Disclaimer: I don't own Inu Yasha and co. I don't own any of the songs that I put into the story, except on cd's. But I do own Shiori, Miyu & Koshin Hakogami, Kil Kai-another snow demon from feudal times & Aisu- female snow demon from feudal times, they are all mine.

AN: " " is speaking, ' ' is thought

AN. Just to let you know that I've made spelling/grammer corrections and added a little more detail to the story's chapters. I'm reposting the corrected chapters. But this is still the same story & story line. See if you notice the corrections. And thanks to those that read & review. The reviews mean a lot.

Glossary:

youkai-demon

inu-youkai-dog demon

ningen-human

ookami-wolf demon

osuwari-sit

aisu-ice

CHAPTER 7: SOMEONE'S WATCHING

Little did anyone know that they were being watched from the trees. The figure in the tree was watching Shiori walking with Rin. 'Who is this creature and what is she doing here?'

The walk back to the village was mostly quiet, except for two males softly growling at each other. Kagome was stuck in between Kouga and Inu Yasha. "Oh, will you two stop with the growling," she begged, having had enough. "Let's just walk in peace. Okay?"

"Fine," Inu Yasha bit out, turning his head.

Kouga, ever the showman, "Of course, anything you say, my love." This just caused Kagome to sweat drop.

There was a faint laugh coming from near the head of the group. It was Shiori, she just couldn't help it. Kagome shot a glare to the back of her cousin's head. "I'm glad you find this so amusing."

"I'm glad you think so, too. By the way, do they know that you're injured, too," Shiori asked, sounding a little too innocent. She could just imagine the trouble she was stirring up.

Both men turned their heads to Kagome, and almost yelled, "What?!"

Kagome took the opportunity to run up to her cousin and Rin. Shiori just grinned. "Be glad that we are family and that I love you or you would be so dead right now," Kagome gritted out.

Rin squeezed Shiori's hand, making her look down. "You're not in trouble, are you?"

Both women were looking at the girl now. Kagome was the one to answer. "No, she's not in trouble. She just likes to cause me trouble."

"That's what family is for," Shiori answered. She stopped walking then and grimanced in pain. She moved her hand to her still bleeding shoulder. Kagome stopped and took a look at the wound.

"I really think we need to find something for this bite. If nothing else, then something for the pain."

"It doesn't matter. The poison is no danger to me and hopefully I'll be healed in a couple of days," Shiori said, not watching Kagome inspect the wound.

Just then, Kouga and Inu Yasha walked up. They both got a chance to see the bite wound. They were both surprised by the amount of damage that was done. Shiori, unknowingly, just earned respect from both men for being able to literally walk away from a battle with her injury.

"I don't think you should be walking, Shiori. You've lost a lot of blood," Inu Yasha pointed out.

Shiori slowly shook her head, mindful of the new waves of pain shooting through her shoulder. She let out a breath, "No, I'll live. I just want to rest and get some food." Before she could take another step, Kouga picked her up bridal style. "What in the hell are you doing, wolf," she demanded.

"You are injured and are worrying Kagome. So, why don't you relax and let me carry you to the village," he answered as he started walking.

"Well, that was nice of him," Kagome said, shaking her head with a smile. She took Rin's hand and began to walk to the village.

Inu Yasha caught the smile and asked, with a frown, "What's with the smile?" He then thought, 'Don't tell me she likes him?'

Kagome looked at him, "I'm just wondering how long she'll let him carry her. She's not one to gracefully accept help. She's very stubborn." Then thinking, 'Just like someone else I know.'

"Oh," he was quiet for a couple of heartbeats, then asked, "How are you doing?" They were walking again back to the village.

"Oh, I have a few scrapes and scratches from the snake youkai. I'll clean them and bandage any when we get back to Kaede's hut."

"Do. . . do you. . .need. . . any help?" he asked, blushing a little, looking straight ahead.

She looked at him and caught the blush. She turned back to the path with a small smile. "If I need help, I would appreciate it, Inu Yasha. Thank you."

Shiori had been watching the couple over Kouga's shoulder. She had a small smile on her face. 'I don't think he's a bad guy. He just has an attitude problem. Who doesn't?'

Everyone got to Kaede's hut in one piece. Kaede was getting herbs together to treat the three women. Miroku set Sango down on a pallet carefully. She began to wake up and smiled at him. "I guess, I should remember to dodge trees in the future."

Miroku smiled and looked away, "Yes, that would be very wise. I'll go gather more wood while Kaede checks your wounds." With that, he walked outside.

Sango was a little surprised. "What's wrong with him?" she asked, looking at Kaede.

"Perhaps he's worried about you? He was the one to carry you here," she said, tending to Sango's scrapes and bruises.

Sango's eyes widened. She turned her head to find Kagome and Shiori. She gasped as she saw Shiori being carried in by Kouga. Then, her eyes went to the bloody bandage on her right shoulder.

"What happened to you?"

"Oh, one to those snakes thought that he could eat and run," she said, trying to get comfortable. "But, when I turned down his offer to be dinner, he just went to pieces."

Kouga laughed.

Inu Yasha just smirked, "That is an understatement."

Kagome just shook her head. "Do you always have to be sarcastic?"

"Um, let me think. . . Yeah," Shiori answered with a grin.

Kagome threw her arms into the air. "I give up!"

"You still need that shoulder looked at, child," Kaede said, finishing up with Sango.

"I appreciate it, but I'll be fine. I just need to eat and rest."

"But, you are still bleeding. That is not good," Kaede observed.

"Oh, that," Shiori looked at her shoulder. "It's just my body getting rid of the venom. It'll stop shortly."

"And if doesn't?"

"I can fix that. Let's just wait a little bit longer."

