Meyame

by sango4400

Our favorite charterers of the famous Inu-yasha are back well, not really this is just never before seen action. not really that either this is my own mix of what would have happened if a new character joined the gang, and whats with her dog? Read and find out. (: don't forget to review.

7. Chapter 7: The Truth

MEYAME

Chapter 7: The Truth

After a long night of restless sleeping Meyame walked outside to see InuNaya sitting on the roof of the hut. Why she hadn't heard him she questioned for no more than a second before scaling the wall of the hut and reaching the roof to sit beside him. His eyes never wavering from the rising sun. She said nothing as she followed his gaze and leaned on his shoulder. "Why didn't you just use your demon strength to jump up here?"

"I don't know, I didn't think about it I guess. How are your wounds?" She responded with equal confusion. He sighed in response.

" Healed. I won't always be here ya know." It wasn't a question. Meyame felt her heart tighten at the thought but said nothing in response. Instead she continued to stare at the rising sun. He looked at her, raising a brow in her direction. "Meya-..." He was cut off by the sound of Miroku yawning as he made his way out of the hut below them.

"InuNaya, so nice of you to join us!" He waved at them. " Good morning Meyame I hope you slept well."

"Good morning Miroku." She mumbled, still collected in her own thoughts. Inu-Yasha followed suit soon after.

"Come on Lecture, we have to make a move on."

"Hmm.. where are you headed?" Meyame asked in curiosity.

"We're headed to the next village over to see if we can get any leads on Naraku, since your village to the east was a dead end we figured it would be a good idea to travel to the south, listen for any rumors." Miroku responded while Inu-Yasha tapped his clawed hand.

"keh, we aren't going to have much day light if we keep chattering away. Kagome and Sango are staying to help out with the village there was a flood two days ago that the villagers haven't gotten to yet."

"I want to go with!" Meyame responded jumping off the roof rather clumsily. InuNaya followed landing gracefully. "Oh no," She held him back with a hand to his chest. "You're going to stay and help with the flood, with the guys being away the girls will need some brute strength, besides You won't always be here," She mocked with a winked. He rolled his eyes at her as she turned away following Inu-Yasha and Miroku.

"Fine," He breathed under his breath before watching her disappear down the path to the next village. When she was finally out of sight and out of scent distance he made his way back into the hut to help the girls prepare for the day.

~-~

Inu-Yasha, Miroku and Meyame reached the village to the south asking everyone in sight if they have heard anything leading them to Naraku. Meyame groaned. Meeting back up with Miroku. "I will assume by the monstrous groan that that is a negative on any information." She could see it on his face that he couldn't muster a sarcastic smirk because he was so exhausted, she must have talked to at least 70 people and scaled at least 40 miles of the surprisingly large village.

"Nothing, I take it by your swollen feet you haven't either." It wasn't a question but he felt obligated to answer anyway.

"I am also ashamed to report nothing, this village is a lost cause it seems." They both looked over when they saw silver and red casually walking their way, "Anything?" The Hanyou shook his head in response.

"Excuse me miss." Meyame looked in the direction of a young woman with a full face mask on, she had long dark hair and icy blue eyes that were very welcoming. The woman walked over to them, she couldn't have been much older than her, her skin looked very soft and porcelain in color compared to Meyame's slightly darker toned skin. "Are you Meyame?" At that moment she swallowed a lump in her throat that had developed within the second the woman said her name. 'How does she know my name... I've never been here... hell as far as I know I've never been out of my village to the east...' a million questions went through her mind in that instance, thank the gods Inu-Yasha didn't skip a beat.

"What of it?" The woman looked in his direction.

"You must be InuNaya, Meyame's lovely and charming pet." In that moment Miroku had to grab Inu-Yasha holding him back.

"Why you..."

"Excuse my friend, he's not very lovely and charming." Miroku chuckled with a smile.

"I guess he's not InuNaya..."

Also in that moment Meyame's head had cleared in response to the woman's words . "InuNaya is not my pet! He's my companion, and who are you?" She spoke with a mild irritation in her voice and demeanor.

"I am sorry ma'am I meant no disrespect, I have heard a lot about you, I was just in your village to the east collecting cabbage for my village just down the road from here it has had a lack there of for quite some time." She blinked several times in confusion unable to figure out how this woman can know so much of her from just a few short minutes in her village. Let alone anything good about her or InuNaya from being there. "Excuse me, where are my manners. Would you like to follow me to my home? I can make us some tea my grandmother would love to see you again!" They took a good long look at each other before shrugging and following the woman. They had been at the village practically all morning and had nothing but this young woman seemed to be something. 'see me again...'were the only thoughts Meyame had before following the young girl into her home and seeing an older woman stirring the fire in front of her.

Watching Kagome and Sango try to lift the heavy logs got exhausting. InuNaya wanted so badly to tell them to take a break. He had to admit though, it was rather surprising seeing them work so hard and working together. They were covered in mud along with leaves and twigs from the brush and debris the flood had left. Sango even helped him lift a log that was only giving him enough trouble that he needed a hand on the other end. "Whew, I'm glad we didn't come out here right after the flood, I'm covered in enough mud. I could have mud baths for the rest of my life!" Kagome exaggerated, Sango and InuNaya could both tell she was not too happy about being dirty but she was pulling her weight in work which InuNaya himself did not expect. "Thank you for your help InuNaya, we couldn't have gotten as much done without you. You're a lot stronger than you look." Kagome and InuNaya chuckled in union for the irony in the comment.

