Chapter title sucks, I know….

Chapter 12: Blade known as Beauty

(Note: The character Katana/Hitomi is mine and mine alone. And I'm really sorry if you hate it when people add their own characters to their fan fics. Gomen nasai! Also italics when I used them mean either a dream or a memory. Just so you know!)

Katana woke up to much pain and coldness. The wind from the opening of the cave seemed to blow right in her face and cut through the strange cloth cocoon she was wrapped in. Her veins burned with Naraku's poison, her wounds felt like they were on fire, and her fever was up again. She didn't know where she was or how she got there but there was one thing she did know; she couldn't move without rousing a lot of pain. And that she was hungry!

She was lying face up, propped up on many pillows, so after the blur of sleepiness and sickness faded from her sight, she was able to strain her neck a little to look at the figure at the camp fire. He was stirring a pot of something (that smelled REALLY GOOD!) on the fire. She couldn't get a good look at him because his back was turned to her (probably hasn't realized she was even up yet) but she could see that he was wearing an off white under shirt, hidden beneath long silver hair, and red hakamas. It didn't take her long to realize where his matching red haori was; around her.

She cradled her head as the intense headache pounded relentlessly in her skull. Suddenly images flashed across her mind, most of them with a figure in red in them though they were so fleeting, she couldn't get a closer look as they vanished like wisps of a dream. She tried to sit up but her muscles burned with the effort to move and she ended up falling back into the strange blankets and fluffy, gasping in pain. This caused the man in red to glance her way for a moment before continuing what his was doing.

"Morning," he said in a bored tone. Katana waited till her head didn't feel like it was going to spilt into two before responding back. "Where am I?" She asked weakly. Her voice sounded dazed and almost completely alien to her own ears.

The man in red poured some soup from the pot into a bowl and crawled over to her. "You're at a cave not far from where you had that battle." He lifted up her shoulders as she cried out in pain and leaned her against the cave wall. She got a good look at his face once her pain subsided.

He had tan skin that really stood out with his silver hair, as if he was out in the sun a lot, with two little dog ears perched ever so cutely on his head, hidden in his silver mane that her fingers itched to pet. He had a handsome face, currently set in a bored expression but his eyes gave off an impression that he was on his guard. His eyes had a golden hue that shown like liquid amber in the firelight and it made her think of her own unnatural purple colored ones. Not to mention she saw fangs when he talked. His aura was strong but it wasn't as strong as a real demon's or as weak as a human's. She came down to one conclusion: he was a Hanyou. And with those adorable ears, sharp fangs and razor sharp claws, the must be a dog Hanyou.

"Can you feed yourself?" he asked as he fetched the bowl and put it on a mat next to her with a pair of chop sticks and sat in a crouched position as if ready to spring back to work if she could. Katana leaned over and tried to pick up the sticks or the bowl but both caused too much pain for her to grasp either and she sighed in defeat before slouching against the wall behind her, cursing her own weakness. The man in red sighed as he sat down by her, picked up the bowl, put the bowl's rim to her lips and slowly let the hot soup into her mouth. Katana drank hungrily as the soothing hot liquid slid down her throat and into her stomach, causing her to feel immediately warm against the cold air. After a few gulps, he put it down to give her some water from a cup and she chose this opportunity to ask a few questions.

"Who are you?"

Inuyasha looked down at the girl with a silver brow raised. For someone who he remembered punching and biting him, he thought for sure she would have recalled him in one form or another. "I'm the guy who saved you from being torn apart by a fucking lot of demons."

Inuyasha couldn't help but look at her violet eyes. They were probably the deepest shade he had ever seen and were laced with a knowledge…of one who learned many things and knew many secrets…their true beauty shadowed by the presence of pain. He almost felt sorry for her…almost…he never did like to be bitten…

Katana blushed in embarrassment as she adverted her eyes to avoid the intensity of his gaze. "…I'm sorry. I don't remember much." She replied softly, her throat feeling like she had swallowed a basket of glass shards or the like.

Of course that wasn't true. Now that she was more awake, Katana remembered most of that battle and the events that had lead to it but it was more like a fevered dream, coming in flashes as if she was merely watching it and not really doing it. However it felt as if she was missing information about something… something important… but the more she picked at it in her head the more it seemed to fade. There was a reason she didn't want to be here… a reason she wanted to get away…

Her head started to ache painfully and she groaned.

Inuyasha eyed the girl wearily. Though she seemed sincere, he couldn't shake the feeling that she wasn't telling him the whole truth. He shoved the thought to the back of his mind. That was a problem for another time. "Do you remember anything at all?"

