lostmoonchild: Thanks for the reviews, everybody. I don't own Inuyasha or YYH or anything else unless I say otherwise so don't sue.

Chapter Fourteen

The next morning Kagome managed to put Hana back in the clothes she had been found in since Inuyasha needed his haori. "I'll be gone until before sunset." Kagome said adjusting Hana on her hip.

From the look on Hana's face, she knew exactly what was coming and was trying frantically to get away. "You're not staying in your era very long?" Miroku questioned.

"No, Hana's going to be a bit too dangerous for my era and I don't want to risk the youkai population dropping dramatically because of a crazy ten year old." Kagome said with a sigh. "And I know the Reikai wouldn't be too thrilled about a bunch of ningens suddenly showing up claiming that they were attacked by a demon."

"Why?"

"Inuyasha has his human nights, Hana has her demon nights."

"And you?"

"Not saying."

"Why not?"

Kagome gave them a secretive smile and said, "Because not even Yusuke's friends know if I go demon once a month or not and I don't want to destroy any surprises later on."

"You do know what you're doing when you're a demon, right?" Sango asked with a slightly worried look.

"Yeah. People in my era with demonic blood usually have good control over what they're doing unless of course somebody pissed them off to the point they're running on pure anger. Then they have absolutely no control."

"Hanyou's in your era are strange." Inuyasha commented.

Kagome laughed and said, "Just because of the look human part. Nah, demons and hanyous alike have been evolving in the past thousand or so years to better blend in with humans. Granted the ones who can't fully change into a human illusion without drawing some form of attention have to stay in the Makai."

They nodded and Kaede spoke up, "But it is rare for a child to change into a demon when she is a half demon, is it not?"

Kagome nodded and said, "Most of the time, yes. But Hana's father was a mixed hanyou like her mother so the demon blood sort of multiplied itself so she's a little over half."

"So that's why she takes a youkai form. But what form does she normally take?"

"This month, neko."

"This month?"

"Twelve forms, twelve months." Kagome said with a shrug. "She goes with the same pattern every year to make things easier."

"How much easier?"

"Give me a month and I could probably tell you what form she takes."

"Next month."

"Inu."

Inuyasha nearly fell over when Kagome said what Hana would be the next month and stared at the young girl with mild amazement. "Does she go on a killing spree each month?" Miroku asked.

"Not if you keep her away from villages." Kagome said with a small shrug. "So Inuyasha could probably actually sleep tonight."

"Are you going to sleep, bitch?" Inuyasha questioned gruffly.

"Yeah right. As if I'm going to let a ten year old girl run around on a night when she's a full blooded youkai. I have to make sure she stays away from the village. Believe me, she doesn't remember what happens on the night of the full moon but if she kills somebody who wasn't doing anything, she'll see their face in her dreams."

"This happened before?"

From the look on Kagome's face, it had. "Who?" Sango asked.

"A little kid. Probably around seven years old." Kagome answered softly. "Poor kid didn't even stand a chance."

They looked at the ten year old and saw how she was trying to keep from looking ashamed of herself. They could tell that she was haunted by the child's face and wanted desperately for somebody just to end the transformations so nobody else would get hurt. "You'd better get going." Inuyasha said suddenly. "You're wasting time."

They looked surprised at Inuyasha but Kagome simply smiled a little and nodded. 'Thanks, Inuyasha.' Kagome said telepathically before she left the small hut.

Sighing, the group watched Kagome vanish out of sight.

Hana clung tightly to Kagome as they went through the well and still kept clinging tightly, as if Kagome was providing a life line. Kagome silently took Hana into the house, almost relieved that nobody was home. Chances are Souta was at school and everybody else was taking care of Atsuko assuming of course she managed to get herself drunker than hell again or once again kicked out of yet ANOTHER apartment building.

Honestly, Atsuko should consider getting some help from alcoholics anonymous or at least checked into rehab. But chances are they'd check her into rehab sooner or later if her drinking got any worse. Then again, they might not in fear of knowing she'd simply drive the doctors all insane.

Kagome giggled a little at the thought of the doctors in the mental ward after they tried to help Atsuko. Hana giggled when she smelt the familiar and calming scent she knew belonged to her room. Kagome had called the room her own until around the time Hana moved in. Then Kagome willingly offered up her room and moved into the guest room so now Hana's room had faint traces of Kagome's scent mixed in with her belongings.

