Short chapter. I know. Going off to school in a few days. Warning ya'll now: I don't have this complete. I'm going to be in Architecture school for five years (and still have to work during breaks). Ill still be active somewhat on my tumblr fanblog dreamer-of-the-wandering-suns. I'm afraid we must say farewell for now. Ill post a couple more chapters that I already have written to see if I can get anymore reviews and views.

This chapter's title has to do with the fact that our dear Moriko is reminded of what she left behind. Anywho, Enjoy!

He'd sensed their distress and arrived to find her at war within herself. Rikona had been long gone at this point, keeping her distance and sending him intel of the mysterious girl.

Her reiki swarmed about her, but it wasn't a normal pink aura. It was a sunset burning-orange. More importantly, however, her eyes had gone red.

There was no need to glance up to know what the shape of the moon was. He edged closer, "Stop, Moriko."

As if his words alone held the power to silence her surging spiritual powers, her scarlet eyes returned to white, though, he took note that the jagged blue marks did not fade away completely.

In an instant, she was slumped in one of his arms. Expressionless, he watched her as they both slowly descended to the ground, on his knees. She wasn't fully unconscious, but her closed eyes strained to open. His desire for her to be comfortable was not surprising to him at this point, though he still wondered at it.

He sensed him before he even said a word.

"Release her."

Ichirou stood calmly with his staff in hand. Kirara growled beside him. The blue-clad demon before him said nothing. His massive youki flared, threatening but only defensive. There would be no provoking this one.

"I have no beef with you." There was no need to express this but the demon still did not budge, didn't even blink.

Putting her safety above all, I added, "At least allow me tend to the woman. I'm a monk of many trades." I stepped forward with eagerness.

The demon snapped viciously. My outstretched hand flinched. At that, he slightly tilted his head up and sideways.

I watched as he lowered their daughter to the ground, stark-white hair fanned out, tangling in the sand. Her expression was pained and signaled exhaustion. As well as she should be. I've never even heard of such . . . Power, much less witness it. The massive invisible explosion of it would take its toll on anyone.

I rested my palm on her head. Beads of sweat dotted her temples. Worry wrinkled the bridge of my nose. Being in such close proximity to the demon, literally only having the half-demon girl between them, I didn't dare look up. I did not fear him, but I did value my life.

"Well?" He questioned, "What ails her?"

Her eyes shot wide open. I scooted away slightly, giving her breathing room. She shouldn't be able to get up, he thought as she sat up. He took note of the aid of the demon's hand at her back. Well, there's no need to worry about him. Her care is obviously at the forefront of his priorities.

She looked at him with a nod at his silent probing eyes, checking her condition from head to toe. I was astonished. She doesn't even seem bothered by his close proximity to her. Is it . . . Mutual?

"Are you alright Moriko-chan?"

My ears swiveled, just noticing another sitting on the other side of me.

"You . . . Know my name?"

The darkly robed man sighed into a gentle expression, "I know your parents. Inuyasha-sama is like an uncle to me."

When I said nothing, he continued, "My name is Ichirou."

"I . . . Chi . . . Rou . . .-San." She tried his name by syllable. Can she not speak well? The Daiyoukai thought.

She appears to be well, but what of her conscious?

I don't know what to make of him. His name tugged at the back of my mind and I tried reaching for it but to no avail. What IS IT?! Why does his name ring a bell?! I sounded my frustration quietly.

"I see you're wearing a slayer's skin. Not very many slayers left out there these days."

That's it!

"You're Ichirou-san!" I pointed. Funny how my brain remembers things I never paid attention to or even noticed, like how mom had whispered to Sango about Ichirou.

"Uh, yes?"

Remembering Byakko, I turned to see him wearing a confused expression. He looked to me silently. "This is Ichirou-san, a friend of my parents." I watched his face as it turned from confused to enlightened.

"So what are you doing here? Where's Inuyasha?"

Then a cute cat appeared. For a split second I thought, Kashi? but then realizing that was impossible as I noted the twin tails. The feline stopped, sniffed at the air near my right arm, and mewed to Ichirou.

"Hi Kilala." I smiled, petting her head affectionately. I wondered how she automatically let me touch her at one sniff. Maybe she smelled my cat. Not that Kashi is mine anymore.

Testing it, I put my hand back to the ground for support, and she looked taken aback. It was like she hadn't expected that. Then she rubbed against my arm.

I looked at it, and my expression grew grim. Then again, there are some things I don't miss about him. Tan shedded fur coated my black sleeve.

"So, he's let you go."

My eyes shot back at those words. Let me go? What does he mean?

"Kilala can smell his mood on you. He seems worried, but compliant . . . Which is so unlike him . . ."

"You can smell moods?!" So I could tell how someone is feeling by learning how to use my nose?

He put a hand on the curve of Kilala's back, "It's something I've only known her to do. I know Inuyasha can't, considering how many fights he got into with Kagome."

My eyes narrowed at that, "That's just cuz he's a dimwit." The memory of him barking at me while trying to make me climb a tree played in my head.

His expression mirrored my own, "There's no doubt about that."

Still . . . He let me go. Just like that. A face flashed before my eyes. Grandma . . .

I stood abruptly, stiff as a rock. "Let's go."

"Where?"

I turned to Byakko. "I can't ask you to come with me, but you can if you want."

Ichirou caught on my meaning, as well as Byakko's lingering confusion. "You want to go to them, then?"

"Yes," I clasped my hands together, "Will you take me?"

He grinned, "I'm happy to oblige to a pretty lady."

He suddenly got real close to my face. With his face. Then, he was suddenly far away.

I looked up at Byakko's frustrated expression. He had backed me away from the flirtatious monk, an arm secure at my waist. Glaring at Ichirou, "Too close." He warned.

Meanwhile, all I could think was Great, he's just like Yousuke.