Katana nodded weakly. This sickness was really taking its toll so he probably thought her slow and helpless. Though her pride smarted, she was content to let him think that for now…he will learn otherwise eventually when she was better. Kami she hated to have to rely on people!

"What is your name?" He asked, curiosity filling his beautiful golden eyes as he anticipated her response. He could almost bet money that it involved a weapon.

Katana was about to answer when she erupted into a fit of coughs. They were so painful that it felt like her lungs were being torn apart and it lasted for what seemed like hours but was only a few minutes. When she was finished she slumped against the cold cave wall once again, exhausted. What was happening to her?

The man in red leaned over with a rag and wiped the corner of her mouth and Katana saw that there were crimson patches on it; her blood. "Sango had said that you might do that. She's the one who patched you up last night. You had been poisoned when…someone had shot you with an arrow during the fight and she and another one of our friends had gone to get you a rare herb that would make you better." He put the rag by a bowl of warm water, one that she could assume that he was wiping her face with earlier and reached for the glass of water again so that she could drink from it. "You're lucky we're familiar with this particular type of poison." He said with a hint of anger in his voice as he helped sit her up straighter so she could drink without choking. She felt sick to her stomach as she felt bile rise to her throat though she had only had a little soup but she drank anyway, clearing her mouth of the coppery after taste of blood.

"My…gasp name is…Hitomi." Katana managed to squeak out as he laid her back again. She sort of felt bad about lying to the man about her name and the battle but she wasn't sure if she could trust him…not even if he was a handsome dog hanyous with gorgeous golden eyes and irresistible ears!. She hadn't been able to trust anybody since Naraku...he would have to prove he is trustworthy.

The man in red smiled and started to snicker and Katana narrowed her eyes. "Is something funny?" she demanded hotly, her voice now husky after her coughing episode. The man in red just shrugged casually. "I only thought it would mean something like 'knife' or 'sword' or something like that. Certainly not 'beautiful'. That was the last thing I thought your name would be."

Katana glared at the red figure in front of her. And she had thought him handsome! "And why is that?" she demanded. The man in red just waved his hand as if to dismiss the subject. "Never mind. You don't remember." Katana glared more intensely. "Don't remember what?" She wanted to know God dammit! He only gave her an annoyed look that said Just-Drop-It-Or-We'll-Get-Into-A-Fight and Katana gave him a fortified glare that said I-Already-Think-You-Should-Spontaneously-Combust-So-You-Might-As-Well-Tell-Me-Cause-I'm-Gonna-Keep-Bugging-You-Anyway.

Finally Inuyasha sighed in defeat, deciding it was no big deal to succumb to her will this once. "When I met you, you were in a battle with a whole army of demons, killed most of them and you were slowly dying for the poison they gave you so I had to defend you before they killed you. I came in there, killed the rest of the army and their leader threw a bomb at you so I had to save you from that instead of going after the leader and I tried to bring you here, but you struggled, punched and even BIT me so I thought is why I though your name would have a meaning like 'sword' instead of 'beautiful'."

Katana wasn't sure if she should be offended or complimented. Sure, her real name did mean "blade" but was he really all that impressed by her battle tactics? And was she homely enough that wouldn't be considered to have a name that meant "beautiful"? She wasn't sure…he seemed to be acting extra friendly for some reason. Maybe he was trying to lead her into a false sense of security to get information out of her…she wasn't quit sure. For now she just nodded. "I see. Well thank you for saving my life. What would like as payment?" she asked calmly. For some reason she couldn't fathom, she wanted to get away from him as quick as possible if she could.

Inuyasha just shrugged once again. No point in not telling her the truth. "I just want those jewel shards those demons were after." He stated casually, as if it was just a minor detail. Katana paled, surprised at his observation before remembering that she had known that when he had helped her. "How do you know that is what they were after?" she asked coolly, concentrating on her hands, hoping that he couldn't sense the shards like some could.

Inuyasha suddenly filled with such hate and anger that Katana flinched. "Let's just say that I know their commander." He flexed his claws and the sound of cracking knuckles filled the cave as his hand shook with rage. Every time he even thought of that bastard, Naraku, his boil started to boil!

Katana hung her head shamefully. "I'm sorry but I think I have hidden them somewhere and I don't remember. And even if I did I wouldn't be able to give them to you." She knew he was going to ask why but she suddenly felt very tired and inwardly she groaned. She spent too much energy during that battle… she needed to recharge still and it won't wait till she's done with breakfast. And the food was so good!

"Sir, can I go back to sleep? I'm very tired all of a sudden. I promise to answer more of your questions when I wake up again."