"You didn't do too bad yourself there." He smiled back at her.

"What made you stay back and help InuNaya? You and Meyame seem pretty inseparable." Sango asked.

"She told me I should help, she wanted to go on the trip with Inu-Yasha and Miroku alone I guess." Kagome and Sango gave each other a look.

"We're really glad you stayed behind." They both smiled at him.

"I'm glad I did as well, you both are good company." He lifted another log onto the wagon they were using to take the wood back to the village in hopes to salvage some for building or at the very least some firewood. There were several villagers helping. InuNaya had helped an older man that was so thin he didn't look as though he should be out there at all but he surprised a lot of them with how much work he put in. It really didn't take too much to surprise InuNaya, he was use to doing things on his own so seeing others work together was really out of place in his mind. Including people being very open to working alongside a demon of any kind, that really through him for a loop for a while. The only person he has ever really worked with was Meyame, he tries to keep her from doing a lot but that's because he feels like he should. She is more than capable. He has seen her strength himself first hand and has even had to deal with it on occasion. Being in a village where it's them against the entire village didn't leave for much help from others. He closed his eyes entering his own train of thought. An image of a woman with red hair, pale skin, and some exotic emerald eyes entered his mind at that moment, smiling at him, a warm motherly smile that only family can give before the image went black.

"InuNaya?" He opened his eyes to see Shippo waving his little hands in front of his face, he zoned out. "What's up dude? You completely zonked out there for a minute." His face flushed as he stood up realizing he had sat down in the time his mind wandered.

"Nothing I was day dreaming. What's up?"

"Kagome went to help with some of the village kids for Kaede and Sango needs your help with pulling the wagon, I guess it was a lot heavier than she thought." Shippo pointed to an exasperated Sango trying until she was red in the face to pull the over sized wagon. He smirked as he headed in her direction.

"I got it." He laughed as he lifted the wagon handle with ease. "You could have just asked me to help ya know." He smirked as she followed him to the village.

"I didn't want to disrupt your day dreaming, you seemed pretty closed off over there." She laughed. "Thank you, I couldn't have done it without you."

"Not a problem."

They walked to the village with the last load of debris, they decided to get cleaned up and to work on the homes that had been damaged after they ate lunch.

~-~

"Mrs. Akimaru, excuse me when I say this but, I have no clue who you are." All three of them blinked at the old lady known now as Akimaru.

"It is no big deal dear, I wouldn't expect ye to remember me. Ye were yet a we' child when we last met. ye'r mother and father had just found ye when I had come to visit." Meyame blinked heavily.

"My parents are gone..." Miroku noted the emptiness of emotion that had flushed out of her voice in that moment. The hurt was eminent.

"Oh, I know dear. I am so sorry for your loss... Kocomiu and Tatoi were very wonderful people, why they took ye in after all." The woman spoke casually.

"Took.. me... in...?" It was an empty question with obvious confusion. "No, they were my parents. Kocomiu was my mother and Tatoi was my father."

"Dear... ye didn't know? Kocomiu was my second cousin, she was unable to bear children."

"Have you gotten knocked off your rocker old woman?" Inu-Yasha laughed at Meyame's response and was surprised to get a laugh out of the old woman as well.

"Ye were defiantly raised by Them both." She waved her hand as she laughed that started a coughing fit in the elderly woman.

"Explain yourself then." Meyame demanded.

"Why dear, ye were given to Kocomiu by a man in the southern village. She never really explained what he looked like. She was just so happy to have you. Tatoi was so ecstatic he nearly had a heart attack. 'I have a baby' he kept saying, over and over again. Although ye were very much a toddler. Silly man." She smiled inwardly at the thought obviously remembering the moment.

"So... you expect me to just believe that barbaric story?" She said with anger.

"Did ye not know when ye realized that ye were half demon and ye parents were mere humans? Kocomiu cried to our aunt Tsuri when ye got your sense of smell and asked why they smelled different than ye." Meyame blinked, remembering back and taking it all in. How could she forget that, surely she remembered but they took care of her like she was their own. Inu-Yasha and Miroku sat in silence glancing at each other but allowing Meyame to soak everything in. It all made sense she never mentioned her parents being demon at all but was very open about being a demon herself.

"Why would they take all of the loathing, and pain the village caused them because of me... if I wasn't their child..." She lowered her head in shame, covering her eyes with her hair.

"Ye were very much their daughter, they made that very clear the moment they held you in their arms. ye brought such joy into their lives." She smiled at her hoping to get the message across.

"I guess I understand. I knew they smelled different but that doesn't and didn't stop me from believing they were my parents, I love them like they were. They took me in and took care of me... who is my parents then? Are they the ones who gave me to them?" She looked up with begging eyes.

"The man who gave ye to them was a man known as Naraku." All three sets of eyes widened at the name.

"What did you say? Naraku?" Inu-Yasha asked expectantly. Meyame felt a chill run down her spine.

"That's what I said. That was the only name Kocomiu gave. That was the only information on the man she was given, She had said after the man had handed Meyame to her his image in her mind had vanished. She later heard someone speak his name and that's when she remembered the name."

"How long ago was this?" Miroku asked.

"Oh, many years ago indeed. Meyame must ye be about 16 now? She was merely 4 years old." The old lady continued to stir the fire.

"How did you guys know about InuNaya, he has only been at my side for a little over a year now.." The question made sense to all of them, how could she have known?

