InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Fateful Night ❯ Storm of Darkness ( Chapter 3 )

Disclaimer: I wish I may I wish I might have one Inuyasha for to be my very own. Aawww, man that was the space station not a falling star. Stalks off pouting.

A/N Well hum I did have something was going to say here but I forgot so have a good read and I promise I'll put more chapters up soon. If you just can't wait though. Fateful Night is posted on adultfanfiction.net as well under the same pen name. be warned though that is the unrevised edition so NO complaining :D

Chapter 3

Storm of Darkness

Golden eyes gazing down at the small form draped in his arms Inuyasha studied the strange woman.

Her face was badly battered, and blood covered the entire left side matting her hair in dingy black clumps. Large busies formed purple welts across her face and a small gash on the left side of her jaw still sluggishly oozed blood.

He could see five puncture wounds on both her upper arms from claws, and the imprint of fingers were clearly outlined in an angry bruise around her wrist.

The oddly shinning fabric of her strange blood drenched garment was torn, exposing her pale skin just below her ribs.
Blushing slightly Inuyasha glanced quickly away checking to see if she had any other injuries, only to blush even darker as his gaze reached her bloody legs, scandalously bare below the knee.

Alarmed by the amount of blood Inuyasha couched down and shifted the unconscious woman until he could run his hand over her exposed legs, grateful when he discovered not further injury.

Spinning at a sound behind him Inuyasha galumphed loudly when he saw his friends standing behind him.

Miroku had a lecherous grin plastered across his face while Sango's right eye twitched slightly before she bashed the monk over the head with her weapon.

"Is this the reason you flew out to the cave?" Kouga asked coming nearer to peer at the limp bundle Inuyasha held in his arms.

Suppressing a sudden irrational urge to clutch the woman in his arms closer to prevent Kouga's view Inuyasha grunted a rough `Feh' and turned away from Kouga.

"That damn youkai over their tried to kill her after the bastard destroyed the barrier protecting her." He told the wolf prince gesturing over to the remains of the bull youkai he had disemboweled.

A recovered Miroku picked himself up off the ground dusting his dark purple robs as he walked over to the dead youkai.

Placing a sutra on the remains, he gestured and murmured a few quickly words to prevent the return of its spirit.
When he finished the monk noticed a second limp form lying huddled near the center of the crater.

A strong odor of blood assaulted him as he neared the body of the oddly dressed man. Looking over his shoulder Miroku asked Inuyasha who was walking towards him the woman still cradled in his arms,
"Who is this guy?"

"No Idea, he was in the barrier with her when I showed up. She was holding him in her lap until the youkai grabbed her." He told the monk "I'm pretty sure most the blood covering her is his." Inuyasha added as he again checked the girl over.

"I think we should head back to the cave." Sango stated looking at the still cloudy sky. "I believe it's about to start raining again, and we should get her warm to keep her from going into shock."

"What about him?" Kouga asked. Squatting near the dead human, he noticed the gapping wound that sliced through the male's neck. `Probably what killed him.' the wolf mused standing.

"I'll put a ward up around him until we can come back out here when our mystery beauty wakes." Miroku answered gesturing towards Inuyasha.

Pilling small stacks of stones on top of paper sutras at the four points of the compass, the houshi placed a fifth sutra on the chest of the man.

Miroku whispered a few words, clapping once a faint glow domed over the prone form.

"Done." He announced and walked over to the waiting Kirara.

Kouga and Sango were already astride the large fire-cat.
With a labored sigh Miroku took his place behind Kouga and the cat bounded into the air.

Below he watched his friend leap across the landscape his burden held close in his arms.

"Maybe we should have taken the girl with us." he voiced.

Kouga responded with a harsh grunt as Sango turned back to look at the monk with an odd expression.

"We offered but he only `Fehed' and grumbled `I'll carry her.' Before he took off" she explained

"Brain damaged dog-face." Kouga grumbled wondering at the usually distant hanyou's action.

