Inuyasha came back to camp with two dead rabbits and five fish. Miroku took them from the hanyou without a word as he started to prepare them to eat. Though the hanyou was quiet his mind was in chaos. He did not realize when he took a seat by the fire, for he was staring off into space, going back to a time that seemed so far away now.

A soft tug brought him attention back to the present and as he shifted his glaze from the flickering flames and landed on the green eye kitsune. The little kitsune stood looking up at the hanyou with hesitation and a little confusion. At this the hanyou's eyes seemed to soften a little as he looked at his adoptive son.

"Yes Shippo?" he asked softly letting the kitsune know that he had his attention.

"I was wondering….if what Sango said was true?" the kitsune asked hesitant, almost afraidof what the answer was going to be. But at the hanyou's confusion, he cleared his throat to try again, "About me being adopted by you and your mate?"

At this the hanyou knew what the kitsune wanted to know. Inuyasha slowly brought the kitsune into his lap and gave his a small hug, "yes Shippo, its true."

The hanyou couldn't help but to wonder what the poor kitsune had to go through in this life. And he wished, not for the first time, that everything was the way it should be. The little kitsune shouldn't have seen his parents died twice and this time, he was on his own for awhile witout anyone expect the fire cat. And this made him wondered if his family will ever find peace.

Inuyasha let Shippo go as he heard some rustling nearby, but when he turned toward the noise, ready for a fight. All he saw was Sango pushing Miroku off the log they were sharing. At this the hanyou smiled softly, things were starting to get back to normal and hopefully they would soon be going back to their world.

Again, the hanyou was brought out of his thoughts by a noise, and he looked toward the couple of the log to see what had happen. Only to find that they were looking past him. He looked where their eyes seem to go and they landed on the sleeping girl who was starting to wake up. No one seemed to move as they waited for her reaction and what was to happen next.

Slowly she began to be come to the world of the living, but she wasn't expecting what she heard and felt. She didn't hear the quiet of her room, with the water slowly dripping down the wall. Or feel the coldness that seemed to always be there. Nor did she feel the unforgivable hard ground underneath her.

Instead, she heard all different sorts of noises that she could not recognize. A warmth that seem to crawl over her skin from her head to her toes. And the hard ground was replaced with a softness that seemed to have something lying on top of it. She wanted so bad to open her eyes and take in all that was around her.

However, she feared that if she opened her eyes, everything in this world would disappear. Like a dream, once you wake, seem to slip through your fingers, and you're left with an emptiness. Besides, she knew that she didn't want to wake from this dream. There was just something warm and safe about it that she couldn't place.

But then she heard it. The sounds of someone that was close to her. She wasted no time in opening her eyes as she took in her surroundings. Panic crept over her as she where she was, and because she had no idea where she was, heer panic grew. All that she knew was that she was outside, someplace that she had never been before with a strangle group surrounding her.

She knew that she had no chance against them. She was clearly outnumbered, and by looks at it, out skilled. What could she do? She felt like a cage animal as she looked around at all of them. A seer was watching her with a mixture of curiosity and confusion. A monk that looked slightly relieved but on guard should there be a chase. A kitsune and neko watching curiously, not really sure of what was happening. And last a hanyou that looked at her longingly, with a mixture of happiness and sadness.

Unsure of what to do, she took a step back when the hanyou took a step closer toward her. She had no idea what they had in mind, but part of her wanted nothing to do with it. Though there seem to be a part of her that was drawn to this strange group. And as the hanyou came closer, it was as if her legged decided that they would not listen to her. Or maybe the Gods where just toying with her some more, instead of letting her finally have her peace.

Whatever the reason was, she could not make herself move as the hanyou drew slowly toward her. And it wasn't until that he was right next to her, that she saw him looking at her in such a way that she could not describe. He did not reach for her or attempt to grab her. Instead he started talking in a soft voice.

"You don't have to be afraid. We won't hurt you. You're safe now."

She could hardly believe the words that he was saying. She wasn't sure yet if they pose a threat, but she knew that she wasn't safe. As soon as Naraku finds her…she didn't even want to finish that thought. For it send a shiver of fear down her. She knew that she would be in big trouble if Naraku ever found her. Or rather when Naraku finds her.

"You're safe," he repeated when he noticed her shiver.

"Whoo are yyou," she stuttered.

"Were friends," he said indicating to him and the others.

"Where am I?" she asked without stuttering but still quietly.

"Outside. We're going to take you home," he answered.

"Where is home?" she asked confusedly.

"Somewhere better than here," he said.

"What if I don't want to go?" she questioned.

"We can't make you," Miroku started, "But you'll be safer than out here on your own."

Looking around the strange group again, she was still unsure what she wanted to do. And it didn't help that she didn't know if she should trust them or not. Maybe they were just lying to her and were really going to take her back to Naraku. But they did not seem to be lying and she knew that she would not make it far on her own.

She looked at them with a small smile, "I can leave anytime?" she questioned playfully.

"Yes," the seer said seeing something that the others couldn't, "And we should be getting a move on it."

Finally this chapter is done. Sorry it took so long, I had written this chapter three different times and it wasn't till I conbine them that I got this. Well I hope you enjoy it and if you please, let me know what you think.

Until next time

Isabella the White Tiger