Inuyasha nodded, seeing her apparent fatigue and helped her slide back underneath the covers. "Get plenty of rest. And don't call me sir."

Katana yawn/coughed as she welcomed the warmth of her blanket cocoon. "What should I call you then?" she asked with a sleepy detached voice as her eyes started to close with painful slowness.

He started to clean up the food mess, whisking away the bowl from her side and crawling back toward the fire. "My name is Inuyasha."

Katana giggled. And he was making fun of me! "That was the first thing I thought your name would be Dog Demon." She mumbled so softly that if he hadn't started screaming in the next instant she would have thought he hadn't heard her.

"HEY!" Inuyasha screamed and was about to throw the clay bowl at her unprotected face but his cry of outrage fell on deaf ears for she was already asleep. "Why did they make me promise to be nice?!" he mumbled to himself as he recalled that night's events…

Miroku sat beside him quietly as Sango tended to the "Savage Wench"…or that's what Inuyasha called her when he brought her into the confines of the cave and she bit him. Violent girl that one: fought every second as if she was in a feverish sleep. Shippo was fast asleep in the corner, cuddled up in an orange "sleeping bag", one of the many that Kagome had brought to them earlier in the winter.

He knew they were all dying to ask questions…especially Miroku. The girl may be aggressive but she was a female with a pulse who happened to be rather attractive and Miroku being the person that he is…Inuyasha already felt like pounding his face. Fortunately they've figured that he is in an irritable mood so they've left him alone for now.

Sango finally got the girl into a restless sleep in a green sleeping bag (that had been formally Kagome's sleeping bag that she left with Sango) and joined the group around the fire grimly. "I bandaged all the wounds: she was beaten pretty badly. And I managed to stop the bleeding and get her cleaned but the poison that is in her body is the same one that I had when I breathed in too much of Naraku's miasma…she's having trouble breathing and her body constantly fights it and it leaves her weak and feverish."

Miroku shook his head at this unfortunate information, "How long does she have?"

Sango sighed sadly, "The poison travels slowly but she was shot with an arrow so that it entered directly into the blood stream while I had only inhaled it. I think that if she gets enough food, rest, and warmth…maybe a few days at the most." Inuyasha glanced over at the figure tossing restlessly under the covers in a half annoyed-half concerned way. For a moment, he considered the thought of just leaving her to die but knew Kagome would have his head when she found out and preferred not to even suggest it to the group because they would never abandon a person in need. And wasted effort on his part for rescuing her. "Is there nothing you can do?"

"If we had the antidote we can save her," replied Sango with an undertone of frustration. "But we don't have the antidote…Naraku does." Inuyasha sat there thoughtfully for a moment before picking up his sword and placing it in his lap. "Let's get going then." He announced, searching their faces for their reactions and thoughts of this plan.

Sango stared at him in a most peculiar way as if she couldn't believe what she just heard. "Excuse me?" Inuyasha glanced over his shoulder as if annoyed that she was even giving him that look. "You SAID the only way to save her is to treat her with the antidote right?" he replied in an irritated tone. Sango nodded slowly, still confused by his stupidity. Miroku had already guessed where this was going and rolled his eyes.

"And since Naraku has the antidote I thought the answer was obvious…we go find Naraku and fight him for the antidote as well as the shards!" Inuyasha continued in a determined voice, gripping the sword tightly and standing up, turning toward the cave entrance.

Miroku sighed and pulled him back down into his seat before smacking him on the head. "One: It's too dark and cold right now so if we were going to take action it would be in the morning… unless you want us poor humans to freeze to death." He ignored the evil looks Inuyasha was giving him as he continued. "Two: we don't know where Naraku is and we can't even begin to track him without Kagome's ability to sense his jewel shards." Inuyasha shifted uncomfortably in his seat as everyone in the group looked at him, silently blaming him for that problem with their eyes.

"And three: even if we DID know where he was, it would be suicide to go into his castle. It's not as if we can go up to his door and say, 'Hey Naraku! How are you doing? We have the girl that you were chasing earlier and had poisoned so we were wondering if we could have the antidote.'" Inuyasha opened his mouth to say something but Miroku held up a hand to silence him. "We'd be out numbered and he will probably be expecting us and have planned a trap."

Inuyasha fumed but realized he was probably right. That still didn't solve the problem though. "Do you have a better plan Monk?" he retorted, more than a little miffed.

Miroku met his gaze evenly, his voice still level. "Well where did you get that herb that healed Sango when she was sick?" Inuyasha paused for a minute and thought back to four years ago…"Well we went to this herb farm with this other half demon that was abused by a nearby village…name was Jinji I think…"

"Do you think he'll let you have some more of that herb?" asked Sango. Inuyasha paused again, thinking hard. "I'm not sure…probably. He's a nice guy really. Kagome and him became friends."