Inuyasha bounded gracefully over the ruined forest holding the, too still, woman close.

Her small hands had tangled themselves in his red haori. Quirking and eyebrow at her unconscious action Inuyasha wondered again why he had reacted so protectively towards this unknown woman when Kouga offered to give her his place on Kirara's back for the trip back to the cave.

The wolf was still injured and Inuyasha knew walking back would have been hard on the youkai but at the same time he knew that concern for the wolf wasn't the reason he had refused the offer.

He just didn't want to let her go.

"Feh!" he grumbled loudly as he thought `It's just because I want to know what she has to do with the destruction of half my forest.'

Reaching the cave Inuyasha glanced behind him waiting for the rest of the group as they piled off Kirara who shrunk back down to her tinny kitten form.

As they walked into the darkened cave Sango quickly began giving orders.

"Kouga get the fire restarted.
Miroku gather some water and put it near the fire when Kouga gets it burning and then gather up the blankets, we need to get her warm." She directed, from her position among their packs.

Using the faint light from the embers from their fire Sango collected her medical kit and turned back to Inuyasha.

He was standing near the smoldering remains to the fire staring down as the woman he had rescued.

Shaking her head in wonder Sango called to him startling the half demon out of his musings.

Glancing up Inuyasha stared blankly at Sango who tilted her head to the side and raising an eyebrow spoke again.

"Inuyasha, I asked you what types of injuries she has."

Walking over to him she tried to get a better look at the girl in the brightening cave.

Sango noticed Inuyasha tighten his arms around the girl before he growled softly and knelt down near the fire's edge turning so she could see his burden.

Kouga and Miroku exchanged a look as they both took in the fact that Inuyasha still refused to put the small woman down.

Sighing Sango began examining the girls face as Inuyasha muttered a list of injuries he had found on her.

Pouring the warming water over a scrap of clean cloth Sango gently cleaned the blood off the unresponsive girls face, wincing as she got a good look at the massive swollen bruises.

Coming to the shallow gash across her jaw she cleaned the wound and then turning to her pack of herbs selected a few which were doped into her small mortar. Adding a small amount of water she picked up the pestle and ground the mixture rapidly.

When the paste was the desired consistency Sango dabbed her finger into the mortar and smeared the green concoction across the wound.

Inuyasha sneezed when the pungent odor of the mixture Sango had smeared on the woman's face reached his nose.

"Gah! What is that stuff?" he groaned

"Taijiya kusuri." She responded quickly "It will prevent infection, the wound doesn't need stitches, and this will keep it clean until it heals." Wiping the exec off her finger Sango continued cleaning the blood off the woman's neck and arms.

She applied the same green salve to the punctures around the girl's arms, before she wrapped them with clean bandages.

This task proved rather difficult as Inuyasha hardly let the woman move an inch in his arms.

Coming to the bruises around her wrist Sango hissed in anger, before she turned back to her herb packet and selecting a few more herbs again pounding the mixture into a pulp.

While Sango beat the herbs into submission Miroku walked over to them and placing the blankets near the taijiya, turned to Inuyasha.

"Inuyasha you're going to have to put her down sometime."

When his friend growled softly Miroku only smiled and turned to Sango. He sat on his wandering hand before he got himself thrown into the fire, as he watched her bend forward to grab the water skin warming near the fire.

"Where do you think she's from?" the monk questioned as he watched Inuyasha begin pulling the blankets over to him while trying not to jar the woman wrapped in his arms.

Battering the blankets into a suitable tangle Inuyasha gently placed the woman within them.

Miroku nearly laughed when he realized the inu still had the woman reclining in his lap. `He did put her down after all.' the monk rationalized, but his gruff friend was definitely acting odd.

The inu-hanyou rarely made friends and as far as Miroku knew Sango and the old Miko Kaede were the only females he ever even talked to.

Shaking his head in wonder the monk mused aloud, "I think she may have been what I sensed `coming' just before the tornado exploded."

