Fitting the large grown male into Saki's small hut with only two rooms was a task to behold. He protested, of course, it would've been better if they stopped by his place to apply ointments and rewrap his wounds. But Saki had her own head, and she had decided. Despite Hotaru's arguments supporting Kou's protests, she left the two in the attached room with a higher bed and she moved to the main room with the fireplace. She wasn't playing matchmaker, but she thought it was a good opportunity for the two to get to know each other better. Also, she wanted to keep an eye on her brother.

Kou hated being useless and lying around. Even more he hated Hotaru sleeping on the futon on the floor to keep him comfortable, warm and cosy. But she was like his sister. Stubborn and strong. There was no arguing with her.

Driven by his discomfort, he wanted to get back to his previous strength. Every day, he was moving around the village, exercising, teaching Kohaku, forcing himself to function with missing pieces of muscle. But his body needed more time to adjust than he was willing to give and every other day, his wounds opened.

"I told you to rest. But no, you have to force yourself and reopen the wounds. Again." Hotaru snapped her fingers. A small flame danced above her middle finger as she looked straight at him, her eyes and hair changed in the flickering light back to its original colour. She brought the flame to the wick of a candle and lit it.

Kou huffed, hiding his surprise: "A crippled man is a burden for the village, not a man."

"A-a-ah. You are not crippled, you are healing. There's a difference." She hummed, turning back towards the door where she hung her haori on the nail. She continued with lighting candles and the fireplace, warming water with herbs, rummaging through the hut, preparing tea, collecting bandages and ointments.

Truth to be told, she was nervous to be with him alone. She needed to move her hands, do something.

When she returned to the room with a bucket to clean his wounds and wash him, he frowned: "Where is Saki?"

"Eh? You just noticed?" She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

"Ah, no. That's… I thought she stayed out longer with Kirara or something. But… No, well. Forget it." He blushed and looked away.

She chuckled. "She stayed in the chief's hut, cooking poisons with the lady chief. I'm enough for the usual re-wrap and ointment time."

She reached for his obi, but he grabbed her wrist. "I can undress on my own!"

"Oh, sorry." She withdrew, looking at her feet with a blush. It was impossible to look at him now, so she took a clean piece of cloth, dipped it into the bucket and squeezed the water out of it.

He bit his lip. Harsher than I intended. He knew she wanted to help, but he wasn't dying and he wasn't used to being touched by delicate female hands. Let alone being undressed by ones.

"Let me." His voice was gruff. What is different tonight? Why am I so on edge? Urgh!

She blinked in confusion, but handed him the washcloth. "Oh… Okay, but I don't mind."

"I'm not that incapable."

"I never said-"

"Could you turn around and give me some privacy?"

They looked at each other for a moment. She yielded. "As you wish." What is with him tonight? She got up and marched to the main room to finish the tea. "Let me know when I can apply the ointment. That I need to do."

"... I will." I hurt her. He squeezed his eyes shut, took a deep breath and slowly forced his hands to move.

She rubbed her face. Don't take it personally, Saki warned you he can be gruff. But… The seasons were changing. Snow was melting and the days were getting longer. She had to get ready and head out. And this man… To her he became too important.

"Kou-san?"

"Yes?"

"I will leave when the spring comes."

His hand froze. It was a few weeks away, but… "Why would you?"

"I need to know what happened. Why I cannot remember my life, but I have knowledge, powers? I have to know."

"Why? Are we not enough?" Am I not someone by whose side you could stay?

She smiled sadly at her hands, happy to be in the separate room. She couldn't tell him everything. If the tengu returned for her, she could endanger the village. She wasn't willing to do it. "I've come to love everyone in this village. You have given me so much. You mean so much to me, but… my answers do not lie here."

He ran his fingers through his hair in a desperate gesture. He swiftly tied a fresh loincloth. "You can come here." She did as he asked and she carefully knelt on the floor avoiding eye contact. "Saki doesn't know." It wasn't a question.

"Not yet. But I believe she can feel it."

He nodded, his expression serious. "Why can't you simply stay and move on as one of us? Make your answers here? You are a good demon slayer and a powerful miko."

"Because… As you all say, the mind might've forgotten, but the body remembers." She bit her lip, rubbing her underbelly. "The body remembers…"

Reading the gesture and grief in her eyes, he could already guess the answer. And even though he didn't want to hear it, he prompted her: "Tell me."

