"We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things because we're curious, and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths."

~Walt Disney


Morning came, and Kohaku groggily awoke to herself covered in a sea of soft white fluff. Sitting up, she saw it was the long boa of fluff that always hung on Sesshomaru's right shoulder. She remembers setting up her place to sleep under the same tree as him, but she had done it on the other side of the tree. Upon closer inspection, she noticed it wasn't the whole thing. She followed the fluff trail, seeing as it wrapped from the other side of the tree, to see that it was still attached to the lord (who was awake and staring at her), she was covered in the lower half.

"Why am I covered with your...this?" she asked meekly, holding up some of the silver-white fluff. "You were cold." was the only answer he gave her, not saying anything else. Smiling softly she gently handed him his fur back, him just staring at her even after their hands briefly touched, so she could get up and stretch. Ready to resume the journey, she went over to ensure everything was tightly secured to her new dragon friend, who was still resting and momentarily opened its eyes to grunt at her. With everything nice and secure, she decided that before leaving that she would try to forage for some food to snack on for later. Before leaving she dug in her bag and grabbed her hoodie, seeing it as an excellent makeshift bag to carry back her spoils.

"I'll be back real quick. Just going to go find some food for the road." Kohaku yelled toward Sesshomaru. Receiving a nod, she slung her hoodie over her shoulder and started sniffing the air, following the scents in the air towards the river she caught the fish from last night. Her sense of smell has always been better than others, but ever since coming here, her sense of smell felt heightened. Following a peculiar scent down the river bank, she soon came upon what looked like a peach tree. Getting closer she saw that it was indeed a peach tree.

The short time spent with Kaede and the time she used to visit her great-grandma, has greatly helped her with identifying food and foraging when needed. But curiosity didn't stop her from trying to put other things in her mouth to see if they were edible. She fondly thinks of the time she was helping her great granny plant new veggies in her garden and thought that trying to taste the used coffee grounds she was using as a fertilizer was a good idea. It wasn't.

Softly she positioned her hoodie under the tree into a small nest-like shape. Taking her sandals off she got to work ascending the tree, not at all noticing that her once blunt nails have grown and sharpened slightly. Kohaku reached the first low branch and scooted herself to the fruit insight. They were ripe, so she started to pluck some and toss them down to her hoodie. One peach, three peaches, eight peaches, and finally fifteen peaches. Some may see it as being greedy, but she honestly didn't even grab enough. Getting down she quickly tied the clothing into a makeshift sling that wrapped around herself to carry the peaches back.

Upon her return, Jaken was up and putting the masks on the dragon's faces. "Oh, you're back? Hurry up girl, Lord Sesshomaru is ready to go." the imp told her, handing the reins over and going to follow the already departing lord. "Coming!" Kohaku hurriedly replied, running to hop onto the dragon's back, and ushering them forward to follow. Using one hand she reached into the sling tied to her front and pulled out one of the peaches, wiping it off with her yukata. Taking a bite, the sweet juices of the fruit filled her mouth and satisfied any hunger she was beginning to feel.

The group trekked on through the green fields and on through the mountains. The rocky terrain was little to look at and no other life was around. As time went by, Kohaku and Sesshomaru occasionally talked to help further refine her already basic vocabulary. Because after all, he did say he would help her learn the Japanese language, even if it was the old priestess that helped her first. Now and then Jaken would try to put his input, but if he didn't have anything nice or informative to say, Kohaku was just going to ignore him.

She did share a few peaches with him. After all, she wasn't heartless enough to not share. She even tried to offer Sesshomaru one but he declined, again telling her demons like him don't need to eat human food. She thinks he's just a picky eater.

Hours later the rocky scenery came way to a lush green forest that gave off a demonic aura from within. The teen griped onto the reins tightly for she wasn't used to feeling other demon's presence like this. It was weird, after being surrounded by Sesshomaru, Jaken, and especially the dragon for almost a week, she should have gotten used to or even immune to the feeling by now. But no matter how mentally prepared she wants herself to believe she is, Kohaku will always be scared of the unknown in this new world.

Further in they went. With each step closer the presence got stronger until finally, they came upon a massive tree. This tree had to be at least tens if not hundreds of feet tall, its branches thick and covered in healthy green leaves. And there at the trunk of the tree facing the group was a set of eyes staring at them. Surprisingly this tree, a grand magnolia, had a face carved into it and it was alive (she saw those eyes blink at her). It looked old with a downward long pointed nose and many wrinkles telling of its age.

"Ah, Sesshomaru. I see you have come to see me. And it seems you have brought along Kohaku with you as well." a deep ancient voice spoke. It was the giant tree, its tired eyes staring straight at her. Surprised crossed Kohaku's face. How did this creature know of her?

"I have. How do you know of the girl Bokuseno?"Sesshomaru asked, watching Kohaku's expression closely. "I am surprised you both do not remember. It was not that long ago that you two were pups and playing with each other." the old tree explained. The lord didn't show it much but he was confused. He has met Kohaku before and as a young child no less. He does vaguely remember a little girl he was infatuated with back then, but there was no way it could be the same girl now. She would have been dead by now, and if she was still alive she would have been much older than this girl right here.

