Hi Hi

hi

I'm back. I feel really bad for making you wait so long. U.u I hope that you enjoy this part.

Hehehe not that many people like this story. e.e but I would like to that the people that have made it this far ::huggles:: thankies

any way enough of me and on with the story.

I don't own Inu

Echoe Shayne ^.^

I know one way

~*~*~* Demro ~*~*~*

Kagome smiled looking over at Yasha. They were still moving and somehow she liked this. She found herself wishing she could move this fast but she knew that was something she would never be able to do. She felt so free if she could fly it must feel something like this, tilting her head back she closed her eyes letting the wind rush past her face. She had to wonder did he enjoy it? With the thought others started flooding her mind. What had happened? What had made him grow up so fast? She couldn't understand what he was going through; her life up till now had been so sheltered. That was why she got so mad when he called her a baby, because she was.

"We're almost there." He said it quietly but he knew Kagome had heard him.

It was past night fall when they crept into the city. Everything was foreign to Kagome but looking at Yasha and Miroku they appeared to know where they where going. They stopped before a small run down looking house. After a few moments the door was opened and a man stepped aside so that they could enter.

"Yasha, what brings you here?" the burly looking man that opened the door asked.

"I need a place to stay for a few days till I can make some arrangements."

"Of course you know that this house is always open to you." The man looked up seeing Hojo he called out. "Vianna go get some water for this man to use to wash, and get something for them all to eat. I'm sure that they're all hungry."

Not long after Kagome watched as a woman made her way into the room with a basin of water. Oh if she could only just wash off her face she would be in heaven. But looking over at Hojo she felt guilty she didn't need it as badly as he did. They had something about getting them all food. At that very thought her stomach rumbled.

"Who is this young woman?" the man said his untrusting eyes boring into her like he thought that she had no right to be there.

Yasha frowned at the way that Takai was looking at Kagome. He knew that the man had a right to be leery of strangers, but this one traveled with him and disrespect to someone under his protection was disrespect for him.

"Kongyou is under my protection Takai." He said his eyes focused on the man that stood there in front of him.

Takai turned his attention from the girl to Yasha. So the girl was under his protection. Instantly he realized his mistake.

"It is nice to meet you Ms. Kongyou." He said nodding slightly. Not wanting to give Yasha a reason to be upset with him. Still he was leary of the young woman that now traveled with them.

________-

Kagome sat on the bed in the back. It felt good to have some food in her real food, not just the dried meat and crackers they had been living off for the last couple of days. Looking up the door opened as Yasha walked into the room something cradled in his hands.

"Ok let's see it."

She knew instantly what he meant and pulled her legs up to her. Feeling the bed giving under his weight she looked up. His mouth was set in a strait line as his golden eyes bored into her. There would be no escape.

"Don't make me do this the hard way."

Knowing he meant it she stretched out her leg sliding the hem of her dress up. Yasha frowned, why had he been stupid enough to let her walk on it today? It hadn't helped anything the swelling looked worse, and the entire ankle was covered with a purplish black bruise. Maybe he had been wrong before maybe it was broken. Taking the long strip of cloth he reached for her leg. He paused when she spoke.

"The arrangement that your making, it's for me isn't it?"

Yasha's attention snapped to the girls face. Her head was bowed and he couldn't see her eyes because her bangs had slid down to hide them.

"Yes."

"Oh I see." She didn't know why she was so disappointed after all she knew this was the arrangement from the beginning. Yasha was only supossed to get her to the next town and she would have been safe there if she had stayed where he put. So why did she feel like he was abandoning her?

"As long as you're with me you're not safe." He knew it was true; he put people around him in danger. He would not put her in danger if he didn't have to. Reaching down he began wrapping her ankle, trying not to notice the sharp intake of breath as he touched her tender ankle.

What was he doing? What good would wrapping something around her ankle do? But to her surprise when he was done it felt a lot better. Not get up and jump around better, but defiantly better then it had been before. Averting her eyes she looked down at the blanket that she had clenched in her fist. She didn't want to look at him, because she didn't know what would come out of her mouth. He had done so much for her that she didn't want to insult him.

"Tomorrow I'll take you somewhere so that you can take a bath." That got the reaction that he wanted from her. He had seen the way she had been looking at the water they had brought in for Hojo to wash with. He had half expected her to start complaining that she wanted some too. Instead she had just looked down at her hands like she had been ashamed the thought had even crossed her mind.