With a short hesitation, she explained: "When a woman bears a child, it changes the body ever so slightly. I am a doctor, I can see the changes." She looked at him with a heartbroken smile. "I have borne at least two children for someone. I know, no… I feel, as strange as it may be, they are gone." Tears welled in her eyes under the heavy truth, she was still processing. "I cannot even remember their names. I need to know what happened. Remember, or at least find someone who will tell me. Because if no one remembers it's like…"

"They never existed…" He filled in, part of him wishing the kids never existed. The husband, which was a must, bothered him even more.

She nodded. And for once, she wasn't hiding her feelings. He saw, underneath her smiles and kindness, a broken woman, broken, but so immensely powerful to be still standing. "Are you sure they are gone? You lost your memory, after all…"

Certain about the verity of the feeling and analysis, she looked him in the eye. "I don't know how, or why, but I can feel it. I know," she placed a hand over her heart, "that I couldn't save them. That I failed them in some way. And until I remember them, until I know what happened or find someone who does, I will not be at peace."

"You wanted me to know. Why?" What changed?

She blinked in surprise. "Because you… I trust you. And I… To me you are…" She couldn't say it.

"To me you are as well… too important." He, too, couldn't say those three words. Not to a priestess, not to her. Not if she was about to break his heart in a few weeks.

"Thank you." Taking in a deep breath, she squared her shoulders and with a nod she got up and took the ointment.

She carefully rubbed the ointment into his clean wounds. In a comfortable, understanding silence, she worked her way from his legs up to his shoulders. When she was done, she remained hovering near him longer than was necessary. His presence and his scent soothed her. She wanted to rest her head on the crook of his neck, she wanted to feel his strong arms around her body. She wanted to feel protected and safe in this man's arms. I shouldn't have fallen in love. He is a good man, I don't deserve him.

What am I scared of at my age? Broken heart? It's damn worth it if a woman like her breaks it! He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her into a clumsy hug. "Then find your peace quickly and return to me, woman."

She took in a shaky breath and smiled against the skin in the crook of his neck, where she hid her face.

He shivered, feeling her lips on his skin, a single tear trailed down his chest. "I will." She promised in barely a whisper.

"You'd better."

Sitting on the hill, Hotaru was looking at the village where she'd spent so much time. Where she found friends, family and a new love. The kids were playing, slayers were practising fighting, mothers were cooking… She sighed. It was calm and beautiful, but it wasn't her home. She loved these people, one more than all the others, but deep down, she knew she had to go. She had to find her peace, her answers, her truth. What the driving force was, she wasn't sure. She wasn't sure she was right about going alone. She didn't even know where to go! But the feeling in her was too powerful.

She had to leave.

A spring breeze blew through the growing grass, rustling her hair. Snow was gone, the roads dried. She could have left sooner, but she needed to make sure Kou was in the best condition he could be, before leaving.

"Why the long face?" Saki sat next to her, bumping into her shoulder.

"Tough decision to make." She smiled at her friend.

"Mmm." Her face saddened. "Are you setting out today?"

"Yes. It's time I go."

She nodded. "What about Kou?"

Hotaru sighed and squeezed the bridge of her nose. "I will be back. I promised him."

"Promises can be dangerous. They make your soul and heart restless."

"Just like wishes… you don't need to remind me. But I do love him."

"He is a good man." She smiled, then it turned into a foxy grin. "And you should hurry up and find your answers! I want a niece or a nephew!"

"Oh stop it. Didn't you say you've had enough baby talk?" She bumped into her, laughing. "Besides, I wonder if he ever gets past the fear of 'stealing my powers by taking me'." She rolled her eyes. "As if that was ever true."

"Oh but it is, why do you think I am all alone my whole life?"

"Nonsense. If a miko loses her power it's because she wants to, or in rare cases she might gift it to the baby." She scoffed. Seeing her friend disagree, she huffed: "Either way, maybe it's for the best. I cannot afford to be with a baby now."

"I would normally protest, but…" She rubbed the back of her neck looking towards the dense forest. "I have an ominous feeling. Something bad will happen."

A shiver ran down her spine. "I feel it too."

"Anyway! Let's stop being eerie witches with what is probably a baseless premonition." She clapped to snap them out of their shared sentiment. "Want me to accompany you as you say goodbyes?"

"If you want." She smiled, "but I will at least kiss your superstitious brother."