"What are you talking about? There's no way I knew Sesshomaru when I was younger. Right?" Kohaku asked unsurely, getting down from the dragon and getting closer to the tree. From high up in the branches a set of red eyes stared down at the teen, all but the tree unaware of its small presence. "There is no mistake child. You have grown, and your appearance has changed, but I know you. I know you very well. I was there to witness when you and Sesshomaru got into another one of your little rough games, and the boy bit you on your left thigh. It was shocking when it left behind a scar, but you returned the favor by biting him and leaving him a scar to bare." Bokuseno revealed.

And he wasn't wrong either. On the outer part of her left thigh was a small set of teeth marks she doesn't remember getting. Her great-grandmother had told her it was from a rabid wild dog, but now she's getting the suspicion that her great-granny lied. Lifting her yukata, she showed off her scar, exactly where Bokuseno had said it would be. A gasp had left Jaken, not wanting to believe what he was hearing and seeing. Sesshomaru too did not want to believe, stepping towards the teen to get a closer look. Bending down he ran a figure over the faded bite mark, electing a small gasp to leave the girl. The lord could feel his young demonic aura left behind in the bite, confirming it was indeed young him who did it. But it still didn't explain one thing.

"If she is indeed the same girl, why do I not feel her demonic aura? The girl from my childhood was a half-demon, while the girl standing before me now is nothing but a human. Tell me how can this be?" Sesshomaru inquired. Straightening up, he looked at the girl in her confused amber eyes. She didn't show that she recognized him, and deep, deep down Sesshomaru felt pain. The girl he used to know was a half-demon, someone he tolerated and had come to trust to have his back when he grew up. But when the girl had turned eight in human years, she had mysteriously vanished. His father and none of his subordinates could find a trace of her, and after years of searching the young lord had given up and lost hope of ever seeing her again. That is until now. It would explain why so many days ago when he meet Kohaku that her scent smelt familiar.

"I do not know why but it seems her demon half has been sealed away. Tell me Kohaku, what do you remember from all those years ago?" Bokuseno asked her. The thing was, she doesn't have any memories of her baby years. Her latest one dates back to when she was eight almost nine. She had woken up in a hospital bed, and when asked why, she was told that she had been missing for years and was recently found passed out in the woods by her grandparent's home. They said when they found her she was dressed in an expensive-looking blue yukata, and surprisingly clean for a child they suspected was kidnapped. Found crying and babbling jibberish (years later her father told her she was speaking perfect Japanese), it was after being taken to the hospital and falling asleep, that when she reawoke she had no knowledge or recollection of the past few years, reverting to a toddler like behavior.

It took two and a half years of homeschooling for her to mentally catch up with others her age. It was just fortunate that she was a fast learner and was able to grasp how to speak and interact with others. She almost regressed again though halfway through the relearning process when her mother was brutally murdered in front of her. Being eleven and having to watch as your loving mother who just got you back is beaten, raped, and then viscously torn apart while you hide away in a closet, was truly traumatizing. The group of men who did it were caught after her father helped police track them down (she doesn't know how but now she has a suspicion), and they were sent to death row for the crime and many others that they committed. But weirdly enough it was after the passing of her great-grandmother a year later that the seven men who killed her mother had started to die, each one found gruesomely mutilated in their cell. To say she felt like it was divine justice was an understatement (but now she believes it could have just been her great granny's doing).

"I don't know. I was told that when I was three I mysteriously disappeared from my grandparent's house. That I was probably kidnapped and that years later I either escaped or that my kidnappers let me go. I was told that I was found wearing a baby blue yukata with a red flower petal design, crying, and speaking Japanese. I don't know if it makes me the girl you're talking about but there is no way I'm a half-demon. Right?" Kohaku helplessly looked over to Sesshomaru, not even noticing that her speech was getting more fluent and that words she didn't know before she now knew.

Hoping the demon lord would agree that the notion of her being a half-demon from his past was ridiculous, but the look on his face was contemplating, his mind racing with more questions and possible theories. On one half, deep inside his cold heart, Sesshomaru wanted to believe what Bokuseno was saying but the other is saying that the old tree may finally be going senile.

"Kohaku, you do not have to believe me now, but soon the truth will come. Just know that when the time does come, you will have many hardships ahead of you. For now, there is nothing more I can tell you. I can not help you." Bokuseno sadly told the teen, "But there is someone who has been waiting a long time for you."

"Who?" Kohaku questioned. "ME~ KURA-KURA!" a high-pitched female voice yelled from within Bokuseno's leaves. Faster than her eyes could currently follow, a small figure about the size of a rabbit leaped at her, its many arms clinging tightly onto the front of her yukata. "Yoru!?" Kohaku exclaimed, confused about how she knew the tiny creature's name. Meanwhile, Sesshomaru was prepared to attack, his clawed hand momentarily glowing a sickening green hue before relaxing. He soon recognized that the giant spider hugging the human wasn't a threat.