A squeal of excitement left Hana's lips when Kagome put her down near a bunch of stuffed animals that were piled up against one wall. Eagerly, she fell against the animals and laughed when they fell on top of her. She had almost forgotten how soft each toy was and how the different textures felt against her face.

Quietly, she crawled until she reached her bed and pulled herself up onto the mattress. She bounced a little on the soft bed and fell onto the pillow, closing her eyes in pleasure. It had been a year since her head had last touched this pillow, since she had breathed in her room's calming scent. She wouldn't forget how in the dead of night, she had been taken from her room and taken prisoner. But she was safe now, nobody would let anything bad happen to her. Nobody would come in the dead of night again just to take her away from the family she loved so much. Not if they wanted to die a very slow and painful death.

It took a second for Hana to realize that Kagome had set her up and was dressing her in a t-shirt and a pair of jeans. "My dark angel," whispered Kagome as she brushed Hana's hair, "innocent only to the eyes of those who don't know the hell you bring."

Hana grinned and grabbed Kagome's hands, laughing when Kagome held onto Hana's hands and picked her up. She loved it when Kagome did that, but loved it even more when Kagome tipped her upside down. She couldn't see what the world looked like upside down but she could always feel the way being upside down could only make her feel.

"not today, dark angel." Kagome said pulling Hana up and putting the child on her back.

Hana protested but fell silent when she felt Kagome walking down the stairs and heard the door open and close before her nose was assaulted with the smells of the city. Within a minute, she felt a tugging and knew that she and Kagome were going through a portal.

When they hit the ground, Hana looked around eagerly as she heard the familiar sounds of people running around. "Where's that file!" Somebody shouted.

Kagome walked quietly through the halls as Hana listened eagerly to the excitement. "Hey, George, is Ciro in today?" Kagome questioned.

"Why?"

"I got my kid back and I need to make sure she doesn't have any negative influences in her energy." Kagome said making sure to make a warning tone when she said "negative" so George knew who she was talking about.

"He had her?"

"Unfortunately. So is Ciro in? I'd have somebody else look at her but unfortunately Ciro's the only one besides me who knows how to deal with mixed blooded kids and I can't look at Hana since Koenma-sama is afraid that I'll make a misdiagnosis."

"I think he's in his office."

"Arigato."

Hana rested her head on Kagome's shoulder as they went through the halls. "Ciro-kun!" Kagome said loudly. "Please, put the girl down and check the kid for me."

Hana suppressed a giggle when heard somebody fall onto the floor and a woman saying "Oh my God, I'm soo dead." repeatedly. She found it funny that Kagome didn't blush or show any form of weakness when it came to some people and sex.

"Damn it, Kagome-chan, don't you know how to knock?"

"Sure I do. But then that would have ruined the look on your face when I came into the room."

"So what do we have here?"

"Female child, mixed blood hanyou, demon tonight." Kagome reported putting Hana on a cold examination table.

"Oh shit. You got your kid back."

"And the bastard's gonna die for keeping her from me."

Ciro laughed and Hana moved when she felt his hands check for any bones that may have been broken and healed the wrong way. "Couple fingers but not enough that its going to affect her too much." Ciro reported.

"I could have told you about her bones being broken. Look, I just need her spirit energy examined and a couple physical examinations probably."

"She can't stand on her own, can she?"

"We're working on that. She crawled to Sango but when she was a little way her legs just started to stop moving."

"Pinched nerve probably. We'll see what's going on."

Hana hated it when they were talking like that, it always scared her when Kagome started to sound professional around her. A silent whimper escaped Hana's lips when she was laid down on her stomach and could feel a pair of hands gently pushing on her spine until she cried out. "One of her vertebrae is a little out of place and because of that pinching one nerve. I could suggest surgery but I know how fast this little shit heals soon after being cut."

"careful what you say about my kid." Kagome said her voice warning. "I just might have to hurt you then."

Ciro laughed and said, "I'm still hurting from the last one, love, maybe some other time."

After a couple hours Hana felt herself being moved to another room and sat still when she was hooked up to a machine. "Okay, Hana, just relax. Take deep breaths." Ciro said with a calming voice.

Hana didn't have to be told what to do. Kagome had requested this sort of testing at least once every month since Hana first came into her care so by now Hana knew exactly what to do and when to do it. For a few minutes she'd be calm then before Ciro could ask, Hana had to let her spirit energy flare as high as she could go without accidentally hurting somebody.