"Dear people of your village were doing a lot of talking as soon as ye parents passed and the one known as InuNaya had stepped into ye'r life." The young girl from before known as the elderly woman's granddaughter handed her a cup of tea. "Would ye like some tea?"

"Why I thought you'd never ask." Miroku responded with open arms and a warm smile, Inu-Yasha also took a cup.

"Meyame?" The young woman asked the girl looking at her folded hands in her lap.

"Huh?" She looked up but only for a split second before looking back down and biting her lip, "Oh, no thank you. I'm not thirsty." The guys side looked each other while they drank their tea but figured the questions they had were best left for when they were in the presences of only each other.

After they had finished their tea they had decided it was best to go back to the village, they said their fair wells and headed on their way. "Well, what did you make out of all that?" They both looked at Meyame who had been contently staring at her feet as she walked. She chewed her lip.

"I don't understand why Naraku would give me away, then want to have me killed and if he was the cause of the demon in my village then he was the cause of my parents death... was he really coming after me and they got caught in the cross fire? If I had only been there-..."

"Now, now, there is no reason to beat yourself up about it. It wasn't your fault." Miroku comforted her. "Take a breath, we will help you figure this out. Naraku likes to play with people like they're toys. This is nothing new to us when Naraku is involved. He likes to tare people and their lives apart any way he can."

' What could Naraku possibly gain by doing all of this?' "We need to get back to the village, we can talk about all of this and figure it out all together. I think Meyame would feel better if she had her mutt with her right now. I also think it would do her good to hear everyone's stories, let's not forget we all got brought together because of Naraku's sick games. It looks like we have two new players in the game." The mention of InuNaya had sparked something in her, she perked up and looked at Inu-Yasha.

"Hey Inu-Yasha,"

"Yeah."

"I wanted to talk to you without InuNaya knowing, can you teach me how to fight? Just me."

Confusion flashed across his face. "Just you?"

"I am weak. I know it, I can feel it, I'm definitely not as skilled as you guys. InuNaya is able to fight a hell of a lot better than me, you've seen that."

"Keh, you've got that right."

She ignored his comment and continued, "I have demon blood in my veins, I'm stronger than most. I know it's there, I can feel my demon blood but I don't know how to use it... I don't know how to bring it out. Sometimes I can and sometimes I really just, can't. With this Naraku guy running around trying to kill me it's selfish of me to leave my life in the hands of others... or more specifically mostly InuNaya and You guys." She looked at her feet as she walked obviously upset about the thought.

"Sure."

"Really?" She hadn't expected such a solid answer let alone a positive one.

"Yeah..."

"Oh my gods! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" She hugged him tightly, really tightly.

"I can't breathe kid... let's work on that demon strength. You're a lot stronger than you look." Letting him lose she skipped the rest of the way with joy.

"We start first thing in the morning. Don't be late."

"Yes sir!" she exclaimed.

~-~

"InuNaya, I've been meaning to ask you." He looked up from his bowl to make eye contact with Kagome. "When we fought that shadow demon thing," He nodded. "Did you notice anything unusual about it?" Instantly his heart began to race, sweat dropped from his temple.

"Like what?" If he didn't slow his heart down soon the whole room was going to hear it.

"I don't know, like dust? Wood? Something that may indicate where it had came from?" He swallowed hard, not trusting his voice he opted to shaking his head instead.

"Kagome do you mean Kugutsu?" Sango asked.

"What's that?" Blinking he had never heard the name before and was genuinely curious. ' Maybe this will detour the subject...'

"Kugutsu is a demon puppet, in the form of a golem they usually appear after Naraku's puppets are killed but you said you didn't see anything Kagome?"

"No I didn't that's why I thought I should ask InuNaya." Kagome looked to the shifter who shook his head in response while focusing on his food. "There was nothing unusual there that I saw."

Flash Back...

"Inu-Yasha!" Kagome shouted back in fear and relief. Inu-Yasha saw the demon, running as fast as he could, but he knew he was already too late when the demon lifted his hand going down fast on Meyame. Without thinking the once white dog shifted into a man reaching through the demons chest and grabbing what he thought was his heart. He looked at the item in his hand, it wasn't a human heart. Not a demon heart. In fact it wasn't a heart at all, it was a carved piece of wood with a single strand of hair wrapped around it. Inu-Yasha and Kagome had frozen not believing what they saw. His hands were covered in dirt. Kagome an Inu-Yasha blinked at the same time still speechless. He stepped on the demons head and it turned to dust. He turned around to face them, his eyes golden, he had a hard expression like something was bothering him but his face was soft with relief. Kagome opened her mouth to speak but before she could get a sound out Meyame tackled the boy wrapping her arms around his neck. Sighing in relief he embraced her back known only to him he looked at the item in his hand. Deciding it was best to forget about the thing he crushed it in his hand, it turned to dust and blew away with the wind. The couple walked up from behind him, they released their embrace looking towards the bewildered couple.

"Meyame, what's going on?"

End Flash Back

InuNaya closed his eyes trying to push the memory from his mind, 'Is that what that was? Naraku's golem, a puppet...?'

"InuNaya, are you okay? You look kind of pale." Kagome asked with a look of concern giving him an escape from his thoughts he looked back to her.

"Yeah, I'm just not all that hungry." He looked to his now empty bowl and mentally smacked himself. He handed the bowl back to Kaede.

"Are you okay enough to get back to it?" Sango asked.

"Of course, I'm not a girl." He joked in an attempt to lighten the mood. The girls laughed as they all grabbed their supplies. Kagome asked Kaede for specific instructions on where in the village to get the tools for the houses and they were on their way.

