When the sun began to set, we all started setting up a small camp. Miroku and Inuyasha fished nearby while Kagome, Shippo, Sango, Kirara and I set up the fire. Soon the sun would completely set and night would be upon us. When the fire was strong and no longer needed constant feeding of firewood, I distanced myself from the others again. I could see Inuyasha and Miroku fishing and decided to go sit by them. They were talking about nonsense as far as I could tell.
"Shiori," Miroku called as I looked over at him, "I was wondering, did Naraku take you to his castle?" Inuyasha looked at Miroku and then curiously looked at me.
"Actually yes, that's where I woke up. In chains and shackles on the castle floor." I replied. Inuyasha looked at me seriously, while Miroku thought to himself.
"Do you remember where it is?" He asked.
"No, but I do remember I had mostly ran south to get to you." I explained.
"So then the castle is to the north." He stated. I nodded in agreement. I looked at Inuyasha who seemed glad we knew where we we're headed, but uneasy. I too, was getting uneasy. Miroku and Inuyasha gathered what they caught and we headed back to our camp. By the time dinner was through the sun was almost completely gone. I could feel my power beginning to slip. I knew Inuyasha did as well. We stayed around the fire for awhile, everyone talking about different things. Inuyasha wandered off for a little while, Kagome following right after. When he left everyone became quiet.
I felt my body pulsate and my power and senses starting to dim. My hair turned from its usual black, to silver, my eyes from purple to blue. Sango, Miroku, and Shippo stared in amazement. My transformation was quick and painless, awkward but painless. I wasn't my awkward ¾ demon self, I was now a half demon, just as Inuyasha was, until a few minutes ago. I hated being half demon, I felt so much weaker and so much more…emotional. Great, because that's what I needed right now…more emotions. Now I was probably half if not less than as powerful as I normally was. At least I could defend myself still where half demons become completely vulnerable.
"You…changed!" Shippo exclaimed.
"Yes, Shippo I changed like all part human, part demon beings." I explained.
"Then why didn't you turn human like Inuyasha." He asked.
"What have you become anyway?" Miroku asked puzzled as well.
"I'm a half demon, for tonight. To answer your question Shippo, my kind are different from half demons. We carry to much demon blood to change into a complete human, but like one of our half demon parents we have nights of vulnerability." I replied.
"It's incredible really." Miroku said.
"Speaking of half demons, where is Inuyasha and Kagome anyway?" I asked pretending that I didn't already know what was going on.
"Well, they're Uhm…" Sango began. No one seemed to have an answer for me.
"We're right here." Inuyasha said stubbornly as they approached us from the trees nearest us. Kagome looked a bit worried as she walked up beside him. She gasped as she saw me. Inuyasha stared at me, slowly his eyes opened wide, he remembered.
"Kagome, would you mind if Inuyasha and I take a walk, we won't go too far. I can see you're uneasy about tonight, but we have something important to discuss." I asked kindly. She stared at the ground thinking.
"Well, I don't think it's a very good idea." Kagome replied.
"Let's go, Shiori." Inuyasha said. I looked at him, confused. He held his hand out to me; Kagome looked at me with jealousy. I took his hand and he helped me up. "We'll be back soon, Kagome." He told her as he dragged me away with him. I mouthed the word 'sorry' as he did so, although I really didn't mean it. She just stared at us, dumbstruck, until she couldn't see us anymore. I started walking on my own beside him.
"Where do you want to go Inuyasha?" I asked.
"We'll sit by the river." He told me. We walked for a short while and sat on the bank together silently. I decided to speak first.
"So, have you remembered who I am yet?" I asked him, hoping for the right answer this time.
"Yeah, well sort of, I know where I remember you at least." He replied. I laughed quietly.
"Well, that's a start." I said.
"You're the woman who saved me from the demons when I was small. I had been playing too far away from my mother's village when I was attacked by a group of demons." He began as he regained his memory of that night. "I had turned human and was barely escaping the demons chasing after me. They had me cornered when you showed up. You defended me from them; you killed them all without any effort. Then you made a barrier and stayed with me all night. You made me, kind of proud, to be a half demon. I'd never met anyone else like me before that. You we're really powerful, and so caring about others. I looked up to you then."
"In the morning, I took you home to your mother and made her a promise." I told him. He stared at me, deep into my eyes, very confused. "I made her a promise that I'd always look after you. I'd keep you safe from harm. Even when she…I would still be there to help you whenever you needed me." I paused. "I broke my promise to her though. I wasn't there for you when she, died. I was hiding, like a fool." I started getting angry with myself, tears forming in my eyes.
"Why were you hiding?" He asked.
"That's a story for another time. I'm just not ready to tell you that yet. Inuyasha, I owe you for the promise I made to Izayoi, so I will help you defeat Naraku. That shall be my way of making amends, if you so wish it." I replied.
"That's fine with me." He stated. We stopped talking for awhile until he asked me a very annoying question. "So how old are you anyway?"
"You're not supposed to ask women that question." I said giving him a dirty look.
"You have to be at least as old as Sesshomaru." He guessed. I turned away from him tears flowing down my cheeks.
"Just shut up." I yelled. Then I realized I was letting my emotions get the better of me. "Sorry, I didn't mean to yell."
"It's fine." He replied very nonchalantly.
"Maybe we should head back to the others, Kagome's probably worried sick about you." I begged. I needed to get away before I started telling him everything, which I absolutely did not want to do. He sighed and nodded as we headed back.
Miroku and Kagome were still awake, while Sango, Shippo and Kirara had passed out. Kagome looked up angrily as we approached but when she saw the glimmer on my face from my tears she stopped giving me dirty looks.
"Are you two alright?" Miroku asked.
"Yeah, we're fine." Inuyasha answered for both of us. Although right now I was not okay. Stupid emotions, I hate when I cry I feel so pathetically weak. Unfortunately, like this I couldn't help it. Oh, I wish tonight was a full moon, and then I wouldn't have to deal with this.
The night passed slowly, I went to sleep not to long after we got back. I guessed that Inuyasha didn't sleep at all. I heard most half demons stay very alert during their time of vulnerability. I woke up from the pulsation of my body as I became my normal self again. I stretched out and laid there staring at the dimly lit sky. I couldn't help but dream about…him…all night. Now, I was thinking about him again. Even though he left, I couldn't be angry with him. I really missed him, I even could say, I still loved him. Yet, here I was trying to avoid him because I know if I wasn't here with Inuyasha, I'd be out searching for him. I heard Kagome and Sango begin to stir, but I continued to stare into the sky and remember. Miroku woke up not to soon after. When everyone but me was fully conscious, Miroku told us that we needed to be ready to leave.
"Now we know where Naraku is, so were leaving to go north as soon as possible." Miroku said. I smirked and sat up quickly staring at them all as they stared back.
"So what are we waiting for?" I asked and smiled. We headed off quickly in search of Naraku. His days were numbered, and so we set out on our journey at last. Finally, I had something serious to distract me and a way to repay Inuyasha, that's all I cared about. We walked for a few days before finally seeing any sign of Naraku. His poisonous insects, the Saimyosho, had been watching us for quite awhile unknown to anyone. Now we knew we were headed in the right direction. Well, Inuyasha and the others were, for I was not going where I truly wanted to go, but I hoped for my own sake I never would.