"Do you remember where he lives?" inquired Miroku. Inuyasha tried to remember: it was just him and Kagome…Miroku was watching Sango in a shack…They were riding on that bike and he fell off…"Yeah. In fact it's not too far from here." Inuyasha looked out cave entrance into snow; everything looked different in the winter but if he remembered correctly, considering how far they had come across the western lands, if they were to head due North on Kirara then they should have plenty of time to get there and back in a day or so. "Do you think he'll have the herb ready in the dead of winter?"

"Sure. Herbalists usually preserve their herbs during the winter so they can still use them," responded Sango with confidence. Inuyasha shrugged. She would know better than him because she used to live in a village with healers. He just hoped it applied here as well. "That settles it then. Tomorrow you and Inuyasha will go to Jinji's and I'll stay here and watch over our patient," said Miroku innocently as his eyes glanced at the girl, who was moaning in her sleep.

Inuyasha was about to pounce on the pervert but Sango beat him by bashing Miroku on the head with her giant boomerang. "Nice try Hentai." She said hotly, weapon ready to bash him again if need be. "You and Inuyasha will go to Jinji's while I stay here."

Miroku rubbed the sore spot on his head but shrugged indifferently. "Hey it was worth a try." Sango huffed and looked away as if she didn't want to even be in his presence at that moment and he took the opportunity to lean in closer to Inuyasha and whisper, "You said something about a village nearby…are there any beautiful girls in it?"

Miroku was answered with another bang on the head from Sango, who had over heard seconds before Inuyasha punched him on his temple. She was getting faster. "Quit the violence!" complained Miroku as he massaged the bumps on his head.

"Oh, are you still conscious? I can fix that if you don't behave!" She said harshly as she raised her weapon again menacingly, making Miroku sit up straight and salute. "Yes ma'am!", he said a little too quickly.

Sango glared at him suspiciously. She didn't trust how fast he became agreeable and cooperative. "On second thought…I'm coming with you."

"Then who will watch the girl?" protested Miroku horrified as Inuyasha rolled his eyes. Sango answered as if she didn't notice. "Inuyasha can tell us where Jinji's is and he and Shippo can take care of her. He said it wasn't too far so we could be back at the end of the day if we start at dawn." She directed her attention from the devastated monk to Inuyasha. "Is there any way to avoid that village?"

Miroku sulked, sighing dramatically and putting his chin in his hands as if life wasn't worth living. "Oh man…"

"You mean I've got to baby sit the Savage Wench?" protested Inuyasha hotly as soon as this new plan had hit home. He glowered at Sango, who merely seemed to be innocent as she smiled warmly. "But she's taken SUCH a liking to you…"

"Yeah right, like a cobra to a mongoose." grumbled Inuyasha miserably as he leaned against the cave wall, knowing that there was no point in arguing because Sango will no be moved. He could tell that this was just going to be so much fun…

"Lucky dog…" mumbled Miroku, purplish-blue eyes darting toward the girl but they were blocked by a Sango who glared in his direction. "What was that?" she asked in that low tone that females use that means "you better not have said what you think I said or there will be hell to pay!"

"Nothing!" he relied rapidly and quietly, holding up his hands in defeat. Sango grinned smugly as she leaned her weapon against the cave wall, "That's what I thought." She unzipped her pink sleeping bag and snuggled into it and turned her backs to them and the fire. "Good night." She said in a conclusive voice that signaled the end of the discussion.

Miroku and Inuyasha remained where they were, deep in thought. Inuyasha couldn't help but gaze over at the slumbering girl in his Kagome's sleeping bag. She was even more radiant then before now that the dirt was off her, thanks to Sango's hard work. In the flickering firelight, her tan skin seemed to glow in an almost unearthly manner as her long curly hair, now free of the mud clots and tangles, seemed to glimmer and sparkle as it spread out underneath her down like a beautiful brown web with a red-ish hue to it. He could smell her lavender scent faintly still, the necklace now hidden beneath his haori that she was now wearing properly, and could see how her thick eyelashes fanned delicately over her cheeks that had a fevered blush and her half-full lips looked as soft as rose petals, making her look extremely feminine though he knew otherwise. Despite her shallow breathing and occasional attacks of pain, she appeared so peaceful and innocent but he knew better…deep inside her flesh, where her soul lingered were dark secrets…terrible secrets that would take more than a simple key to unlock.