"Kaede said that there would be a man in a green shirt at the site that will be able to give us all of the tools we need." They made it back to the part of the village that had been destroyed by the flood. After getting the tools from the older man in the greed shirt he took the time to survey the area. The ground looked nice, there was no broken trees, bushes, all of the building pieces had been cleaned up but the huts, those were a different story. Some of the buildings were mangled with branches, chunks of roofs looked as if they were ripped off, one of the houses had a tree in it. InuNaya was surprised no one was hurt in that one. He decided that is where he would start since he was the only one in the entire village right now with the strength to do so. Without any instruction he grabbed the root of the tree and lifted it straight out of the house. It was light almost like a paper weight, the entire tree was dead which would explain the weight. That wouldn't have made it any easier for the humans though. He guessed that without him or Inu-Yasha there the entire house would have been destroyed trying to get the tree out.

"Thank you mister." InuNaya looked down to a little boy with his thumb in his mouth, he couldn't have been anymore than five. "That's my house." He smiled up at him with a toothy grin. The boy had clearly just lost his two front teeth. It was enough to make him smile back at the boy as he set the tree back down in a safe place. "You're really strong mister." Kneeling down to eye level with the boy he looked him in the eyes.

"Oh no, I bet you're stronger." He hadn't had much interaction with younger children, they always wanted to stay as far away from him as possible. Even in dog form, knowing he was a demon was enough to terrify the children of Meyame's village.

"Are you crawzy! You're a demon!" Taken aback by the boys words he shifted back on his heals a bit blinking in confusion. He thought this village was different. "I could never be as strong as a demon like you!" The boy smiled at him again with that toothy grin. He smiled back, ruffling the boys hair as he stood.

"Pft, as if, if I wasn't here they would have asked you to do it. No doubt about it." InuNaya said as a woman walked up to them.

The boy laughed, "You're silly," The woman smiled pleasantly at them both placing her hands on the boys shoulders. "I have to go mister, thank you for taking the tree off my house. Bye!" He waved before trotting off. Both him and the woman watched the boy leave before she turned to him.

" I can't thank you enough for the help, with Inu-Yasha being away it's nice having a strong hand around here, especially after this disaster." She bowed to him gratefully.

"No problem," Feeling a little more than awkward he scratched the back of his neck.

"My name is Sakura by the way."

"InuNaya."

"Would you be so kind as to do me a favor later on today?"

"What's that?" Curious he perked to the question. 'What now?'

"I normally am working on the rice fields up the road from here but because of the flood I have been neglecting my duties and putting it off, there has to be a huge load that is ready would you be so kind as to help me pull the wagon? It won't be until later tonight I still have to pick all of them I'm afraid I won't be able to pull it myself." She bowed her head a brilliant pink lacing her cheeks, she refused to look him in the eyes while she waited for his answer. 'Weird, this woman is probably afraid I'll say no but, with Meyame gone what else would I do. I don't know when she will be back..'

"Sure, I can help."

"Really? Thank you so much, I will send Yoyounge when I am ready for you. You're staying at lady Kaede's am I correct?" Assuming Yoyounge was the boy he nodded. Sakura thanked him again and was on her way leaving him to his duties of fixing the mangled buildings.

He managed to put new post up for the house that was crushed by the tree, the villages took over after that which he was grateful for. He was then left with instructions to help with a roof on a house that was next to that one. He obliged and did as much as he could with the instruction he was given, by the end of it he must have fixed three roofs, repaired five windows, and set up post for two very mangled houses that to him looked far beyond repair, he assumed they would rebuild but they made do with what they had which didn't seem like a bad fixer upper job to him.

"InuNaya!" He must have been lost in thought on top of the roof when she yelled his name, he questioned why he didn't feel her presence. Turning in the direction his name was yelled from, in almost an instant the day didn't seem like it was so long as he saw her small form walking up the field. She waved at him and he smiled back at her. It was unusual but Meyame had a way with not questioning the out of character things that he tends to do sometimes. She is fully aware that he does not feel the same way about her that she does for him but she made a decision a long time ago that it didn't matter to her. He was her savor, her protector. She can love him and not expect anything from him in return and she didn't. She expected from him exactly what he gave her, to be there for her, to save her, to protect her. Never, not once, was she disappointed. "Come on my hard working man, it's time to eat. I'm sure you're ready for dinner." She waited for him to come down from the roof, like expected it didn't take long. "We have something we all need to talk about." Smiling she hooked her elbow with his directing him back to Kaede's.

"What's that?"

"You'll find out." Deciding it was pointless to press it anymore, knowing Meyame he wouldn't get anymore out of her until she was ready he sighed following her back to the hut.

After Meyame had explained the day she had with the boys Sango started with her story of how they had came together, or rather how Naraku had brought them together, Then Miroku. Kagome Explained that there are many others that they have met that have also crossed paths with Naraku and none of the tails were pleasant. Shippo was out of hearing distance while he scribbled on some paper. "Meyame are you okay?" Kagome had asked her.

"Yeah, why?"

"Well, you just found out about your parents, how are you holding up?" She looked to her with a look of concern. Meyame didn't seem at all taken aback by the question.

"I've been thinking about it a lot actually and I guess a part of me always knew. I mean I smelled it. I sensed it. I knew. It doesn't change how I felt about them if anything it makes me feel even more of a burden... They took so much because of me and I understand but I don't see how I was worth all of that... and If I'm the reason for their death which it sounds a lot like I was... then they didn't deserve that." She looked to her hands while steadily biting her lip. InuNaya looked to her with understanding eyes deciding that holding her hand would be the best option. She looked to him a bit bewildered before accepting it and deciding not to question the action. She squeezed his hand gently in return.