"What?" Kouga exclaimed joining the group after dropping the last of the wood he had found in the cave.
"This tiny female caused that devastating storm? Impossible!"

"Not necessarily." Miroku countered sitting cross-legged chin resting on his hand as he leaned against his legs staring at the woman.

"Even now I can sense power faintly radiating from her."

"So can I, but not nearly enough to cause `that'" Kouga gestured out to the raining night.

"Maybe her power went rouge when the man she was with died." Sango interjected as she finished wiping most of the blood from the woman's legs.

As Sango finished her ministrations Inuyasha quickly grabbed the last blanket beside him and covered the small form leaning against him, hiding her slender legs from the view of the other males.

Pulling the woven fabric up around her chin he gently tucked it around her and harshly berated himself `She could be cold that's all! I don't care if the houshi and the wimpy wolf see her legs.'

"She's a Miko." Inuyasha stated simply surprising his companions.

Staring at their friend's soft announcement it took them a minute before Sango asked, "How do you know? She doesn't look like a Miko."

"Feh, she reeks of it. Kouga can't you smell it?" he grumbled.

Leaning closer to the girl Kouga took in her sent and looked back up at his companions.

"He's right I can smell a Miko."

Nodding Miroku began to continue when he noticed the woman's eyes flutter open.

*************
She was floating in darkness, she couldn't move, and there was no light.

`Where am I?' she thought. `Am I dead? Hojo! Oh Kami Hojo is dead!' her mind screamed into the darkness.

Struggling to move she was suddenly surrounded by warmth, an earthy green sent washed over her calming her. With a silent sigh she breathed in the soothing sent and let herself relax into the surrounding warmth, letting it ease the burning raw edges of her pain.

Slowly Kagome began to hear sounds as she drifted along in the warm earthy scented darkness, confused she tried to see where the sound was coming from, but all she could see was the endless darkness.

She finally spotted a light far in the distance.

`There!' she cried silently, but she was drifting away from the light.

`NO! Please I want to go there.' she pleaded as the light began to fade.

With it the warmth and the soothing scent began to slip away as well. Crying tearlessly as she grew colder Kagome heard a sound behind her.

Someone was calling her name. Suddenly she was able to see the thing calling to her.

It was darkness so black that the blind absence of light she had floated though seemed bright in comparison.

"Kagome…come Kagome…" it called to her in a multi-toned voice that stung in her ears.

Straining to turn away from this darkness Kagome clung to the warmth she could still just barely feel.

A pine laden breeze seemed to waft around her, clutching at it with her mind Kagome willed it to be a tether, something to keep her from the swirling darkness behind her.

Mentally she drew the warm sent to her wrapping herself in its blanketing comfort.

Behind her a small vine of darkness reached out and coiled around her ankle. The searing cold touch of it spread through her leg causing her to cling tighter to the warmth ahead of her.

Just as the frozen vine of black slid up her leg wrapping around her knee Kagome heard a gruff voice mumble in her ear. She couldn't make out what the voice said but the slightly rolling timbre of the man's words seemed to brighten the darkness around her enabling her to see a faded path.

Focusing on the forestry sent drifting along that path Kagome strained to reach its faintly glowing surface.

Before she could place her feet on the path the darkness slid up her leg, tightened its grip sinking icy thorns deep into her flesh.

Crying out Kagome lunged forward trying to grab a hold of anything in the dark nothingness surrounding her.

Desperate to keep from being pulled into the frozen dark mass looming behind her. She was being dragged backwards, looking over her shoulder she saw the darkened orb begin to take a shape.

The inky mass wrapped around its self forming legs and arms.

Screaming Kagome reached again towards the sound of the man's voice knowing it would lead away from this nightmare darkness, and her hand caught something.

Whipping her head back around Kagome saw an iridescent glowing red wisp of smoke. The tendril of red smoke felt warm in her hand and when she reached for it with her other hand the sent of pine and wet loamy earth wafted around her.

With a cry of relief Kagome pulled herself along the smoky rope inching away from the painful grip of darkness.