He turned to Miroku to ask him how they might go about trying to talk to the girl once she's better in order to learn what she must know but stopped as he noticed that Miroku was no longer looking into he fire as if entranced by the flames like he usually did but instead at Sango, whose breathing had slowed in slumber.

Miroku smiled and leaned over her and fondly pulled a strand of straight brown hair out of her face and behind her ear before tracing his fingers back over her high cheek bones to brush over her smooth pink lips. She sighed and smiled in her sleep, hand clinching her blanket as if in comfort. Such a look of longing came over his face; one of adoration, not lust as he eyes became softer as he looked at the object of his affections, her face so smooth and beautiful in the firelight. He forgot Inuyasha was even there until he spoke…

"So when are you going to tell her that you love her?" asked Inuyasha as he watched this moment with wary eyes with a touch of a smile of his lips. Even a baka like he was, after all the years they had been together, could figure out that they both wanted to be together. What he could really guess was why they were taking so long to tell one another.

Miroku pulled back his hand as if he had touched a forbidden object; something so precious that it burned for him to even dream of it (or maybe he thought that she would wake up and kick his ass…no one is for sure.)

"I don't know what you mean." Miroku answered awkwardly, denying everything and putting everything behind his "monk face" or the expression he uses when he's completely serious and contemplating the meaning of life and whatnot. But he couldn't hide the emotions that played across his eyes: unrequited affections and fear of rejection that Inuyasha had come to recognize. it was the same gaze that Kagome gave him when she thought he wasn't watching.

Inuyasha's heart ached for a moment, as if the memory of Kagome added a knife to the batch that plagued his soul but he shoved it away, as he had done with the others. He had a life to live after all and dwelling on things out of reach never solved anything. "I see the way you look at her. It's the same way she looks at you when you aren't looking." He said to Miroku, looking him in the eye squarely so that he captured his eyes to show Miroku that he was serious.

"Really?" Miroku asked, his handsome face full of doubt but his voice held a certain feeling…hope, almost pleading. After a moment, he sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. "I thought she hated me…"

Inuyasha shook his head reassuringly, almost chuckling at his naivety. And this was the guy he talked to the most about women and how they think… where he gets most of his advice from! "Nah. She just does that to throw you off." Inuyasha glanced over at the boomerang that leaned against the cave wall, shuddering as all his old aches and pains from it resurfaced as if drawing from memories of being beaten. "Plus she hates how you act around other girls. She's really jealous."

"To tell you the truth," Miroku began and Inuyasha leaned forward with interest. "I've never really thought about other girls since I met her…she's enough woman to keep me happy to the rest of my life!" Miroku's face brightened up at this confession, small and well known it was, causing Inuyasha to roll his eyes. "You better act more like that then. She's waited for you this long but she won't wait forever."

Miroku nodded his head slowly, as if digesting his words before crawling over to curl up into his own sleeping bag (purple), not too far from Sango but far enough so that he wouldn't be invading her privacy. After a couple minutes, Inuyasha heard the rustling of his getting comfortable stop, with the end result being that he was far from the fire, but Sango was between he and it so Inuyasha supposed the Miroku felt it was worth it. He turned one more time, so that he was gazing into her face before finally settling down for the night. "You should take your own advice sometime Inuyasha." He told Inuyasha before letting out a huge yawn and within seconds his own breath slowed to match Sango as she slept, leaving Inuyasha to ponder his words.

And now here he was: eating stew, babysitting a cowardly Kitsune kit and a half dead, half sick girl who is one real puzzle. How could she forget something like that fight? Nearly dying would definitely make Inuyasha remember! And why doesn't she remember where she hid the shards and why, if she did, why wouldn't she tell him, the guy who happened to save her life? Also when he was rescuing her, she was kicking, biting, punching, struggling and cussing but this girl, as far as he could tell, nice, motherly, and sweet… not at all what he expected at all!

And then there was the whole '"what is she?" issue: is she a Youkai, Hanyou, or human and why couldn't he tell? AND WHERE IN THE HELL DID SHE HIDE THOSE DAMN JEWEL SHARDS?! It's just like they just vanished!

Inuyasha felt a head ache coming on. He hated it when he had time to think. He had so many problems and stuff to sort out that it hurt his head way to much! He much rather be in the heat of battle, where he relies mostly on instinct instead of thought and who could say no to a great victory! Talk about adrenaline rush!

Not to mention if the battle were at a certain Taiyoukai's castle and was done all in the name of saving a certain miko…

Inuyasha looked down at his precious sword, leaning against the cave wall and glittering prettily in the firelight. It was made from his father's fang (and one of his own), protected him countless times, helped him defeat his enemies, suppressed his demonic side…to him it was priceless, not to mention lethal in Sesshomaru's hands.