"Look it's not your fault, this is what Naraku does. He brings people together hoping to rip them apart in the worst way possible, emotionally, mentally, sometimes physically." Sango had a hard expression on her face. Meyame was sure she was still feeling the effects of explaining her situation, 'poor Sango... having her brother torn from her... and still not being able to see him...' "Naraku will do anything to ruin your life for whatever reason. But, we're here for you now." She smiled at her giving her knee a light squeeze. ' Can't even imagine...'

"No more talk of Naraku, eat." Kaede held out a bowl of rice to Meyame who took it gratefully. "Talking with all this negativity is bad for ye." She winked at the girl with her one good eye hoping to lighten the mood, which it did. "I can't imagine what ye had to go through at ye home and now all of this information gets thrown on ye. I can only offer my condolences girl."

"Thank you lady Kaede, your kindness is more than enough. I can't thank you enough for allowing InuNaya and I to stay here with you." She smiled looking to InuNaya who had been happily eating his rice.

"Someone's here." Inu-Yasha spoke before a knock was heard.

"Excuse me Lady Kaede, Is InuNaya here?" A young girl with hair pulled into a low side ponytail peaked through the door. Everyone blinked except InuNaya who had stood.

"Sakura, what ails ye?"

"I came to get InuNaya, he said he'd help me in the rice field this afternoon." The woman looked to him and smiled. "Are you ready?" Meyame looked to InuNaya who nodded at the girl before looking to Meyame, everyone else was silent as they cautiously watched the scene unveil in front of them.

"I'll be back, I promised I'd help her. Is that okay?" He asked genuinely.

"Y...yes. Of course." Eyes wide and obviously confused Meyame agreed watching them walk through the paper doorway. Not really knowing what to say or do she continued to eat her rice before she realized the irony of the situation. She glared at her rice.

"Meyame are you okay?" She looked to Kagome confusion still obvious on her face.

"Yeah, I'm just... I'm surprised InuNaya is jumping to help someone, especially a woman to be completely honest... He tends to stay away from people. I don't blame him being a demon in the world that is soon to be over thrown by humans." She paused to think about her words before speaking again as the others waited. " I'm usually the one to jump to help anyone before he is, I'm usually asking, sometimes begging him to help. Then again, that was in my village."

"Well he did a great job pulling his weight around the village today." Meyame looked to Sango almost shocked by her words.

"Yeah, I saw him talking to that woman and what looked like her child earlier this evening." Shippo spoke in-between mouthfuls. "She said she would send the kid though, strange she came by herself." He continued to eat his rice, obviously not worried about a response.

"He is probably fond of this woman," Everyone looked to Miroku confused, Kagome gave him a hard glare. He continued speaking making his way to Meyame's side. "In the event that that is indeed the case, I would be more than happy to help you make him jealou...s...-" He was cut off by Sango casually smacking him in the head with Hiraikotsu.

"Not a chance Monk. Stay out of their business."

"Besides, InuNaya could skin you alive." Inu-Yasha shook his head at the Monks traditional behavior. Meyame and Shippo laughed together.

InuNaya lifted the second load of rice into the wagon for Sakura. 'This is a lot more than I thought it would be, I thought she would want me to load as much as I could up in one trip... not do five large trips...' He sighed inwardly to himself before lifting the handles. "Thank you again for helping me out, I really couldn't have done it with without you." She thanked him for what felt like the hundredth time smiling at him gratefully. He was almost getting physically sick of getting thanked. By everyone.

"Not a problem." He responded, "Where is your son? I thought he was going to come get me from Lady Kaede's, not that I mind. Just curious is all." The woman walking beside him with a rice basket on top of her head looked really confused.

"Oh, you mean Yoyounge. He's not my son silly! He's my little brother!" She laughed at the assumption. "He is being put to bed by our father."

"Where's your mother?" He hadn't realized how blunt the question was until the words were already spoken and Sakura froze. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked."

"No, No. That is quite alright, when a young women does not mention her mother it does leave room for questions. You're teaching me things InuNaya." She winked at him. Red lit up his cheeks in response.

"Uh, yeah... sure."

"Anyways, she passed away in an accident a few years ago. A demon came to the village looking for the Shikon no-tama. Unfortunately my mother was inside our home when the house burned. I managed to get my brother out when he was only a year old."

"I'm sure things were hard for you guys. Growing up without a parent that is." She looked to him, she saw the look of understanding in his eyes.

"You understand don't you... with the risk of being too blunt I must ask... who did you lose..?"

"Both... all." She placed a hand on his shoulder before embracing him in a caring hug.

"I'm sorry for your loss. I hope that you are able to cope with the emptiness." Sighing she released him. "I wish that things get better for you, I can see it in your eyes. The loneliness, having no one that understands. If you ever need someone who-"

"I have someone who understands..." A little bewildered the girl pressed him with a look. "She understands completely how I feel... I'm not alone and I haven't been for quite some times now..." The only imagine that came to his mind was a small girl with dark brown hair and very soft amber eyes. He knew she'd be there for him no matter what. 'Gain her trust...' The voice rang in his head again. Unable to shake the cold shiver he got from the sound. 'Do whatever you have to, and when the time is right. That will be when you strike... I will give you the order, when the time is right.' "I guess I have two wonderful women who understand now." He looked to her and smiled. Still trying to shake the voice from his thoughts still unclear of the meaning. Sakura smiled back at him, they chatted a little more while they took the wagon to its destination and back a few more times. Hoping it was the last load InuNaya stopped and stretched before picking up the wagons handles.

