~ 6 months later ~

"That's an ogre. Do you remember what the best way is to kill them?" Ichiro's voice was a low whisper, eyes fixed on the monstrous figure nearby.

"With fire." Ann responded, nodding confidently. They were hiding in some dense brush, watching the creature lumber along. It stood eight feet tall, bright red with a shaggy black mane, sharp white teeth protruding from its gaping mouth, and yellow eyes glowing dimly in the forest's low light. It had terrorized nearby villages for weeks, prompting the demon slayers to act. A dozen warriors were positioned throughout the forest, waiting for Ichiro's signal.

"Do you remember the plan?" Ichiro asked, his tone edged with concern. Ann smiled faintly. His overprotectiveness would be annoying from anyone else, but from him, it was sweet. She leaned in and gave him a quick peck.

"You and your warriors will snare him and get him to a point where he can't move. Once you're sure he's secure, you'll call me out." Ichiro still looked apprehensive, but he nodded.

"Please do not come out until I call." he squeezed her hand, emphasizing his point. "I am having trouble focusing, because I am concerned for your safety."

"Don't be," Ann admonished, giving his hand a squeeze in return. "I'll be fine." He nodded, managing a tentative smile.

"Let's get this over with then. I am looking forward to getting you back home." Ichiro gave her a flirty wink, making Ann blush, a quick kiss and then was off. Ann smiled, warmth radiating throughout her body. Even after several months of marriage, she couldn't help coming completely undone whenever he was around. But she quickly shook her head. She couldn't let Ichiro down. She was here for a purpose.

"Time to get my mind in the game." She peeked out through the leaves of her hiding spot to watch the ogre as he meandered along, picking up random objects, sniffing them, and either throwing them to the ground or in his mouth.

Suddenly a long metal spike whizzed out of the brush, striking the ogre in the side. A rope was attached to the spike, and it tightened as soon as it sunk into the ogre's flesh. The creature roared, his yellow eyes flashing in anger. It grabbed the rope and yanked it, dragging a couple of the warriors into the clearing. Simultaneously, more spikes connected with the ogre, the ropes creaking creaking under the pressure.

The ogre howled, twisting in a large circle and hauling all of the humans attached to ropes out into view. Some of the warriors were sent sprawling out across the ground, barely managing to cling to the ropes, while those that managed to remain on their feet immediately pulled up the slack, trying to hold the beast in place.

The ogre grabbed one of the ropes with his meaty hand and, his muscles rippling, swung it effortlessly over his head, sending two of the men flying through the air and out of sight into the brush. Ann gasped as he did the same to another rope. The men attached were sent crashing up through tree limbs and down again. Ann couldn't see them hit the ground but heard their crushing impact and their cries of pain. Adrenaline coursed through her body as she realized that their ambush wasn't going as planned.

"Should I act?" she wondered, her mind buzzing. She could see Ichiro pulling with all of his might on one of the ropes. Her heart pounded at the wild look in his eyes, his teeth clenched, a sheen of sweat covering his skin. It was only a matter of time before he was sent flying too. None of the men flung into the forest had returned, and she couldn't see them through the dim light. They were likely too hurt to continue.

"If I come out now, won't Ichiro be upset with me?" she thought vaguely, her mind too overwhelmed. The ogre was gushing blood and gore from his wounds as he struggled against the warriors. It wouldn't be long before he slowed down due to blood loss. She just had to wait, and Ichiro's plan would work.

That's when the ogre's hand landed on Ichiro's rope. Time slowed. Ichiro's eyes widened. He knew what was coming. His body tensed, his grip tightened. He was hoping for the best. Ann couldn't do that. She was out of her hiding spot before she realized what she was doing.

"Hey!" she yelled, advancing. The creature's yellow eyes turned on her, as did Ichiro's. Ann held her hands in front of herself and began making the hand signals her uncle had taught her to conjure holy fire. The ogre roared and began to move towards her. It took everything inside of Ann not to freeze up at his ground-crushing progress. There were twenty hand signals she had to complete, and if she screwed up or hesitated, she'd have to start over.

"Hold him," Ichiro was yelling. "Don't let him reach her." Sweat broke out on her forehead. The ogre towered over her, its clawed hand raised high. She could feel the heat radiating off its body.

"Fifteen," she counted under her breath. "Sixteen, seventeen." The ogre's hand descended, hitting her with the force of a speeding car. All the wind was knocked out of her as she flew sideways. She struck something hard and crumbled to the ground, her world going white.

"Holy shit," was Ann's first coherent thought as she pushed herself up to her hands and knees, trying to collect her breath and senses. Her vision was clearing, but as she looked to the creature, she realized she couldn't hear it. The ogre was still trying to get to her, but some of the warriors had wrapped their ropes around trees, more effectively holding the it back.