"You mean it?" she had to ask to make sure that she was hearing right. The thought of a bath excited her she hadn't been able to take one since she left home and she was feeling grimy.

"Yeah you're starting to smell, I have to do something about it." Her eyes narrowed at him and he caught the pillow that she had sent hurdling at his head with ease.

With a smirk he left the room pausing out side the door. He was going to miss her but he wasn't about to put her in the danger that came with being around him. Looking up he saw that Miroku was standing there waiting for him.

Nodding they headed into a near by room.

"How is she?" he was curious about Kongyous ankle but he was even more curious to see how his friend would answer the question.

"She's fine."

"Are you really just going to leave her?" he had to ask. He couldn't believe Yasha could just walk away from her. There was something about the way the way he treated her. But even the way that he treated her was inconsistant. Sometimes he treated her like she was something precious, other times he treated her like she was nothing more then a burden.

"It was my intention to leave her back in Ember. She ruined that with her stupid notions. This time though it will be for good."

Miroku couldn't bring himself to understand. There was something about that girl something that he couldn't put his finger on but he knew she was important. He had the feeling Yasha knew it too. "There's something about her."

"Yes I must admit that there is. That is precisely why she must be kept safe. As long as she's around me then I put her in danger." He felt guilty for this fact but it was true. Even more unstelling was the fact that he didn't want to let her go.

What Yasha was saying was true Miroku had learned a long time ago, by traveling with him he assumed certain risks. "Then I will take responsibility for her." He saw his friends eyes narrow at him. He knew him well enough to read that expression. It meant that he didn't like the idea one bit.

"What I say is final."

"But." he was about to protest but he knew that it was useless Yasha had made up his mind. Once that was done there was no room for argument. Bowing his head in defeat he nodded.

Seeing him nod Yasha left the room he didn't like this new development. He saw Hojo leaning back in a chair in the main room. He knew if Hojo found out what he had planned for Kongyou, then the man would make the same offer. Hell he would probably offer to stay here with her. It should have pleased him that someone would watch her when he wasn't there but he didn't want Hojo to do it. He had seen the way he looked at her and he didn't like it.

_______-

Kagome woke the next morning to someone shaking her gently opening her eyes she looked up into the golden eyes staring down at her. Smiling slightly before, closing her eyes again.

"If you want to take a bath then you'll wake up right now."

His word had the desired effect as her eyes snapped open and she bolted up to a sitting position. Not fully awake those he unfocused eyes turned toward him and he had to resist smiling at her dishevaled appearance.

"Then what are we waiting for?" Turning she threw her legs over the side of the bed and moved to stand. Her foot was just a little tender this morning but she wasn't about to let that bother her.

Stopping in the door she turned back and looked at him. "So are you coming or not?"

Shaking his head he watched as she started down the hall before walking after her.

~*~*~*~* Ances city~*~*~*

Kouga paused looking at the people rush away from him. He was making his rounds through the slave district of Ances city pausing he looked at the man standing next to him.

"I want you to take half the men and search the city. I am looking for a girl she will be traveling with at least two others. One of the men's faces will be badly bruised. I will take the rest of the men head up to Demro."

"Are you sure that it's wise to split our forces?" turning he focused on the man. Reaching out he grabbed the front of his shirt pulling.

"You will do as I say and not question me. Now I said half the men will go to me to Demro. I want you to check out the town and then follow. I don't have time to put up with your shit do you understand?" With that he tossed him against the ground motioning for certain men to follow him out of the small group.

Turning Kouga took off at a near run 'he didn't have time to waste he had the feeling they weren't in this place. No they wouldn't be foolish enough to stop here, but he had left half the men because he wasn't about to over step himself. Picking up his pace he frowned as the men behind him struggled to keep up. 'Kagome.' He had to hurry the longer he took the longer she would be with those people. If they found out who she really was, then all hell would break loose and he wasn't about to let that happen. Not to his woman.

~*~*~*~* Demro*~*~*~

Kagome smiled looking the fresh gentley flowing water. She could already imagine the coolness of it against her skin. Smiling she turned to look at Yasha.

"Here"

Looking down Kagome saw a small cake of soap in his extended hand.