"You can try."

They both laughed as they stumbled down the hill.

######

Soumei was sitting on a low branch watching her leave the village. His youki was hidden, untraceable. He was coming to check on her whenever he got away from the mountain unfollowed. She carried a feather of an ancient one, but he couldn't say whose. Her own powers masked the ancient youki too well. She was the reason their feathers were tingling.

She must be… But why? What is your purpose, witch? Just what are you to us? Why do I feel like I should protect you? He shook his head.

She stopped and listened with her eyes closed. Slowly, she turned in his direction, raising her chin up.

Geh. Don't tell me she can sense me?! Before she opened her eyes he was gone, flying back home.

######

Sesshomaru, finally content with the weather conditions, headed to meet an old friend of his father who was awakening from his winter slumber. He needed to find the heirloom sword and all he had was a riddle, which didn't mean anything to him.

His unlucky hunt lasted over a century now. It was the time he finally succeeded.

A dark shadow passed over him. His eyes trailed after the familiar tengu high in the sky flying south, back to his mountain. What is he doing so far up north? The foxes are long gone.

"My lord?" Jaked was looking at his frowning face.

"Hn. Let's go." He headed south west.

After leaving the demon slayers, Hotaru was wandering around, never staying at one place for too long. She was earning her food and rest by selling herbs, medicine and potions, or by exterminating minor demons. People fairly liked her if she kept the spell of perception working, otherwise they were scared to even look her way or they chased her away with shovels and flying rocks.

She stopped in the middle of the road. It was there again. A tingle at the very edge of her perception, familiar, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. She closed her eyes and reached towards it. What are you? It was unsettling, but not scary, almost reassuring. And gone it is.

"Hm?" She turned as several horses hurtled around her.

"STOP!" Horse neighed as it was forced to abruptly turn towards her. Others followed suit.

A samurai in full armour was sitting atop, looking directly at her. Judging by his crest, he belonged to the Asano clan, ruling in this area. "Are you a priestess?"

"Yes." She answered carefully, pulling the straps of her case closer. Her spell was instantly hiding her true face and hair. She hoped she managed to hide fast enough.

"The one who left that village?" He cocked his chin down the road from where they came.

"Yes."

"Come with us." He ordered.

Her fingers gripped her staff tighter. "Pardon me?" Seven, on horses… I don't stand a chance.

"You will heal the men in the castle."

She blinked astounded. "I will?"

"You will. It's an order. We are at war, healers are needed at Asano castle. It is your duty, Miko."

She scaled her choices. A) Show her true face and 1) scare them, 2) make them kill her, 3) take her anyway, B) Go with them peacefully, heal the men and leave as soon as she finds a gap. B) was less troublesome on her mind's scale and maybe she would find something interesting.

"Fine." She was staring at him with determination and defiance so strong the horse backtracked. "Will you offer me a ride, or do you expect me to run after your horses, general?"

One of the men laughed. "She has spunk in her, general, eh?"

General's eyes narrowed as he offered her a hand and pulled her up on his horse.

The first few days in the castle were a mess. There were dozens of injured soldiers filling a huge dojo that was a part of the castle grounds. They kept her preoccupied. Once she was done with the last man, she returned to the first to change dirty bandages. It seemed like a never ending cycle. There were a few helpers, but none of them knew what they were doing and most often than not they got in her way. Perhaps on purpose.

If this keeps up, I won't have enough energy to maintain the spell.

As if someone heard her plea, the general shoved another priestess into the temporary healing hall with the injured. She was young, barely 15, her spiritual powers weren't strong at all, but she had determination to help and she was a fast learner. After a few hours Hotaru managed to get away for a well earned bath, warm meal and one good night of sleep.

The next day she was introduced to the lord Asano, and his daughter, Sara, whose health bothered her. There was nothing obviously wrong, but Sara was ghostly pale, tired and weak. Even Sara's aura was unhealthy, dark. But she wasn't asked to help her, so she rather didn't try asking anything. Last thing she needed was to be accused of trying to bewitch the princess.

"How are you feeling today, princess? It's a beautiful day, isn't it?" Hotaru asked politely, when they met at the courtyard. Sara was there for her daily stroll and Hotaru was running to fetch fresh water from the well.

"Better than yesterday. I had a good night's sleep." Sara smiled and sat on a small bench.

"Glad to hear that." It was a good night indeed.