With great effort, Ann rose to her knees. For a moment she swayed, the world not wanting to hold still, but then she steadied herself and began the hand signals again. Seeing this, the ogre went berserk, ripping and pulling at the ropes, strings of saliva flying from his mouth with every roar. The warriors put everything they had into holding the creature, but they were being slowly dragged across the ground.

"Ten, eleven," Ann counted. Sounds were starting to return, though muffled, like hearing underwater. She could hear Ichiro yelling in the background, frantic, but she couldn't process why.

"Fourteen, fifteen."

One of the spikes ripped flesh as it popped out, and the ogre moved closer, its hands swiping wildly at her.

"Seventeen, eighteen."

The ogre's shadow loomed over her once more. Its hand was held high.

"Nineteen."

Ichiro was suddenly there with his naginata. He stabbed the ogre in its fleshy side. It reeled back, swiping at Ichiro. He barely dodged and struck again. To Ann, it surreal, like watching a TV show rather than being there. All she could do was count and form the hand signals.

"Twenty," Ann held her hands out flat towards the ogre. A force she still wasn't entirely used to ripped from her hands, encircling the ogre in a burning torrent. Purple flames latched onto its skin, climbing higher. The creature shrieked as the inferno intensified. Just as quickly as the fire took life, it died, leaving only ashes scattered on the ground.

The adrenaline rush faded, and Ann immediately felt weak. The world tilted, and she found herself in Ichiro's arms. His usually warm features were contorted in panic.

"This is bad," she thought emotionlessly, but managed a smile, which seemed to panic Ichiro further rather than reassure him.

Ann was being carried. It was dark except for the moon above. It was so big and bright.

"Beautiful," Ann whispered.

"Ann," Ichiro's voice was so full of emotion. He shifted her, and she vaguely realized he was the one carrying her. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," she said.

Ann lay on her futon, staring at the ceiling. A small fire burned in the fireplace, casting odd shadows on the walls. She was warm, but her body ached, and she was thirsty.

"Ichiro," she called, her voice croaky. In a moment, he was by her side.

"Ann," his face was pale as cupped her face. "I'm so glad you are awake."

"Is the ogre dead?" she asked.

"Yes," he answered, his forehead lowering to touch hers. "I do not know whether to be angry or grateful. Your actions saved the men, but almost got you killed." Ann chuckled weakly.

"I'm fine."

"That's what you said two days ago," he said sternly. "I was beginning to worry you would not wake."

"I won't leave you so easily," Ann reassured, lifting her hands to stroke his face. "You're stuck with me for many long years."

"I hope so," Ichiro lifted Ann into a tight embrace, which she returned happily.

Ann felt ill. It had been a couple of weeks since her battle with the ogre, which she was healing well from, but now she was nauseous. She had a feeling she knew why too. She hadn't had a period in a couple of months now, which was unusual. She had to be pregnant.

Different emotions swirled through her. Excitement was at the forefront. She couldn't wait to find out if she really was pregnant, because she knew Ichiro would be ecstatic when he heard the news.

Another part of her was scared though. She knew it was only a matter of time before Naraku came looking for her. There was no guarantee of her victory against him, so what did that mean for any children she brought into this world. If she died, they would be at Naraku's mercy and what if her powers passed to them? They would be his puppets.

She placed her hands on her lower abdomen and prayed that she could find a way to keep her family safe. If she lost any of them, she wasn't sure how she'd survive.

A knock sounded at the door, pulling Ann out of her thoughts. Ichiro opened the door allowing a maid from the head house to enter.

"The Master is asking for you, Ann," she explained in a pleasant voice. "He said there is a lord here to see you."

"A lord? Ann is still recovering," Ichiro was there between her and the servant instantly. "Does the master really need her?"

"I'm afraid so," the maid bowed her head. "The master said the lord was looking for her specifically." Ichiro looked put out, but Ann pushed her blankets back. Uncle Yoshio wouldn't have asked for her if it wasn't important.

"Can you let my uncle know that I'm on my way?" Ann asked. The maid looked relieved.

"Of course, my lady," she said as she bowed and left the room. Ann slowly stood from her futon. Ichiro rushed to help her up, but the look on his face said everything about how he felt in this moment.

"Uncle Yoshio needs me," Ann said. "Can you help me dress." Ichiro's jaw clenched, but he moved forward to help her put her kimono on. He tenderly adjusted the front of her outfit and tied her obi.

"You are still healing," he said tightly. His hands lifted from her outfit to her face and he gently stroked her cheek. "Plus you have been sick. I think you should let me go in your place."

"Uncle Yoshio is asking for me," Ann insisted, lying her hand over his. "He knows I am not well. He wouldn't ask for me if he didn't need me."