Yasha had never expected for her to get so excited over some soap. When she had realized what he was giving her, her smiled had widened and he eyes had lit up and she had muttered a soft thankyou like it had been one of the best things someone had ever given her. The reaction was a bit much for such a small thing still he liked when she smiled. He also found that he liked her smile even more when he knew he had been the cause of it.

"I will wait." With those words he turned his back to her.

"You won't peek?" she eyed his back that was now tuned on her, his flowing white hair contrasting greatly against the drab black of his cloak.

"What! Who would want to look at you?" he had the urge to turn around right then though he would never admit it. Pulling the hood up over his head he remained with his back to her. Crossing his arms over his chest he bit his lip to keep from saying anything.

Seeing that he wasn't going to turn around Kagome quickly disrobed and headed into the water. Reaching up she undid the lose braid letting her hair down as before dipping under the water. Using the soap she lathered her hair taking a step further into the water her foot hit nothing. Unable to stop herself she gave a small scream before disappearing under the water.

Alarm filled him at the sound turning around he saw nothing just gently flow of the water. Had she been drug under? Was she tangled in something that was preventing her from coming back to the surface. Flinging back his hood he tried to see if there was any evedaidance as to where she had gone. The water wasn't moving fast enough to carry her downstream. Rushing to the waters edge panic filled him.

How long had she been down there not long. Then again humans couldn't hold their breath very long under the water. Throwing off his cloak he prepared himself to dive in when Kagome broke through the surface. Her hand pressed over her mouth as she was coughing rather fiercely.

"Kagome," Taking a step into the shallow part of the water he stood there a second gawking at her.

Kagome felt like her lungs were on fire she hadn't been under the water long she knew but screaming hadn't been the brightest thing as she had swallowed quite a bit of water. Her throat and lungs burnt as a coughing fit seized her. Wading into the shallower water she moved her hand from her mouth to her chest trying to slow her beating heart. It was the sound of her name that brought her attention to the man standing on the shore. Covering herself she sunk back into the water glaring at him. He was just standing there staring at her. She would have been more embarrassed if she hadn't been more angry.

"Yasha!!"

Realizing that he was about to hear from one really pissed girl he turned his back on her.

"I didn't see anything."

"Liar you saw everything." A blush creeping to her face she turned her back away from him. He must have heard her scream before she had went under. Her shoulders relaxing she looked at her the stretched reflection that he cast into the water. His back was turned to her and his cloak was off. 'He was looking for me' her mind said prompting her to say something "Thanks though."

"Feh for what? And it's not like you have anything thing to see anyway." Though he said it he couldn't turn around because the truth was that his face was beet red.

So that was how much he hated her. Looking down into the water she stared at her reflection. Was she really what someone of the opposite sex would consider ugly? Miroku had said that she was beautiful but... maybe he had just said that to be nice to her. Reaching out she blurred her reflection in the water. What did it matter what he thought of her anyway? He was just going to leave her. As soon as he found somewhere to stuff her away, she was history. He couldn't wait to get rid of her. She was just a burden to him well good riddance to him. She didn't need an arrogant jerk anyway.

He paused waiting to hear her move to get out but he heard no such sound. His ears twitched. Nothing. Damn that woman. If she was thinking to trick him into turning around so she could get mad at him again then he wasn't going to fall for it. Nope he was no fool. But as the minutes wore on and he still heard nothing from Kagome he became curious then a little ashamed at what he said.

It was obvious that he didn't care. Turning around she saw that he was still standing there his back turned. Well she might as well get out clenching the soap that was in her hand she made it to the shore. She picked up a towel Yasha must have brought. She hadn't even given as much as a thought to getting one.

He listened to her as she dried off but still she said nothing to him. "Look I'm sorry I never meant to look I was worried ok. Are you happy now?" His voice was a mix of irritation and concern. It made Kagome pause just watching in him.

"No." she said a devious smile playing across her face.

"What?!" you mean to tell him that he had apologized and the wench still wasn't happy. See if he ever apologizes to her ever again.

"You know there is only one way that you can make it up to me." Pausing she mustered her courage. "You have to let me see you naked." She had meant it in jest but the words made a even deeper blush creep up on her cheeks.