"Hey slacker, get back to work." He looked over to see Sakura lifting her basket over her head.

"Ha, that's easy for you to say." They laughed together as he lifted the wagon.

"Don't underestimate my strength there sir. I could put you down with a finger."

"Oh really." He chuckled inwardly awaiting her response.

"No. Not really." She laughed following him to their destination. "Would you like some rice?" A little confused at her question he raised an eyebrow to her. "Well, You did just carried as much rice as 10 men's full day's work in less than an hour. The least I can do is offer you a few bags." Thinking it over for a moment before he answered.

"Sure, why not." He was unaware of what he was asking for as he watched her pack a couple of bags, Then a couple more, Then a couple more. He wondered when it would end with a groan.

He just as Sakura would say 'Carried as much as 10 men's full day's work.' Now he had to carry that all the way back to the village. Then to Lady Kaede's. ' I didn't think I would be carrying a whole wagon back without the wagon. Oh, well I guess it's worth it... I do like rice.' He tried to talk up the positivity around the negative thoughts invading his mind from the weight of the 10 large bags of rice. "Hey InuNaya, need a hand?" He sighed with relief at the site of Miroku walking towards him. "Where did you get this much rice? Was it that beautiful woman that came looking for you? I thought you were just helping her with the rice fields, what in Buddha's name did you do to deserve all this?"

"Ha , carried 5 wagons full of this back to village." Miroku grabbed five bags, relieved to have half the weight taken off he marveled that Miroku was able to carry so much. For about five minutes. Miroku's face started to turn purple and InuNaya stopped to look at him. "Do you uh...?"

"Ye...es... Pleeuu...lleeass...e Ah. Thank you." Carefully handing three of the large bags back to InuNaya the color came back to his face. "Just a little more than I could handle." InuNaya laughed at him as they walked into the hut dropping the bags where he stood. "Lady Kaede, where would you like these?" Kaede pointed to a corner of the hut that wasn't being taken up by any clutter.

"My, my where did ye acquire this much rice? and whatever could it be for?" She turned to InuNaya obviously astonished. Miroku walked happily over to the corner as if the weight of the two bags he was carrying were nothing. InuNaya glared in his direction. 'Of course, I have the most of it...' Inu-Yasha grabbed the rest bags that he had placed on the ground and carried them to the corner of the hut. Thankful that he didn't have to carry any more rice he looked to Kaede.

"They're for everyone, I defiantly won't be able to eat this much rice by myself, beside's it's the least I can do for you allowing us to stay here Lady Kaede." He took a seat next to Meyame who had seemed to be falling asleep until his rude interruption of dropping eight large bags of rice on the ground. "Sakura gave them to me, she was very thankful for the help."

"Why thank ye lad." She nodded gratefully to him before preparing her bed for sleep. Sango stirred the fire. The sun was just starting to set.

"Meyame, Sango and I are going to take a bath since we are covered in mud, would you like to join us?" Kagome asked her, waking her from her daydream.

"Yeah, I could use a bath."

"What about us?" Miroku spoke for the men.

"You can wait until after Hoshi." Sango gave him a hard glare, Kagome agreed and walked through the door way with the girls.

"Maybe I just wanted some company," Miroku said with a sigh. Inu-Yasha rolled his eyes mumbling something along the lines of pervert he walked outside, InuNaya decided to follow.

"Hey Inu-Yasha. How exactly did Meyame take the news about her parents? Was she alright while I was gone...?" He didn't look at him. He just sat down on the grass while watching the sun go down over the horizon.

"She didn't take it as hard as expected. I imagine she kept a lot of it inside. If she's not still doing so." InuNaya nodded. "You should talk to her. Losing a parent is hard, even the ones you don't remember. But you knew that right." It wasn't a question, it was a very solid statement. Looking up InuNaya blinked at him, his face flushed in realization.

"How did you know?"

"Come on, I've been there. I know what it looks like. You should really tell her ya know. It might help."

"Did you? When she found out, did you tell her about you?"

"I don't need to. I'm sure she understands." He nodded in understanding. He was right, Meyame was a very smart woman. She knew a lot more than she spoke on that he knew for sure.

"I might, I'm still unsure. Those types of things are hard to talk about."

"I know."

"Why didn't you tell us your story Inu-Yasha? Why you were brought here by Naraku or how rather...?" He knew it would be an intense question with an intense answer but he wanted to know.

"That is also the type of thing that's hard to talk about." Understanding that that was the best answer he was going to get he dropped the question. He was confident that he would find out soon enough and he was patient enough to wait for it.

"Ahh..." Kagome sighed as she lowered herself into the water. "This is nice..." Meyame giggled at her. The water felt great but it could have been hotter. She sank in the water to nose level rubbing the dirt that had accumulated on her arms off in the water. The bathing area wasn't bad It seemed almost a little more advanced than her small village but she was thankful for it, she had became accustom to accepting positive changes into her life considering how many negative ones have come into her life this past year.

"Sango, how are you feeling?" Meyame opened her eyes to see Sango staring listlessly at the water.

"I'm alright, same as usual."