"Do you think we will fall under siege?" The princess asked, not worried. She naturally believed in the victory of her father.

"Why should we?"

"I overheard general's in my father's war room saying that it is highly probable." She shrugged and covered half of her face with a fan.

Maybe it's time I get away. Hotaru thought, watching the lazy clouds swimming through the cerulean sky.

A samurai ran into the courtyard, panicked. "We are under attack! Close the gate! Barricade!"

"You!" He pointed at her, his eyes hazed with battle frenzy. "We have injured, do your work, damn witch!"

The supplies in the castle were running thin. The castle was strong, but they would last two weeks at maximum. There were not enough supplies and too many injured men. Hotaru was angry at herself for her foolishness; she should've left before this'd happened. She hated being contained at one place for too long. And they weren't treating her well either. She didn't get her ratio of food for three days already. If it took longer, she wouldn't be able to keep her spell working and then, she didn't want to imagine what they would do to her.

That day shikon no tama appeared, she felt it. It was surprisingly close and it didn't please her. It was her chance, but it was also a threat. She believed the jewel was cursed, even if she made a wish for her memories, it would twist it around and take more than give. Her conclusion was that she was better off without it.

A day later, the jewel shattered into hundreds if not thousands of pieces that scattered through the lands. The light that accompanied it was beautiful; a spectacular show, followed by a pink sunset. They could watch it from the windows of the castle.

"That's the famed jewel right? How beautiful!" The young miko gasped, watching hundreds of lights shooting through the evening sky.

"Mmmhm, it sure looks pretty." Hotaru hummed in agreement, but she was frowning. That can't be good. "But move your hands, the bandages are not gonna rewrap themselves."

She huffed. "Hai, hai."

"Ah, Sesshomaru! I haven't seen you in centuries!" A tengu squatted on Bokusen-Oh's lowest bough, folding his wings on his back. "What brings you to the old hermit so soon after his slumber?"

"Hn. I could ask you the same thing?" I didn't feel him coming. Sesshomaru made sure to keep his face expressionless.

The tengu tilted his head like a crow and evaluated Sesshomaru for long seconds. Then he grinned and a small gourd appeared in his hand. "Bringing nourishment to an old friend. And you?"

Sesshomaru was discreetly sniffing the air for threats, but they weren't strangers. The tengu was alone and in a rather good mood. "Searching for the black pearl."

"Hmmm, you want to go pay respects to Toga-sama? How noble of you." He hummed, his turquoise blue eyes piercing Sesshomaru in a playful provocation.

Sesshomaru's fingers twitched in an attempted attack, but he decided otherwise. The tengu in front of him was a master swordsman, older than him and, for now, stronger than him. And, unlike Sesshomaru, he had usable swords at his hip.

"You are here for more than that, Soumei." Bokusen-Oh's deep voice broke the semi-tense atmosphere between his two unexpected visitors.

"Not in particular." He opened the gourd and poured the liquid contents on Bokusen-Oh's roots. "I needed to get some fresh air, stretch my wings… And bring you nourishment."

"What do you need, Soumei?"

He glanced at Sesshomaru, who wasn't leaving. Maybe he didn't get his answer yet? "You are not older than my father, but different than him. Can you foresee the future too? Or perhaps the past?"

"I know of those who come seek me. You have something specific in mind? Or maybe someone?"

"Perhaps." He said evasively.

"Do not be mistaken, I cannot read minds nor do I know of something of someone I have never seen or heard of. My foreseeing is perhaps as good as that of the best human priestess, my past seeing is far better. And my memory is endless. Sometimes, the past can lay in the future, that I can see."

Past in the future? Soumei frowned and touched Bokusen-Oh's trunk. "Hm, curious. It has not grown?" He hummed to himself. "Thank you, my friend. I will come again." His feathers shook as he straightened his back and took off the bough. "Until our paths cross again. Oh… And Sesshomaru, think. Whatever the riddle is, knowing your father, the answer is simple. To whom would he give the pearl, the access to his tomb, to protect, other than you or your mother?"

Inuyasha… He narrowed his eyes at the fast leaving dot in the sky. "I don't owe you anything." He huffed underneath his nose.

Bokusen-Oh laughed down to his roots. "He is one who does not count debts of those he considers friends."

"I have no friends."

A/N: Let me know what you think but remember, reviews are appreciated but never necessary.

S.