"What!?" this time he yelled it even louder whirling around to look at Kagome who was standing there looking as serious as she could be. Through her dark hair falling around her face in loose waves she was laughing at him.

"You should have seen the look on your face." Grabbing her side she leaned over little before straightening back up only to start laughing again at his angry expression. "It's not like you would have anything that I would want to see anyway." She said throwing his words back at him between bouts of laughter.

Her sides hurting she looked up at him again and this time their eyes held forcing them both to look away with a blush on their cheeks.

"We should get going the others will wonder where we are." He said retrieving the cloak that was laying on the ground he settled the heavy material back on his shoulders pulling up the hood.

"Why you're not going to take a bath?" she asked with a smile. Not looking down at the even ground was a mistake because her bad foot hit a low dip sending all of her weight onto it. He knee buckled and she felt lurching forward her hands outstretched to break her fall.

"No, I took one before I came to..." He was interrupted by the sound of Kagome hitting the ground. Turning he was at her side in a matter of seconds his hands closing around her slender shoulders. Looking from her face that was close to tears to her ankle he frowned. "See that's what you get wench." None the less he reached down scooping her into his arms.

"I can walk." Kagome protested pushing against him.

"Everything time I start to think that you're capable of doing such a simple task you prove me wrong." He snapped back at her

_______________-

Hojo frowned as he sat there. He had been hoping that he would be able to spend some time with Kongyou that morning but it appeared that she must be a late sleeper. Looking at the door that he knew was hers, he couldn't blame her. She looked so delicate. Such a fast pace even if she was being carried off and on must have been stressful on her. Thinking to the reason she had to be carried he wondered how her ankle was. He hadn't seen it up close but what he had seen was enough to know that she wouldn't be running around anytime soon.

Looking down at his feet he had to fight the urge to walk up and knock on the door. You know just to ask if she needed help with anything. 'No you idiot why would she need help with anything when she's sleeping?' he scolded himself. One of the doors down the hall opened and Miroku emerged from the room that they had been sharing.

Miroku looked around he saw no sign of Yasha. He wondered if he was already out looking for a place that he could leave Kongyou. Frowning he didn't like the thought that they were just going to leave her. It shouldn't have bothered him so much after all he knew Yashas reasoning. It was far too dangerous to carry her along where ever they went. Still he liked her company and her incites, her smile, the sound of her laugh.

Vianna was milling around but Takai was nowhere in sight.

"I will have breakfast ready for you guys in just a little while," the woman said brightly looking at the two men.

"That would be wonderful. So very kind of you to make us something." Miroku said making his way to the small table.

"You are a guest in my home after all."

Hearing the door open her looked up to see a very irritated Yasha. How he could wear that expression and have a beautiful woman cradled in his arms Miroku would never know. From the look on his face it was obvious that he didn't want her there. He walked into the room and deposited her in one of the chairs at the table, the expression on his face darkening as he looked down at her.

Seeing the tension Miroku smiled guessing that it was up to him to try and break it. "You're just in time we were just going to have something to eat."

"Feh."

Kagome could almost laugh, but she knew that if she did it would only serve to put Yasha in a darker mood.

"Kongyou you look wonderful this morning I hope that your ankle is feeling better." Hojo said eyeing her intently. This caught Yasha's attention and he focused on them waiting to see what she would say.

"Thanks," she said with a blush on her face she wasn't used to getting compliments from someone, so she rushed on to answer his other question. "Its feeling way better." She said with a smile on her face. Her answer was a lie of course. The truth was since she had stepped on it wrong at the river it had settled back into a throbbing ach. But she didn't want to worry the man.

"So it looks like you went to take a bath. I think that maybe after we eat I'll go take one too." Hojo said a smile on his battered face.

Looking at Yasha then to the young woman at his side Mirokuu smiled mischievously before he spoke. "You know I think that I'll go with you." Two birds with one stone. He could give the two of them sometime alone as well as check and see if any young ladies would be out for a midmorning bath.

_______-

Kagome sat the table. It had been a small but pleasant meal. Soon the plates were emptied and Hojo and Mirko were on their way out the door. Leaving her alone with Yasha and Vinna. Yasha had been glancing at her all though out the meal, she hadn't really seen him looking at her but she had felt his eyes upon her. It was strange who she knew it was him, it could have very well be anyone else at the table but there was no doubt in her mind that it was a certain silver haired hanyou.