He glanced around for a moment, making sure that no one was watching before he reached into his shirt and pulled out a golden locket Kagome had given him a long time ago. He opened it up, the soft clicking of the latch making him watch Hitomi on the other side of the fire to make sure that she didn't choose to wake up and see him with his secret treasure. On one side of the heart-shaped necklace was a tiny "picture" of an excited Kagome hugging a very grumpy looking Inuyasha that she took with her "camera", but on the other side was a lone picture of her smiling sweetly, her blue eyes sparkling with laughter as she blushed in embarrassment. He ran a claw over the picture, his golden eyes getting deeply lost in her light blue ones…

She looked so much like Kikyo…

He closed the locket quickly and shoved it back underneath his shirt so that he wouldn't see it anymore. Deep down he knows he can't love both Kikyo and Kagome, but he still feels he owes Kikyo something… something to make up for all that had happened between them but all she wants is for him to go to Hell with her and she won't let him live a peaceful life if he doesn't.

He still loves the person she once was…the person Kagome is but isn't. He knows that instead of being a loner, like Kikyo was when she was alive, Kagome tends to attract people to her and makes friends fast…that instead of being mournful, she is happy…that instead of holding a grudge against him, she forgives him no matter what he does…

But he can't help but see Kikyo in Kagome. He finds Kikyo's old soul in her eyes…in her smile…in her love. He knows deep, deep down they are two different people but when Kagome's around he can't help but be reminded of the Kikyo that he loved so ferociously 50 years ago. And sometimes he sees flashes of the old Kikyo in the vengeful clay version of her now and then he wants to save her, for her to return to the way she was or move on.

Kikyo or Kagome…Kikyo or Kagome…Kikyo or Kagome…Kikyo or Kagome…Kikyo or Kagome…Kikyo or Kagome…

His head ache suddenly got worse and Shippo seemed to be on his way back. Apparently he didn't give him enough dishes to wash and now his has to put up with the Kit's new attitude toward the man who gave his "mother" away. Just perfect!

Shippo practically ran back from the river, carrying now clean dishes to find Inuyasha putting more wood on the fire in the shelter of the cave. Shippo nearly dropped his burden as he bolted to the cave to engulf himself in the warmth that radiated from the blazing fire. He gave the dishes Inuyasha, who screamed at him about his clumsiness, and sat down by the foot of Kagome's sleeping bag. He knew that Kagome wasn't in it right now but it made him feel better knowing he was by something of hers. He signed in loneness as he leaned against the sleeping bag's slick outer layer that was unoccupied by the restless sleeper it imprisoned

He crossed his arms stubbornly as he glowered at Inuyasha. He really missed his "mother". He was also mad that Inuyasha made him go wash dishes when the girl woke up! He knew because there was a bowl of partially eaten ramen and a cup of water by her and he had been gone for almost an hour. He wanted to meet her! Maybe she was nice like Kagome, even though nobody could replace her Shippo felt like he needed a friend to protect him from his other "friend", Inuyasha.

Shippo glared at Inuyasha, who was sitting with his back to the fire, lost in thought. Shippo was still mad at Inuyasha for the whole "compromise" with Sesshomaru. Now he was Kagome-less all because Sesshomaru was greedy and Inuyasha was stupid! Tears almost came to his eyes. He hasn't seen Kagome for a week and a day. That is the longest that he went without Kagome in four years. He knew Inuyasha is thinking the same thing.

Suddenly the figure beside him stirred causing Shippo to cry out and jump up surprised. Inuyasha angrily glanced over at Shippo and threw a pebble at him that smacked his head. "Give it a rest will ya kid. It's only the girl waking up." Inuyasha growled grumpily, turning his back to the young kit.

Shippo rubbed the sore spot on his head and ha opened his mouth to retort when he saw a chopstick fly at Inuyasha and hit him in his temple. Inuyasha yelped in surprise and turned, immediately eyeing the girl, who looked up at him innocently.

"What was that for?!" he demanded, resisting the urge to poke her eye with the damn thing. Hitomi just smiled sweetly. "You shouldn't treat children like that." She said softly as she gently patted Shippo's head, making him grin. Inuyasha, realizing that it was futile, threw the chopstick behind his back and managed to barely stifle a groan. Great, I've got another motherly girl on my hands.

When he looked up again, little Shippo was by the girl's side, shaking excitedly as the girl smiled at him and giggled at the way he acted. Shippo sighed as he saw how beautiful her smile was. She looked nice enough… She'll make a good friend!

"Hi! My name is Shippo!"