"We'll get him back." Assuming they were talking about Sango's little brother she decided it was best to keep to herself. She could feel the pain she was feeling and knew she was trying really hard to push it back. Kagome also choose the same route grabbing her soap from a little plastic holder she brought with them she rubbed herself down with it.

"I just can't believe he's still doing this. It pains me more knowing that Naraku is out there... doing all of this... I understand he has been out here for years over 50 years to be exact, I just don't understand how this can start with Inu-Yasha and continue still..."

"Inu-Yasha is over 50 years old?" Meyame asked, her curiosity getting the better of her she didn't realize she had asked the question until after the words had escaped her mouth.

"Ha" Sango laughed at the question. "No he's not," Kagome answered giving off a giggle of her own.

"Oh, how did this start with Inu-Yasha?" The group went silent and Sango looked to Kagome. It wasn't her place to speak on it, she was leaving it up to Kagome if she wanted to answer or not.

With a sigh Kagome answered her question, explaining to her what had happened with Kikyo and how Inu-Yasha had been spelled and bound to the Goshinboku. She explained her presence and that she was from the future. Meyame nodded with understanding.

"That's really sad that Kikyo thought Inu-Yasha had betrayed her... taking her own life.. Why does Naraku do this..." Tears welled up in her eyes, Sango and Kagome both embraced her in a tight hug as she cried out all of her frustrations. Meyame could feel all of their emotions including her own, it had been a long time that she had been around more than just her and InuNaya, now she could feel a lot more sadness and hatred than what she was use to. In a way it over loaded her and she couldn't keep back the tears. "Thank you..." She wiped the tears from her face as the girls released their embrace.

"We're here for you now Meyame..." Sango gave her a knowing smile.

"Thank you girls... I think I need to explaining something to you though. I can feel everything you're feeling..." The girls stared at her, confused. "I know it sounds strange but... I have the ability of an Empath..."

"Empath?" Sango questioned.

"An Empath is a person with the ability to apprehend the mental or emotional state of someone else." Kagome spoke in understanding. "I never thought I would meet an Empath in real life! In my world they are only science fiction!"

"Science...fiction?" Meyame quirked an eyebrow.

"Like only in fairytales. In my world a lot of things have been lost in history. I guess somewhere 500 years into the future demons are no more..."

Meyame thought it over long and hard before responding. "I guess I knew that, it makes sense humanity will prevail over demons, not all of them are able to live in this world. Not functionally I guess."

"So you're able to read our minds?" Sango asked, having heard the science fiction definition many times she wasn't exactly paying attention rather thinking about Meyame's abilities.

"No, I cannot. Although that would be cool. I can feel emotions, just as clear as you can feel your heart aching I can feel it too... only it's a little dull as if it's not my own feelings. I can usually decipher if it is my feelings or someone else's." Thinking about her answer Sango tried hard to change her emotion, something a little more bubbly. Meyame giggled. "Yes I can feel you forcing the happy thoughts into your head, although I can't see what's in your mind I can tell you those are the same feelings you display when Miroku is near you." Sango's face lit up like a tomato, as embarrassed as she was she could see the redness rise to Meyame's face before quickly flushing. Kagome giggled at her friends embarrassment.

"Wow that's crazy, I can kind of see how that would come in handy thou-" They were cut off by the sound of a stick breaking. Pausing in silence the girls tried to listen. The sun had come down by this time and the crickets were all that could be heard. Sango rose out of the water grabbing a towel that was laid out. At that moment a man had stepped out of the brush and into plain sight. The girls frightened, screamed in fear scaring the poor man half to death. Sango picked up her large demon bone throwing it at the man.

"I'm sorry!" InuNaya yelled catching the weapon and holding it over his head. "I was just looking for the baths I'm covered in mud also. I wasn't trying to spy!" He laid the weapon on the ground and turned around facing away from them. Realizing they weren't exactly getting a Hoshi vibe from the guy Kagome and Sango decided their bath was over.

"It's okay InuNaya, we're getting out now anyways." Kagome answered for the both of them.

"You can join me InuNaya." The girls turned to Meyame who gave them a very puzzled expression in return. They both figured the couple probably had a romantic relationship as it was and didn't want to press any farther.

"I didn't see anything lady's I promise. Please let me know when you're dressed." Swallowing hard he awaited for them to let him know they were decent.

"You're fine InuNaya we're dressed now, sorry about almost beheading you." Sango put a hand on his shoulder as she walked passed with Kagome back to Kaede's home.

He took his hands from his eyes looking back to the water he noticed Meyame was still in the bath looking at him expectantly. A obvious blush covered the bridge of his nose but he joined her none the less. This would only be the third time they had bathed together he figured he would rather be with her than to have her far out of his sight alone. As he took his shirt off Meyame caught a scent in the wind that she didn't recognize. Immediately the hair on the back of her neck stood up. 'Why does he smell like a woman... it's not like him to talk to girls... let alone get close enough to make contact..' On the contrary to popular belief she wasn't mad or jealous but confused. InuNaya had been a little out of character lately and she wasn't sure if it was a good thing or a bad thing yet. If he opened up a little more then she decided it would be a good thing.

"How was your work out in the rice fields?" She didn't mean for it to come out so harsh, she really didn't think she was upset about it. He was doing a good thing helping out the village and it got them a lot of rice. Genuinely curious she waited for his answer.

"Jealous?" Was all he offered placing his hands on the back of his head he gave her a knowing look. A blush embedded itself in her cheeks.

"NO! I was simply curious!" She crossed her arms over her chest in defiance.