"Well, let someone change that wrap at least," Kaede said, washing her hands.

Shiori sighed heavily, "Okay, fine. But please, stop worrying about it. I'll be fine."

Kaede nodded and turned to Kagome. "Since you two are family, I'll let you tend her. Stubborn thing."

"That's what her parents keep telling her," Kagome was already digging in her bag for a new binding and cleaners.

"I get it honestly. If they both hadn't been so stubborn they probably would have admitted they loved each other sooner. But, oohhh nooo!! They were too bullheaded. Ouch!!!" She yelled out. "That hurts, Kagome. Why don't you just leave it alone?"

"No, now stay still. You can be such a baby," she was unwrapping the blood soaked bandage from Shiori's shoulder. She gasped at the ragged wound, seeing it in the bright firelight. "You really should let us clean this. And, no arguing."

Shiori just sighed heavily and let her cousin tend to her wound. She growled softly when it was being cleaned. "This bites."

"No, that is what the snake did. I'm just cleaning," Kagome shot back. She learned early to stay on her toes with one liners when around her cousin.

"Which by the way, is proving to be more painful that the actual bite."

"Oh, it's not that bad," Kagome said, still cleaning the wound. "This is really nasty looking, Shiori. Are you positive that you will be fine?"

Inu Yasha looked over Kagome's shoulder to see the wound again, cleaned up. "The skin is turning purple."

"I told you, I. . . will. . . be. . . fine. Just bandage it up," Shiori said, not looking at her shoulder. She was really in a lot of pain and doing her best not to let it out.

Rin had looked up at one of her protectors and saw the snow hanyou's shoulder. She gasped and began to cry. "You're not going to die, are you, Shiori?" the tearful little girl asked, crawling over to her.

"No, munchinkin. It hurts, but I'll live. Now, why don't you get some food and then go to bed. I'll be fine in the morning," Shiori smiled and then gently nudged Rin towards Kaede, who was stirring a stew.

Rin nodded and crawled over to the old miko and accepted a bowl of stew. She then sat down in the corner to eat.

"She seems to have become attached to you," Kouga mentioned, watching the little girl.

"Yeah, so it would seem. It could just be because we saved her life," Shiori tossed out there. She winced one more time as Kagome tied the binding on her shoulder. "You know if this whole Shikon no Tama thing doesn't work, you could always get a job at Helga's House of Pain."

Inu Yasha and Kouga seemed lost. Kagome just laughed. "You watch way too many American movies." (an: can you guess what movie that line was from? )

Shiori just shrugged and then inhaled as the pain flared up. Shiori accepted a bowl of stew from Kaede. She gulped it down quickly and then ate a second bowl. When she was finished, she handed the empty bowl to Kaede. "Now, I'm going to go find a place to sleep. See ya." She stood up to go outside, when she heard a little voice.

"Where are you going?"

She looked at Rin. "I'm going to find someplace I can sleep where my wings won't get in the way. I won't be far and you have the others here to protect you. They're good at what they do, so don't worry. Okay?" Rin nodded. "Good, now try to get some sleep. Maybe tomorrow your guardian will get you and you can go home. Where you will be safe."

Kagome followed her cousin outside. "Where are you going to sleep?"

"I thought that I would check out the roof. At least, I wouldn't have to worry about my wings."

"Why don't you just change back?"

"Because, I'm way too tired. I've slept in this form before. I'll be fine. Why don't you get some rest. Tomorrow is another day," with that, Shiori leapt onto the roof and stretched out on her stomach. She pulled her right arm in to try and keep her injured right shoulder from being stretched. She could hear everyone inside begin to bed down.

"Hey, snow demon," Kouga called.

Shiori moved so she could look over the edge, "What do you want, wolf?"

"Since your Kagome's cousin, I was wondering if you could keep an eye on her? I don't trust that stupid hanyou to keep her safe," Kouga admitted. There was a loud growl coming from inside the hut, but Kouga ignored it.

"I'd do that whether anyone asked or not, wolf. Like you said, she is family. Now, not to be too rude, but I'm going to try to get some sleep now. Night," she then moved back to where she had been and began to doze.

After his request was made, Kouga left. 'I need to continue my hunt for Naraku. He was the one that had most of my pack killed and he has threatened Kagome's life countless times. He must die,' he thought as he ran to join his pack.
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In the forest just outside the village, a figure was crouched in a tree. He had watched the group walk back to the village from the fight at the hot spring. He had seen the winged demon being carried by the ookami male, Kouga. The figure had also seen and smelled the blood coming from the winged female. Yet, he was too far away to hear any of the conversations.

'She appeared to still be bleeding after that snake youkai bit her. Yet, there she sleeps, on the roof as if nothing was wrong. Very interesting,' thought the figure. 'I wonder who she is and why she's here? I need to find out who and what this female is and how I can use her to my advantage,' the dark figure chuckled to himself. 'She is strong enough to have survived the venom of a full grown male snake youkai. But, what could she possibly want with that damn hanyou and his friends?'

The dark figure turned and left just as quietly as he came. He was careful to cover his scent and to stay to the tree tops. Yes, he would definitely be keeping an eye on her.

AN: Well, hope you guys like this chapter. I'm sorry it's so short but I thought that I would let Naraku's little plot have its own chapter. And again, I'm so sorry that I have been slacking on updating. I admit that is was because of a bit of writer's block and because I got so caught up in reading the other wonderful stories on this website. How do you guys like it so far? Please read & review. Or I won't write any more!!! just kidding, please review.

I would like to thank my wonderful editor, ninjawarrior4life, my bro. glad you like it.

And thanks to everyone who has been reading this story from the beginning when I first started posting it. And to those who read and like it.

THX to all my readers.