Inuyasha glared as the kit made himself acquainted with "Hitomi". Inuyasha wanted to throw that girl out into the cold but he knew better. If he wanted information out of her, her being a woman and all, he's going to have to do what he hates most: talk about his feelings and stuff like that so that she will willingly talk about hers. Kagome taught him that.

Inuyasha watched as Shippo began feeding Hitomi soup and she laughed weakly when he spilled it all over himself in the process. Inuyasha didn't trust this person, like usual, one way or another and he will find out what he needs to know!

Another chopstick hit him in the head and as he glared, Hitomi and Shippo pointed to one another before they burst out laughing.

If he didn't kill her first.

Sesshomaru wrung out a cool rag before applying it to his still sore eyes. Of course, as he predicted, they were still red and swollen at almost midday. As Kagome previously suggested, the cooling cloths did help with the irritation and his eyes feel better after a couple hours which sort of miffed the part of his mind that hated her knowing more about something than he but that was overpowered by the relief that the rest of him felt. In fact, Kagome had mentioned that in "her village" they use that kind of potion to incapacitate potential attackers, and that the red eye irritation is intentionally that way so that the greasy composition will stay in the skin around the eyes so they may be able to identify the attacker for at least 24 hours. He would like to find the moron who invented "pepper spray" and shove a bottle down his throat. Kagome did also say that because he was demon it probably would only last a couple of hours, especially if he kept washing his face.

Well it's been about 8 hours already and according to mirror they were still pink. Maybe they'll be better before he leaves…

There was a very timid knock on the door. Sesshomaru didn't even bother to take of the rag covering his eyes and continued to lounge on his pile of pillows in his study like a huge cat as he waved to the invisible person he knew was outside the door. "Come in Ruri." There was no point in pretending because she could figure it out anyway if she wanted to. Plus she was one of the only people that he knew he could trust. Being outcast makes a great servant and confident. Not that he goes completely overboard with that fact but more than he shows anybody else with the exception of Rin.

He didn't hear the door slide open nor did he hear her footsteps on the floor but neither did he expect to since she could phase through walls but he knew she was there. Her scent of wet earth in a cool cave flooded the room and it seemed as if the temperature itself dropped a couple of degrees. Her breathing was faint, like the whisper of winds and without even looking, he knew that she fallen gracefully to her knees and put her head on the ground in a traditional bow, waiting for his bidding.

He closed his eyes under the cloth. She was like a salve to his bruised and battered pride that Kagome seemed to have her heart out to crush completely. It was nice to be respected after he had been humiliated by a hanyou, even if it wasn't known the public.

"I have called you here because I have an assignment for you." He started, not bothering with small talk and he resisted the urge to smile because this was going to piss Kagome off so bad. "I would like for you to be Kagome's…guide and servant while she stays with us." He stated calmly and confidently. Good thing he was going away for a day or so and hopefully when he gets back, she'll have gotten used to the idea. Slim chance but better than none he supposed.

Ruri said nothing for a while and then spoke in a voice barely above a whisper. "If I may be so bold to ask Milord but you wish for me to attempt to contain the girl? Try to keep her from doing things that you disapprove of as well as prevent the others from harming her?"

Sesshomaru grinned and by grin it was meant that one side of his mouth was raised the slightest bit for a second or two before fading back into his regular expression when you blinked so that you questioned if the event really happened or not. "That would be the general idea. And I find that you are the only person that I could trust this kind of job with. You have the ability to possibly relate to her in ways that none of the other demons can and protect her from anything that wished her harm, demon and human alike."

He removed the cloth from his eyes, blinked a few times and sat up, gazing down at the shadow youkai before him. "I give you my permission to use whatever methods that are in your power to accomplish this task as well as servicing Kagome needs and wants." He paused and then added "within reason," as an afterthought. Can't have Kagome ordering Ruri to do anything reckless like summon Inuyasha with her mind, despite the previous agreements made with both of them.

She smiled a little, showing little white fangs. "Yes Milord." She murmured before humbly lowering her gaze. He leaned forward, intrigued . "I believe that is the first time I've seen you smile in the slightest. And what do you find so amusing about this conversation?"

The smile stayed in place as Yuri rose, like smoke rising from a flame in one fluid burst of motion. "No offense meant Milord. I just noticed that you were referring her to her given name now." The smile faded. "And in what way should I greet my new charge? I assume that you want me to break the news in a specific way?"