"Amber, you came back~ kura-kura! Oh, I missed you so much! I'm so excited I could pee~ kura-kura!" the weirdly all-black jumping spider cried, with actual tears coming from her big crimson eyes. The fine hairs on her legs felt soft to touch and triggered another memory (she has been getting a lot of those today) in Kohaku.

She was six, sitting alone under a tree. Cusped in her little hands was an almost dead tiny jumping spider, its spotted brown exoskeleton looking dull in the light. She remembers she had tried to save the spider from being stepped on by a mean lady who sadly was able to partially squish the spider. This spider she had spent weeks playing with and watching as it had jumped around living its small life. She remembers carefully scooping up the creature, and running away crying to her favorite tree. Kohaku doesn't recall what happens next but she does know that when her tears landed on the small spider its skin turned black and its body started to twitch and crack back into place. Soon it was back to looking healthy, its once black eyes now red and staring back intelligently into her amber eyes. That day she made a new friend, who she named Yoru, the little friend she first meet hidden in the shadows.

After that, the spider always stuck around her. And over time began to slowly grow in size. Went from eating insects to small birds and one time mysteriously, a pond turtle.

"Holy shit...Yoru? I..I...I remember you. I don't know how, but I remember you. My little shadow baby! I'm sorry for almost forgetting you!" the curly-haired teen started to cry. It was the sudden remembrance of the memory and teenage hormones that had her so overwhelmed but she gently hugged the giant spider in her arms, allowing herself to melt into the embrace, feeling that a small part of her was back where it was supposed to be. And she would later find out that she was both metaphorically and literally right. A small essence of her demonic energy that she had somehow used to revive Yoru when she was younger was reabsorbed back into her.

"So it is true then! You are the girl Lord Sesshomaru meet in his childhood! But what is it that causes your amnesia?"Jaken spoke up. And that was a good question. Kohaku still wanted to deny but the reveal of Yoru was some proof for her. "As I said, I don't know. Maybe if I go back to where I first disappeared might help?" she guessed, "What do you say, Lord Sesshomaru? Is it possible to take me back to where I first disappeared?"

He nodded his head, the look in his eyes was something she couldn't place. Lowkey she felt bad that doesn't have her memories of him, because she could tell that once Bokuseno told the lord who she was, it was like his whole demeanor had somehow changed. Maybe the others didn't see it but she sure did.

A tug at the front of her yukata had her looking down, seeing Yoru squirming to get out of her grasp. Loosening up, the spider hopped to the ground and scuttled to the demon tree. "This means I'll see you later old man. Don't wait up~ kura-kura!" she sang, waving her front legs up at him. "Take care Yoru. You know where to find this old tree when you need me. And you two as well, Sesshomaru and Kohaku. Take care of each other. I feel things are going to change soon." Bokuseno warned before his droopy eyes started to close.

Only giving the old tree a small nod, Sesshomaru turned and began to walk away. "Jaken, Kohaku. Come, no time to waste."

"Coming, my lord!" the little imp cried as he quickly ran to catch up. "Come on, my little shadow. We'll ride on my dragon friend." Kohaku told the spider as she headed over to the dragon, reattaching their masks after they were taken off to be allowed to graze again. Swiftly the little jumping spider went up to the dragon, the two creatures curiously sizing each other up. Letting out a sequel of delight, Yoru attached herself to the right dragon's head, nuzzling them affectionately.

Chuckling, the teen hoisted herself onto the saddle, taking a firm hold of the reins, and ushered her dragon friend forward. The demon lord wasn't far ahead, having actually stopped and waited for her a few feet away. She sent a small smile his way, and she noticed his lips quirk up a bit before he turned his head and resumed walking off. Where she didn't know yet, but wherever they were heading, she hopes that it would help clean up whatever weird situation she had gotten.

Over in present-day Tokyo, unbeknownst to the black teen, little twelve (almost thirteen) year-old Higurashi Kagome was standing in front of the sacred tree of her family shrine. She was the one who had found the fifteen-year-olds belongings laying under the tree unattended. At first, she didn't think much of it, but when she informed her already concerned mother who had noticed that Kohaku was late on arriving, she too began to worry.

Police were called and they searched the area thoroughly, but no trace of where the teen went was ever found. All they had was her stuff that was left under the tree. The police had taken the girl's things but gave them back after a few days. Kagome was worried though and for some reason guilt had her blaming herself for the girl's disappearance.

If she didn't continuously ask to meet her pen pal maybe she wouldn't have gone missing. Maybe she should have gone to America instead, and gotten a passport and ticket to visit the girl. Or if she had waited at the entrance of the shrine like her mother had told her to, instead of leaving to hang out with her friends from school, maybe the girl would have been here to hang out with them too.

But she didn't do that. And the girl wasn't here. And Kagome hopes that one day, Kohaku will be found safe, so she can apologize for not being there and finally meet her long-distance best friend.