Slowly the thorny night black vine untwined from around her leg and Kagome was able to reach the shimmering path leading to the distant lights.

Keeping her grip on the red wisp of smoke Kagome stumbled along the path straining towards the rumbling incoherent voices.

The closer she came to the light the stronger the earthy sent became, encouraging her tired body to continue on.

Before her Kagome saw a fire, orange and yellow flames tossed themselves into the air around a bright red core. Longing to leave the smothering darkness she rushed into the light filled warmth.

****

Kagome's opened her eyes and she found herself staring into a pair of liquid gold eyes.

Blinking she tilted her head back, staring at the golden eyes that stared back at her, they narrowed as black brows frowned above them.

The eyes titled to the side and Kagome caught a glimpse of soft full lips slightly turned down in a frown, the very tips of white fangs barely protruded from under them.

Those lips moved but Kagome couldn't hear what they were saying.

Looking back up she pulled her head back to get a better look at who she was leaning against and gasped.

Staring down at her with a fierce look was a young man, silver hair framing his strong face as his golden eyes stared intently down at her.

As he bent closer to her, Kagome's attention was caught by something on his head. Her eyes widened at what she saw.

Two dog ears perched on top of his silver hair, covered with short silver fur that looked velvety soft.

`Are those real?' she thought to herself as she watched a hand reach for them.

The hand closed gently over one ear and Kagome realized it was her hand when she felt the silken fur under her fingers.

Stroking the ear she was startled when the silver haired man gently grabbed her hand.

"Wench, I asked you if you were ok." his rough voice rumbled out of his chest softly as he placed her hand back under the blanket covering her.

Kagome opened her mouth to answer him but nothing happened.

The man above her glanced to the side and suddenly he was placing the top of a brown leather bag to her lips.

Confused Kagome glanced up at the golden eyed man, frowning he murmured one word, "Water" and placed the bag against her lips.

Opening her mouth Kagome felt the liquid slide into her mouth, and down her raw throat. With a small whimper she reached for the bag and with the helping hand of the silver haired man, Kagome gulped down mouthful after gasping mouthful of water.

When finally her aching thirst subsided Kagome let go of the empty water skin and lay back against the man in exhaustion.

Looking up at him she watched as he again tucked the rough blanket around her without looking down.

A voice to her right startled her making her jump, and eliciting a low growl from the dog-eared man against whom she leaned.

"My lady…" was all Miroku was able to get out when the girl in Inuyasha's arms jumped. As his friend glared at him growling softly Miroku swallowed and returning his eyes to the battered face of the mysterious woman whose huge stormy colored eyes, were wide in fear as she whipped her head around at the sound of his voice.

"Forgive me lady, I only wished to introduce our small party."

"Oh…" came the woman's soft reply. "I'm Kagome."


"Kagome-sama, I am Houshi Miroku, this is the taijiya Sango, on the other side of the fire is Kouga." the purple robed man told her as he gestured first to himself, a woman dressed in a black fighting suit with reddish armor and then across the fire to a man dressed in brown fur.

As Kagome's eyes traveled over the face of the fur draped man panic began to flood through her brain.

With each snap of the fire the man changed. Blue eyes flickered to green.

The fire flickered and brown hair pulled back in a ponytail became a wild mane.

Whimpering Kagome scrambled away from the flickering man pressing herself into the chest of the man behind her. As gold stripes flickered across the man's face Kagome screamed and turned clutching at the silver hired man's red haori.

Shaking her head from side to side Kagome sobbed into Inuyasha's chest.

Across the fire Kouga looked on in shock as the small woman in Inuyasha's arms continued to sob uncontrollably cringing away from him.

Sango rushed forward to comfort the woman but before she could reach the girl the hanyou lifted the woman and bounded out of the cave and into the rainy night.

The three friends stood staring after them in shock, when Kirara walked over to Sango and questionably purred up at her mistress Miroku spoke up.