Sesshomaru looked at her for a while, deep in thought and decided to let that comment about calling Kagome by her name slide before answering, "I suppose the best way to introduce yourself would be your name and the title 'Keeper'. That will suffice." He didn't need anything too fancy to set her off. The mere fact that he was having someone supervise her will make her livid. He waved her away and Ruri nodded, taking the dismissal and almost gliding as she stood and walked toward the wall in the direction of the room.

"And when she gets here, tell her that I will be gone for a day or two to investigate the conditions of one of the forts that protect my border on the South side."

Ruri nodded again and then walked through the wall, becoming nothing but a shadow that disappeared within seconds, leaving no trace of her arrival or departure. At this point, Jaken now decided to make an appearance, coming in from the hall, and, having already been informed of his master's rather immediate endeavor, he had come to prepare to temporarily take his place: which meant basically doing more paperwork to his apparent distain.

"Lord Sesshomaru, what did you mean by the phrase 'when she gets here, tell her I'll be gone'?" he asked in that annoying, nails-on-chalkboard voice, almost making Sesshomaru visibly wince. Well he had obviously been eavesdropping but when his retainer realized this and was about to shriek an eternal line of apology, Sesshomaru cut him short with a glare. No need to ruin his good mood with all the horrible noises Jaken makes. One of these days, he's serious going to rip out that thing's vocal cords…Sesshomaru stood and began assembling his armor and sword, preparing for his departure. Oh hell, he might as well tell him. Someone has to be here to tell the girl that Sesshomaru was getting better at calculating her.

"Because, if my predictions are correct, if Kagome is asleep, which I assume she is due to the late night she had, Ruri will hover over her until she rouses because she will detect her youkai aura. Next, after Ruri delivers my message, Kagome will howl my name as loud as she is physically capable and most likey with as many curses as she knows, and come stalking around out for my blood, now that she's more familiar with the grounds. It won't take long for her to arrive at the study because that will be the most logical place for me to be and her demonic senses will be heightened slightly since she's angry and she'll probably smell me out. Then, she'll burst into the room expecting to see me but will instead encounter Ruri, who will explain that I have gone for a while, and you, who will explain how I was able to foresee all this happening." And manage to be gone to avoid the blunt force of her wrath, he thought while snickering to himself.

Jaken just stared at him, toad mouth wide and eyes bulging, as his lord gently opened the large window to the study and sat on the edge, welcoming the cool winter day breeze through his hair and on his sore eyes. He had managed to use a method to control her without violating his contract with her and now he has a prefect excuse to be absent during the temper tantrum she was likely to throw. He inhaled the crisp cool hair deeply. Kami it was a good day!

"Y-you're smiling!" Jaken gawked, pointing at his Lord's handsome face. "You really enjoy playing all these mind games with that filthy human!"

The smile, the genuine smile that Sesshomaru wasn't aware that was on his face, disappeared in a flash to turn into an outraged glare that he aimed at Jaken, who immediately cowered in fear, covering his face with his hands as to prepare for the physical damage that was to come. Sesshomaru opened his mouth to tell Jaken that maybe he had too many privileges and too much free time if he thought that this Lord of the Western Lands was actually lenient enough to let that kind of behavior pass in his presence but then…

"SESSHOMARU! YOU SON OF A BITCH! WHERE DO YOU GET OFF GIVING ME A 'KEEPER'?! WHERE ARE YOU, YOU POMPOUS ASSHOLE?! I'M GOING TO TEAR YOU A NEW ONE WHEN I FOUND YOU!"

Right on time. Sesshomaru didn't know what a 'new one' was but he doubted that he would enjoy it. Let others deal with her rage until he got back.

By the time, Jaken had worked up the courage to peek between his haori sleeves to see what Sesshomaru was planning to do as his punishment, Sesshomaru was gone. With in seconds after that realization, Jaken felt a cool presence to one side of him, as if he had suddenly stepped into the shade on a hot summer day, and looked up to find Yuri standing next to him, perfectly poised as she waited patiently.

The next time he blinked, Kagome was standing in the study doorway and gripping the frame with her claws as if ready to spring into action, wearing her strange attire that she slept in with her long hair wildly escaping her braid, breathing hard but whether it was from the run over here or the fact that she showed boundless rage, Jaken couldn't tell. It made his blood freeze in his veins.

She was scary that's for sure.

Her eyes searched the room, rested on Ruri for a moment, and finally on Jaken, who had become nervous, shaking in his robes. Her eyes narrowed, as she stood up straight and crossed her hearts, towering over him menacingly.

"Well? Where is he? I know he was here last. I can smell him." She said softly in a low voice, using the tone that Jaken knew meant death if he gave her an inappropriate answer. Jaken began to sweat. Now he was the filthy human's chew toy now as well. His miserable day was getting better and better.