Ten minutes later Hana dropped her energy down to a normal human's energy level and closed her eyes showing that she wanted to sleep. "No, Hana, you can't go to sleep. We have some more tests to run." Ciro scolded lightly.

Hana protested silently but opened her eyes, relieved when she was carried into the first examination room she had been in earlier. "So how'd she look?" Kagome questioned.

"Her energy increased but that's purely because of her will to survive. I'd rank her to be about an upper B-class to a lower A-class when fully powered."

"Are you going to tell Koenma?"

"No, you can."

"Oh yay."

Ciro laughed a minute before sobering up. "But there's something that concerns me about Hana though."

"Oh God." Kagome said casting a worried glance at her younger cousin.

"Come out into the hall and I'll tell you." Ciro said pulling Kagome into the hall.

"Is she alright?" Kagome asked looking worried.

"Kagome, I don't know how to put this without concerning you but her energy could be what's keeping her from truly healing her eyes."

"She purified her eyes when she was three because her jackass of a father slapped her slut of a mother in front of Hana. You and I both know that Hana can't control her energy." Kagome said, her worry growing. "She can't get her sight back, Koenma-sama even said. We've had the best doctors in the Reikai and Makai say the same thing. Hana's adjusted to her world of darkness, she sees through her spirit energy and through mine."

"A child of her age with such power simply screams trouble. If we can't get her energy under control, I'm afraid that before she even hits eighteen she'll have to be…"

"NO!" Kagome screamed suddenly. "I'll go to King Enma if I have to just to make sure she isn't harmed. I'll offer my body and the remaining half of my soul just to ensure that she lives to have children."
"You and I both know what fate has for her."

"You think I care! I had dreams once, Ciro, and I can't live many of them anymore. Go ahead and tell me that if she isn't careful the Reikai will have her killed. So help me, if I have to turn to the Makai kings and every demon I know there just to ensure she lives, then so be it."

Ciro sighed knowing perfectly well that Kagome would indeed turn to every demon she knew just for help. He also knew perfectly well that some of the demons Kagome knew King Enma didn't want to anger.
The miko was seriously from the deepest pits of Hell.

Sighing, Ciro closed his eyes admitting temporary defeat. "Fine, you win. But I suggest putting a scroll on her to last until she figures out how to keep her energy down."

Kagome smiled mysteriously and said, "Wards I can do. But it'll have to wait cause there is no way in hell I'm purifying my kid."

"Whatever. Just get her ass to Koenma and report."

"And I love you too." Kagome said walking back into the examination room. "Hey, sweetheart, lets go see Koenma before the little prince has a heart attack at the thought of there being a youkai around."

Hana giggled and clung to Kagome as she felt herself being carried. "Higurashi Kagome to see Lord Koenma." Kagome said calmly to one of the ogres.

"How urgent?"

"Very. Concerns a child of a half demon couple."

The ogre noded and let Kagome pass with Hana safely in her arms. It wasn't that she didn't trust the Reikai or anybody who worked for the Reikai, it was just that Kagome was afraid of losing her foster daughter again. "Kagome! You're back early." Koenma commented looking surprised.

"I have a reason." Kagome answered putting Hana down on the floor.

Koenma looked down at Hana and looked surprised at her. "Where was she?" Koenma questioned.

"With Naraku. Tell me, Koenma-sama, how in the hell could he have gotten through and kidnapped my kid?"

From the look on Koenma's face, he hadn't been expecting that question. "That's impossible. The Reikai's been monitoring every single portal and the portal you use to travel through time is the only…"

"So explain to me, Koenma-sama, if my portal is the only one that goes through time without the Reikai's influence, why in the hell did my blind child end up in the Feudal era with the one who made the Toguro brothers look like schoolyard bullies?" Kagome pressed.

"Well, Hana does appear to be in good health and…"

SLAP!

"She was damn near dead when she was found and what you're basically telling me is that you have no clue as to how she got there!" Kagome shouted struggling to keep her demon blood under control. These guys seriously did nothing to make her relaxed.

Koenma rubbed his sore face and looked calmly at Kagome. "I'll have Botan check out all possibilities. Until then, take Hana home and get some rest. Even I watch for full moons."
"Just for one night, Koenma, I wish Hana could see the moon and stars. But we both know that'll never happen so if she gets reborn, let her see." Kagome said before picking Hana up. "Just like you let me."