"Come on Meyame. I can feel what you're feeling remember." He stated triumphantly with a little bit of annoyance in his words.

"Is that what that feeling is? Jealousy?" She looked at him questioningly, looking deep into his eyes for an answer. "...No. I don't think that's what that is. I don't know, I've never been jealous before...Maybe..." She bit her bottom lip. "Hang on! Don't change the subject. You're the one hugging strange women!"

"I hug you all the time."

"Not willingly." 'At least she was aware of that...' A feeling of guilt washed over him and he had hoped she didn't feel it, or at least maybe she would think it was her own. He didn't know how it worked on her end. On his end of it he knew the emotion wasn't his he had an understanding of the feelings but had full awareness that it wasn't his emotions.

"Who says I was willing anyway?" He sighed at her. "She just hugged me because she understood."

Ignoring the feeling in her gut tell her not to she asked anyway. "Understood what?" Her eyes had softened knowing it was something that seriously bothered him. She waited for him to answer and when he didn't she spoke again. "You can tell me..." She breathed. Her heart clenched, she hoped he would tell her what it was, after all he told a total stranger but she fully accepted that he might not just like he always tends to do. Closing his eyes he felt a new kind of confidence in him. He had already accepted that Meyame would accept him no matter what, that she understood him better than anyone else in the world. 'What the hell...'

"I never knew my parents." He looked at her waiting for her reaction. When she didn't react or respond he continued. "They died when I was young and my older sister took care of me."

"Where is your sister now." He choked at her question, not expecting it.

"She's gone." That was as much of an answer he could offer as the pain washed over him, the loneliness, no doubt intensified by Meyame's own emotions mixed with his. She reached for him placing a soft hand on his cheek, moving her hand away only when he leaned into it. She made her seat next to him hooking her elbow with her own she leaned on his shoulder.

"Everything is going to be alright, We're going to get through all of this together." The redness rose to his cheeks suddenly realizing their situation and how close they were, he thought deeply about his words before speaking.

"Are you going to be alright? Being in this world with just me?" She looked up at him answering with no hesitation.

"Of course, I've been here haven't I? Why ever would you think that I would mind? If I minded at all I wouldn't be here InuNaya." She gave him a hard look before continuing. "Besides, we're not alone anymore. It's not just us anymore."

"I guess you're right. I just want to make sure I'm enough."

"You will always be more than enough." Giggling she gave him a little shoulder shove before making her way back to her spot, she grabbed her towel Kagome had laid out for her. "I'm all washed up and ready for bed. You?" She stood wrapping the towel around her body. He avoided his eyes out of respect.

"I think I'm going to stay here a little longer. I'm still feeling a bit sticky from the rice fields." She nodded before heading back to Kaede's leaving him alone with his thoughts. 'What is wrong with me...' He had a mission to accomplish. He made the decision a long time ago that getting close to her emotionally or anyone for that matter was not an option. That was proving to be a lot harder than it originally sounded. Fading into that realization he sighed until the voice in his head rudely awoke him from content. 'Get as close to her heart as possible.'

'Why?'

'Do as you're told.'

'What is the point in all of this, it's been over a year... things are... getting complicated.'

'Good, let them get complicated so long as there is no complications to your instructions.'

'Once these... instructions have reached their peak, then what?'

'If you must know, then you will kill her,'

InuNaya broke his mind out of its cage confused he stared at his hands. 'What do you mean...?. No. I'm not doing that...I can't kill anyone... I can't kill her..' As the confusion and anger started to build up inside of him he felt himself losing consciousness' again. When this first started he thought he was going crazy. He has been able to control it the longer he has to deal with it but sometimes it gets hard. He remembered when it first started the voice had taken over his body. When he woke up he had been standing in front of a home, a young girl no more than 14 in front of him, a demon in front of her. He couldn't just let the demon kill her. There was blood everywhere, before he could make a conscious decision he had already killed the demon and was holding the girl in his arms in comfort as she cried. 'Protect her...' The voice had rang in his ear.

'You will do as you're told.' The voice in his mind had pulled him back into his cage of darkness in his head and in that moment all he could feel was fire burning through his veins. He gritted his teeth, with every beat of his heart the pain got worse and worse. As he looked up at the moon tears streaming down his face, unable to make a single sound he lost control of his body and in turn his sight. His eyes had turned from his golden orbs to crimson red in that instance. Begging his body to just let him release the painful scream he had building up in his body from the pain pumping into his veins like knives he lost consciousness.

To Be Continued...

AU: I just wanted to say... It took me forever to get this chapter out, then it took me forever to finish it. I hope you liked it and I apologize for it taking so long, I tend to want to get it perfect and go through and re-read it to see if anything needs to be added, Taken out and what not. I have updated all chapters 1 through 6. It's not much of a change but a little more was added to get a better understanding of what is going on so if you read the chapters before 03/09/2018 please go back and read up until now... maybe by the time you're done I will have chapter 8 done... that I haven't even started on yet... please don't hate me lmao... stay tuned.

p.s. It is incredibly hard to not type "lol" or "haha" or "lmao" as if my characters were texting ugh. Also if you aren't aware of any of the stuff I skipped through in the chapter like Sango's story or Inu-Yasha's story and you'd like to know I highly suggest reading the manga or feel free to send me a message and I'd love to geek out and inform you of all the things Inu-Yasha. My story/verson of Inu-Yasha is completely MANGA BASED so there is no Ayame, no other two tailed cat. Anything the anime brought in to the story line will not be here. Sorry if anyone is disappointed.