"Let's give them a couple of minutes before we go after them." Turning to Kouga he asked. "What do you think that was about?"

"I don't have a clue!" the wolf shouted baffled and irritated by the reaction.

"I would say it was because you are a youkai but she didn't seem bothered by Inuyasha's ears." Sango mused.

Inuyasha held the weeping bundle tight as he again carried her over the ruined forest, equally confused by her reaction to the damn wolf.

Glancing down at the shaking form in his arms he growled deep in his throat and headed back to the crater where he had found her.

Landing in the barren area he paced over to the barrier shrouded man and set the woman on her feet.

Holding her out at arms length he shook her slightly to get her attention. She slowly lifted her eyes to his and leaning down Inuyasha growled at her.

"I asked you if you were OK."

Gasping at the intensity shining in his golden eyes Kagome took a step back breaking contact with the dog-eared man.

"No I'm NOT OK!" she yelled at him suddenly angry. "I was attacked, my fiancé was murdered, and now I'm surrounded by strange people in a strange place, how the hell would you be?"

"Well I sure as hell wouldn't be crying on a strangers shoulder!" he yelled back gruffly turning away from her and walking over to the dead man.

`So he was her fiancé.' Looking the man over he grunted `Not much of a man if he couldn't even protect her from a couple of low life youkai.' frowning at the thought Inuyasha turned back to the woman who was slowly walking closer. Gesturing down at the man with in the barrier he asked,

"This, your fiancé?"

At his question, Kagome glanced down at the huddled form covered by a faint blue glow. Seeing Hojo Kagome dropped to her knees, tears falling freely down her cheeks.

"We were attacked." she said quietly.

Kneeling next to her Inuyasha listened as she slowly began telling him what had happened.

He became angry as list of abuses she had endured mounted and sickened by the fact that her fiancé had failed to defend her against even one of their attackers.

`What was she doing with such a weakling? I would never let anyone lay a finger on her if…' Inuyasha brutally cut off the thought in shock at his continued protectiveness for this girl.

In reaction to his confusion Inuyasha gruffly asked, "But, how did you get here and where are you from?"

Startled by his question Kagome looked up at the man; he had risen quickly and was now glaring down at her the rain creating a small halo around his silver hair.

Looking around her in confusion Kagome glanced back up at the frowning golden eyes, "I don't know. I don't even know where here is."

Gapping down at the frantic look in the woman's eyes Inuyasha reached down and grabbing the woman by the shoulders shook her once before warning, "Don't cry!"


"I'll cry if I want to!" Kagome screamed back at him. "How dare you tell me what to do! I don't even know who you are, what your name is and where I am?!"

Turning around she noticed the destruction around her and looked back at the frustrating man `His ears are so cute.'

Frowning at the thought Kagome walked up to the man and poking him in the chest demanding, "Tell me where I am!"

Inuyasha glared at the woman "You're in my forest, which you apparently decided to blow up!" he snapped. Crossing his arms he spun and began to stalk away.

When Inuyasha spun away from the woman he walked strait into Miroku's chest.

"What the hell!" he exclaimed before he recognized the monk.

"Oui Inuyasha, we wondered where you had gone." The houshi said a huge grin on his face.

Frowning at his friend Inuyasha `Fehed' and stalked back to the woman. Looking down at the small woman he growled softly when he noticed she was shivering.


Taking off his red haori Inuyasha draped it around the woman's shoulders and stalked off.

Pulling the haori close, Kagome glanced at the retreating back of the man. She jumped when a hand clasped her shoulder.

Spinning around she was looking into the face of the taijiya Sango.

"Hi I'm sorry about him, he's not exactly…umm…sociable." she told Kagome. "We really should get you back under shelter before you catch a cold."

Turning away Kagome looked over to where Hojo lay; she noticed a small sutra was placed on his chest.

Walking over to him Kagome knelt beside him and reached for him, as her hands touched the hazy barrier it vanished with a flash.