Vianna busied herself by gathering the dishes together, the young lady had turned to help stacking the plates around her that were within arms reach. The scraping of the chairs legs against the floor caused her to turn her attention back to Yasha. His unsettling eyes darted between her and Kongyou before finally settling on the younger woman.

Her eyes focused on the man in the room she noticed something she had never seen in all the times he had been here. There was a softness to them, that hadn't been there before.

"You can lie to them but don't think that I can't see right through you."

Looking down at the table his words sunk in. She should have known better then to think he would believe her.

"I don't want to worry them."

"Feh" kneeling down he lifted the hem of her skirt where he saw that even the parts of her bruise that were slightly yellowing had taken on a new purplish color from where she had stepped wrong.

Vianna looked over Yasha's shoulder surprised by the young woman's leg. How had she been able to walk?

"Vianna, can you get me the same kind of bandages that I asked for the other day?" Turning his head he saw the woman nod before rushing off. A few seconds later she came back with what he had asked for.

Why did she have to be so clumsy? He was going to rub this in her face she just knew it. She was thankful that Vianna was standing there or he would have already started in on her.

Vianna watched as Yasha bandaged her foot. There it was again the tenderness. Of course she knew Kongyous ankle had something to do with it. After all with an injury like the one she had you had to treat it with care or you would only make things worse. Still she suspected that wasn't the only reason he treated this young woman with such care. He finished wrapping her ankle then he did something that she hadn't expected. He pulled the woman into his arms and stood up with her. They headed back to the room that she had stayed in. 'well well'

"You are not to get up today. I don't want you to do something stupid." He said before sitting down to deposit her on the bed. Her body was pressed against his her legs over his lap and her arms were looped around his neck. His face heating up his mind drifted to earlier in the day.

Seeing him blush Kagome felt her own cheeks heat and she wanted to look away but instead she could feel herself leaning forward.

What are you doing? The thought ran through his mind briefly but did nothing to stop his action as his face drew closer to hers. Bringing his hand up to the side of her face he left it trail back into her hair applying to smallest amount of pressure he tilted her head back a little.

The sounds of the a door banging open in the other room caught both their attention. Practically jumping away from each other the pair looked around the room. Anywhere but at each other. Luckily or unluckily the yelling from the other room was a pretty good distraction.

______-

"Don't look at me like it's all my fault." Miroku yelled at Hojo who was also sporting a fading red mark on his cheek.

"It is your fault you didn't have to peek. If you hadn't then we could still be there but you couldn't control yourself. You disserved every slap that you got. And I was just a by stander that got blamed for your mistakes" Hojo yelled

________-

Yasha knew what had happened. Oh well, that's what Hojo got for taking a bath with Miroku. He guessed that there had probably been women and the letch hadn't been able to control himself.

"See you got off lucky I could have slapped you."

Her words brought his attention back to the woman sitting on the bed next to him. He was about to snap back at her but her next words stopped him in his tracks.

"Then again you know how you can make up for it." His expression changed quickly from on of irritation to one of embarrassment. Leaning her forehead against his shoulder she lapsed into peals of laughter.

~*~*~* Kien Naraku's Palace~*~*~*~

"Sesshomaru sama." the small green man looked up at his new master, who appeared lost in thought.

"In the hands of its unknowing protector." He said more musing to himself than talking to the little man that hadn't left his side in the past day. He didn't understand it. If the legend was true, then a faithful follower would be the one to create the sword in a moment of pure love.

The 955th year was approaching, would that mean the sword was already in the hands of its protector? Or had it even been forged yet?

The question was would the swords master already know about its existence? Would they know about it even if the person protecting it didn't have clue as to the treasure they held? How was the master of the sword going to be determined? Did the lowly humans already know about it? Were they just waiting for the right person to come along? All these thoughts were running through his mind.

"Jaken" Pausing he waited for the small man to give him all of his attention "How will the person know that they are the master of the sword?"

"It is supposed to be very powerful. The sword will choose its own master, one that it deems worthy of its greatness."

"Very powerful" he said looking down at his hands. 'So the sword will choose the master' he thought. Who would this great legendary sword choose for its master?

"Jaken leave me. I want you to find as much as you can about the Tetsusaiga."

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