"I suppose," Ichiro conceded.

"Please let me go do this," Ann said. "I'll come right back afterwards." Ichiro looked apprehensive, but finally nodded his head.

"Go," he said softly. "I trust Master too." Ann gave him a quick peck and was off.

Ann found her uncle and Lord Kagewaki in the reception hall. The lord was tall, with an air of aloofness that made the room seem colder. His dark hair fell like a curtain over his shoulders, and his brown eyes narrowed as she entered.

"My Lord Kagewaki, this is our village priestess, Ann," Uncle Yoshio gestured towards her as she kneeled and bowed low. "She has just returned from a mission with our demon slayers where they destroyed an ogre."

"Impressive," Lord Kagewaki said. "I believe she is the one I have been seeking." Ann turned her attention to the lord and felt a rush of fear surge through her body. The lord's eyes gleamed bright red and were intently focused on her, unblinking. She knew those eyes. She reached out with her senses but felt nothing unusual. He didn't feel like Naraku, but there was no mistaking those eye's intensity or the way they devoured her. She opened her mouth to say something, but his gaze narrowed in a way that said she should reconsider.

"Lord Kagewaki," Ann lowered her head again to the floor, needing to break eye contact with him. "How may I serve?" She lifted her head to look at him again and found his eyes were now a rich brown color. The intensity was gone leaving a handsome, slightly withdrawn looking, lord. She blinked in confusion. Who was this man?

"There is a demon," Lord Kagewaki's voice was calm, almost detached. One of his hands casually flicked back a few strands of his long black hair. "He occupies the western lands and has been wreaking havoc on my villages there. My army has tried to deal with him, but he holds a Shikon Jewel shard. Ordinary battle strategies do not work against the power that he wields."

"This demon," Uncle Yoshio inquired. "Would I be familiar with him?"

"Perhaps," Lord Kagewaki continued. "He is the dog demon, Lord Sesshomaru." Uncle Yoshio's intake of breath was audible. Ann looked at him in surprise. His jaw had dropped, and he was obviously scared. She'd never seen him lose his composure before.

"The son of Inu no Taisho?"

"Yes," Lord Kagewaki confirmed, completely unaffected by Yoshio's behavior. Uncle Yoshio's hands fisted. A light sheen of sweat was breaking out on his forehead. Ann couldn't understand why.

"A dog demon," she thought. "What's so scary about a dog?"

"My lord, this demon is beyond our capabilities,"Yoshio explained, surprising Ann further. She had never seen him turn down a job before either. "We do not have warriors enough to battle a demon as powerful as Lord Sesshomaru and if he is in procession of a shard of the Shikon Jewel, then our forces would not last a minute."

"I am not asking for your forces," Kagewaki continued to explain. "I am asking for her." He indicated Ann with a graceful flick of his hand.

"My lord, she has the potential to be a powerful priestess, but she is still new to this life," Yoshio explained. "I am not sure what she could accomplish for you."

"With help, I believe she can defeat this demon," Kagewaki said. "In-land from here, there is a small village that is the home of the priestess that is supposed to be caring for the Shikon Jewel. Ever since it has broke and been scattered across the land, she has been searching for its pieces. She is supposed to be very powerful and, since she is searching for the shards, might want to join your priestess against Sesshomaru."

"I am sorry, Lord Kagewaki," Yoshio bowed and then faced the lord again. "I will have to turn you down. Our priestess is not ready for a demon like this. After some more training, our clan might reconsider." Kagewaki's eyes narrowed slightly, but his voice remained unconcerned.

"I see. Just remember, Sesshomaru could quickly become your problem and there might be nobody to turn to by then."

"You are correct, my lord," Yoshio agreed. "Ann needs more time though." Kagewaki didn't respond. He merely stood and made his way towards the door. As he passed Ann, he looked at her. A shadow passed over his handsome face, a malicious grin tugging at his mouth and his eyes glowing red again. The scar on Ann's chest warmed and a vicious voice whispered in her mind,

"Time to go, little priestess. Leave the village by tonight or I will send a horde of demons here to raze it to the ground."

The burning stopped, Kagewaki left the room and all Ann could do was sit there stunned.

"Why, after all of this time, did he come to collect me? Did he allow me to stay here? Was he waiting for something to happen before he came back for me? What is he up to?"

"Ann?" Yoshio stood in front of her, his brow furrowed in concern. "Are you okay?"

"Yes," she smiled as reality came back to her. "He just unnerved me." Yoshio chuckled and said,

"Most lords I have met have that effect on the people around them. I believe it is one reason they manage to hold power." Ann smirked, but knew that wasn't what had bothered her. Naraku had finally shown himself, but he hadn't revealed his hand yet. What did he have planned for her?