She never noticed Miroku gasp in surprise as she casually destroyed his barrier, nor the looks on Sango's and Inuyasha's faces.

She gently brushed the hair off Hojo's forehead and cupped his cheek in her palm. A slow tear mingled with the soft rain sliding down her face.

Looking up at the golden eyed man who was watching her from across the body she stood.

"Can we take him with us please; I don't want to leave him out here alone."

Inuyasha gave a curt nod and walked over to her. Turning his back to her he looked over his shoulder and mumbled "Get on."

When she had clambered onto his back Inuyasha turned to Sango.
"Can Kirara bring him?"

At her acknowledgement he leapt away from the crater and headed back to the cave with Kagome clinging to his back. When he bounded between the fallen trees she gasped and tightened her hold wrapping her arms around his neck.

Gently Inuyasha tightened his grasp on her legs reassuring her silently that she wouldn't fall and Kagome loosened her hold.

As they neared the cave Inuyasha could smell her sent become nervous. Squeezing her knee slightly he turned and looked back at her slightly.

"Kouga isn't the youkai that attacked you. I promise he won't hurt you."


Relaxing a little Kagome nodded her head and took a firm grip on her fear as they entered the cave. Inuyasha didn't put her down until they were at the fire side.

As she was placed on the ground Kagome came around from behind Inuyasha and froze when the wolf youkai stood.

Taking a deep breath she walked over to the youkai who was looking at her warily and bowed.

"Please forgive me for earlier."

Kouga watched as the woman bowed before him, he could see her shaking and as gently as he could, hoping not to frighten her he placed his hand on her shoulder.

"Kagome, I am pleased to meet you. I am Kouga prince of the wolf youkai. If ever you are in trouble I and my tribe will aid you."

At his touch Kagome jumped but stayed standing in front of the youkai as he made a pledge to protect her.

Behind her she could hear the dog-eared man growling softly. With a slight nod Kagome accepted the youkai's offer and quickly walked back to the silver haired man.

For some reason she felt safe near him, looking up into his frowning face she asked,

"I'm sorry, I don't know your name."

"Inuyasha", came his clipped reply as he turned from her and rummaged around in a pile of blankets.

Pulling a couple out he turned back to her.

"Take off your clothes…"

"What!" Kagome shouted backing away from Inuyasha.

Grabbing her shoulder before she stepped into the fire, Inuyasha leaned down and looking her in the eye repeated.

"Take off your wet clothes while I hold this up and wrap your self in a blanket until we can find you some dry clothes."

Indicating the blankets in his hand Inuyasha began to steer the wide eyed woman towards a darker part of the cave.


Still shaking Kagome let herself be led. As Inuyasha held the blanket spread in front of him Kagome walked around behind it with the other blanket.

"Don't you look!" she snapped only to hear a quiet `Feh'.

Kagome peeled the stained and soaking evening gown off and using the edge of the blanket Inuyasha held, dried herself off before she wrapped the ruff but warm blanket firmly around herself.

Walking from behind the blanket she glanced up at Inuyasha and saw that his head was down and his eyes closed.

Thankful she placed a hand on his upper arm, when he opened his eyes and looked at her nodding he led her back to the fire. As they sat down Sango and Miroku arrived carrying Hojo on the back of Kirara.

Kouga watched Kagome's eyes fill with heart wrenching sadness as his friends placed the dead man on the ground near the entrance of the cave.

Slowly the girl rose and walked over to the still shape, as she looked down at the man Kouga watched a single tear fall to the cave floor.


Looking up at Sango, Kagome asked, "Could we build a prier for him tonight. I would like to send him to the heavens."

The sadness in the woman's eyes tore at Sango's heart.

"Yes, well get everything ready." turning to Miroku they headed back out into the rain to gather the wood needed.

"Do you think the wood will even burn Sango?" the monk asked as they dragged pieces of the abundant wood toward the clearing before the cave.

"With Kirara's help and the Miko's wish to send him tonight I don't think the rain will be a problem." she murmured as Kirara chirped her agreement.

