping in front of me as flame engulfed him turning him into a large menacing looking demon. I got up stiffly, quickly, but wearily. I was still just getting over being thrown into another world and attacked by demons. What now?