Koenma let out a relieved sigh when Kagome and Hana left his office. "Botan, check out the files of any and all youkai who can pass through time," said Koenma wearily.

Things were once again going to be interesting.

Kagome fell onto her bed and closed her eyes. She was tired but Hana was even more tired, she knew. Those tests were a royal pain in the ass and always drained the one being tested of energy. The minute Hana had been put to bed, the small child rolled onto her stomach and fell asleep almost immediately.

Sighing, Kagome set her alarm clock before falling asleep. She wanted Inuyasha to come to see her and make her worries go away like before but he would probably know Kagome would need as much energy as possible. Smiling softly at what Inuyasha would be doing to her, Kagome drifted off to sleep.

The next few hours went by far too quickly since Kagome nearly fell out of bed when the alarm went off. Groaning, Kagome got up and changed into a pair of loose fitting pants (A/N just think of what Yusuke wore at the Dark Tournament) and a short sleeved shirt before carefully picking Hana up. "It's okay, dearest." Kagome said softly.

Hana clung to Kagome but didn't wake up, obviously very comfortable where she was now. Kagome wasn't surprised at how tired Hana was still so she quietly scribbled a note to her family explaining what was happening before leaving the house. When they went through the well, Kagome woke Hana up enough so the young girl could hold onto her while Kagome clibed up the vines.

Hana fell asleep again after Kagome started walking and stayed asleep through Shippo's joyful yells. "You sure it's a good idea to let her sleep this heavily?" Miroku asked.

"Her body is storing energy. Inuyasha, you get a bit drained of energy on your human nights, right?"

Inuyasha nodded a little and said, "A bit."
"But that's Inuyasha turning human. Why would a child turning demon require her energy to be drained.."

"Because she's a child. Her human energy is basically being drained until probably around midnight when it'll begin to surface slowly as time passes and by dawn she'll be her normal half demon self."

They nodded in understanding and were surprised to see a pair of furry cat ears on top of Hana's head. "Hour left. Its okay if I borrow Kirara until midnight, right?"

Sango nodded and reached out to touch one of Hana's ears but stopped suddenly. "Can I?" Sango questioned.

"Go ahead."

Hana jumped a little when Sango touched one of her ears but relaxed slowly after a few ear tweaks. "They're so soft." Sango whispered.

"Makai breed. Softest fur and/or ears you can possibly imagine. Pretty good to look at if you get the right mix."

"That's what your mother's side is?" Miroku asked.

"Yeah right. Everybody on mama's side avoided the Makai. I'd be avoiding it too if one of my jobs back at home didn't require me to go to the Makai."

No one asked questions until around sunset when Kagome woke Hana up. "Should let her sleep." Inuyasha said.

"When that sun goes down, I want her AWAY from the village," said Kagome, "and I need her awake or else she'll go insane."
They nodded and watched as Kagome picked Hana up carefully, amazed at how the miko was careful not the scare the blind child. "How long will you be gone?" Shippo asked looking worried.

"Just until around midnight. Don't worry and don't wait up."

They watched as Kagome took Hana out of Kaede's hut followed closely behind by Kirara. "She'll be okay, right?" Shippo asked looking worried.

"We hope so, Shippo, we hope so." Miroku said softly watching as the sun began to sink behind the trees.

Time passed by slowly for everybody, every once in a while they heard a yowl followed by another yowl. Fiinally, they could breathe easier when Kirara came in carrying a sleeping child and a half asleep miko. "Wore you out that much?" Inuyasha questioned helping Kagome off of Kirara.

"Demon child searching for something to kill. Doesn't do much good when on a normal basis the kid is more active than Shippo in one week."

They stared at the young girl in surprise and watched her move a littler searching for warmth. "Honestly, Kags, she's cuter this way." Sango said with a small laugh.

"Don't let Yusuke hear you say that. He'll say something like "I'll show you cute until you're black and blue all over" or something." Kagome said with warning look.

"Why?"

Kagome yawned and laid down between Hana and Shippo, showing she was ready to sleep. "Oyasumi nasai, everybody." Kagome said closing her eyes.

Sighing, everybody else closed their eyes and drifted into a dreamless sleep. Unknown to them, a solitary figure stood watching over the small village without speaking a word. "Soon, Inuyasha, soon." the figure whispered before turning and walking into the Forest of Inuyasha to wait.

lostmoonchild: Okay, anybody wanna take a guess on who the person was? If you get it right, I'll give you a large cookie. Anyway, read and review, flames are accepted.