When the prier was assembled Inuyasha carried the man out after ordering Kagome to stay out of the rain. Placing the dead man on the wooden structure he stood back.

Kirara changed into her large flame shrouded form as the rain suddenly cleared. The companions glanced up and then looked at the grief filled face of the Miko standing just inside the cave draped in a blanket.

Pacing forward Kirara placed one paw on the prier sending flames racing across the wet wood. Smoke roiled up around the body as the green wood began to burn, flames licked high into the night sky and the air was filled with the sent of pine.

The four friends watched as the flames consumed the body of the man they never met and as they began to shrink around the embers of the prier they turned towards the cave.

Standing just with in the cavern Kagome watched as Hojo's prier blazed in the night, her mind drifted along with the smoke as it rose into the sky. Her world shrunk around her, all she could see were the flickering flames of the prier, all she could hear were the snapping of burning logs.

As shadows passed around her, Kagome could feel nothing but the pain in her heart as it bled from the wound left when Hojo was ripped from her.

Sango was shocked when she turned and watched the small woman drop to her knees. Rushing to her side she took hold of the girl and peering into her blank eyes, and tried to call to her. Shaking the unresponsive woman Sango glanced up at Miroku who was kneeling beside her.

"What is wrong with her houshi?"

"I think her soul is trying to follow him." the monk said unsure what he could do. He knew nothing about this woman and had no way to bring her back.

Only something or someone she felt connected to would be able to bring her back, and they had no members of her family here to call to her. Shaking his head sadly Miroku was surprised when Inuyasha pushed past the taijiya and himself to grab the woman.

Shaking her once Inuyasha pulled the blank eyed Kagome to her feet yelling at her.

"Kagome! Snap out of it wench! You can't go with him, stop being so weak!" when she continued to stare blankly at him Inuyasha drew his hand back and slapped her across the face careful not to bruise her any further.

With a moan Kagome blinked and looked up into Inuyasha's golden eyes.

`He seems so worried.' She thought before she refocused on the smoldering prier behind him.

Collapsing against Inuyasha's chest Kagome broke down into heart rending sobs. Gathering her gently into his arms Inuyasha carried Kagome back to the fire and leaning against a pile of packs he settled her into a more comfortable position.

Slowly the group joined him around the fire watching the woman as she quietly cried herself into an exhausted sleep, while Inuyasha uncomfortably stroked her hair.


When Inuyasha felt the woman's breathing slow and calm, he looked up at his companions and began to relate to them what the woman had told him about the attack on her and her fiancé.

After he was finished they sat in silence contemplating the horror the woman had endured.

Shaking his head slowly Miroku mentioned softly.

"It could explain what happened tonight. The trauma of her fiancé's death could very well have triggered the explosive out lash of power we witnessed."

"Yes but it doesn't explain where she came from. Her clothing is like nothing I've ever seen." Sango added holding up the blood stained garment that glittered and sparkled in the firelight. Unable to think of any explanations the group fell silent for a long period.

Quietly Kouga rose and began preparing the forgotten meal from what he had managed to save of the deer caught earlier.

The group was staring into the flames of the fire each lost in their own thoughts, when a figure appeared at the entrance of the cave.

He stood near the prier before he turned his head away in disgust at the stench of burning human flesh.

Striding into the cavern he surveyed the silent figures. Sango was sitting cross legged with a small Kirara curled purring in her lap, while the houshi stared down at his golden staff rolling it first down his legs and then slowly back up adding a soft chiming sound to the crackling of the fire. The wolf youkai was staring at a strange woman held in Inuyasha's arms.

At the sight of his brother holding a female human cradled in his arms Sesshomaru stepped into the light drawing the attention of all with in the cave.

"It seems you have found another Miko brother." his smooth voice rang through the cave as he strode over to the fire sank effortlessly to the ground to Inuyasha's right.

A/N: How did you like the introduction of Sesshy? Bye I'm tired and this is the last chappy going up tonight.