Chapter 17

Valdrianth's eyes opened. She sat up and looked to the side. Koga was sleeping. However, she had to make sure he was sleeping soundly. She held her own breath so she could hear his.

She knew what he breathed like whenever he slept. She listen for a moment. Yes, he was asleep. From the sound of his breathing it wouldn't seem he'd wake up until late morning. That gave her plenty of time.

Val sat up and went to the things that Sango had brought her. She was in surprise that her leg were a little shaky. However, after she moved around a little more she found that they were gaining their strength back. She sighed in relief. She was realizing that she wasn't as bad off as everyone thought she was. It would be good for her to go for a walk.

And being that she smelled human. Not too many demons would pay mind to her. Did she smell human? Didn't matter. She did know however that it was cold. Ah, they remembered traveling winter clothing.

Val pulled out a black hooded cloak. It was nice, long, and warm. She dressed in it over her normal clothing. It was also large enough to hide her body incase it decided it wanted to change back suddenly. Then she came to realize. She had no shoes. Her feet were usually large and wide, making it simple to walk on top of know. Now they were quite small "human" feet.

She dug some more in the bad. Until, she found some boots. Boots from the Kagome's time she realized. They were made out of what looked like the bark of a rubber tree outside and inside seemed to be coated what felt like wool. These would keep her feet both warm and dry. Good. She put them on.

She walked to the edge of the cave and paused. She then listened on last time to Koga's breathing to make sure he was asleep. He was. Once she was certain she left the cave into the cold air. She shivered and put the hood on her head. It was a good thing that the village wasn't far from the den. She always made sure that she stayed close to the village. Just in case she was needed to ward off some demon that went too close. Or....or just in case she had an opportunity to visit it again as a human.

Valdrianth didn't find it as difficult as she thought it would be to make it to the village. She knew the way after all. The wind had died down so she decided to take her hood off as she walked into the village.

She looked around curiously. She recognized many people. The adults of her stay were elderly. The children she grew up with were adults now. And there were children she's never seen before. The children of her generation.

Val wandered if anyone would recognize her? It's been over 15 years now sense she's been there. She had grown into an adult as well, but once she hit 18 years she seemed to stop aging. It's because you're not human, she reminded herself. Hopefully no one would recognize her, just yet.

She made her way down the familiar street to a familiar home. It seemed quiet. It was different from when she had left. Tetsuo would always be outside with his friends playing on the porch. But, there were no more young children on the porch. However, she noticed on the clothes line that there were clothing meant to fit a young girl. Perhaps around 16 or 17 years of age. She had no doubt in her mind that her father had children with his second wife.

She stood there awhile looking around the at the outside of the home. When the sound of a sliding door caught her ear. She turned and saw it was the shed door. The place where Shiro would do his carpenter works.

The middle aged man stood there staring. He could not make out the figure standing in front of his home at first. "Can I help you?" he questioned as he began to walk over.

"Eh?" Val lowered her head. He didn't even recognize her.

Shiro made his way towards her and stopped when he finially noticed. It was by chance when he saw the glimmer of blue in her eyes. They weren't as blue as he remember, but it was that same blue none the less. "Val?"

Valdrianth looked up. "Koonchi-wa, Otousan," she bowed her head in respect. "I have come to visit."

Koga shifted in his sleep. He wrinkled his nose whenever the cold wing blew into the gave and across his face. He roused and gave a huge yawn and stretch. It was quite cold and he needed to build a fire and perhaps get something to eat for he and Val. She needed to eat something so that she could gain back her strength.

Wait, something was missing. Val!

Koga jumped to his feet. Where was she?! Where was she?! He was in a frantic. Was is Jarra? Did Jarra come here? No, no, he would've smelt him from over a hundred miles away.

He looked over and saw that some of the things Kagome had sent were missing. Val took off on her own. She took off on her own.

Koga felt his heart sadden some. Did she still hold a grudge against him, for reasons he did nothing to accomplish? He walked outside. It didn't matter. She was still weak, and these forest were never safe. Demon were everywhere.

He rushed on his feet to the man caves. His lazy pack was still sleeping. "Everyone wake up!" He yelled.

Everyone did, and in the process bumped there head into something.

"Koga?" Ginta questioned. "What's wrong?"

"Val is missing!" he stated. " I want everyone on there feet and scouting this entire forest for her. I don't care if you have to go all the way to Kyoto to find her! Get moving now!" He took back off on his feet. She had to be found.

"Hey Inu Yasha."

Inu Yasha opened his eyes. He was napping on his favorite tree. That was Kagome's voice that he had heard. He blinked himself away a few times and looked down. She smiled up at him.

"Uh, hey," he replied. "What's up."

"Well, I brought you some ramen for whenever you're hungry," she replied. "I know we've all had a rough past few days. And, I thought that you could use some."

"Hmm," his nose and ears twitched. "I'm not too hungry right now. Though, make sure no one else eats it. I definitely will want some when I'm hungry."

Kagome smiled again. "Alright. Eh?!"

"What?"

"Two jewel shards," she stated. "Coming fast."

"It's Koga." What did he want right now? Wasn't he busy helping Val out?

Koga emerged from the forest and stopped right under Inu Yasha's tree. He was panting hard trying to catch his breath. He was trying to speak, but his franticness was preventing him to do so.

"Koga, what's wrong?" Kagome questioned.

"Val. . .have you seen Val?"

"She's not with you?" Inu Yasha questioned.

"No! I woke up this morning and she was gone!"

"Koga, calm down," Kagome said. "Now, think, she couldn't have gone far could she? Not in her condition."

"I can't find her anywhere near the caves!" he roared. "I have the whole pack looking for her. No once can find her!"

Inu Yasha jumped down. "We'll help look for her," he stated. "But think. What villages are nearest to the den?"

"Village, why in hell would she. . . . . " Koga stopped. "Village. The village she grew up in."

"Not might be a good place to start next," Kagome replied.

"I'm going there! You two catch up!" He took off running.

Inu Yasha blinked. "I don't think that I've ever seen him so frantic in my life."

"Well, he loves her, Inu Yasha," Kagome replied. "He's finally realized that. Now, I suppose Val has to contemplate on how her feelings are. She's gone through a lot."

Inu Yasha stooped down. "C'mon, let's make sure he gets there without doing something stupid."

Kagome smiled and climbed on Inu Yasha's back.

Shiro handed Valdrianth a cup of tea. "I'm so glad you've made it back home Val. I've been so worried about you after the night that you left."

Val looked up at him. "It's not like I had a choice."

"Understand, I couldn't do anything," he said. "If I could I would have."

"I know you would've," she said.

Shiro smiled. "My, you've definitely grown up. Though you don't look as old as the others your age."

"Well," she sighed. "That's the advantage of being inhuman I suppose."

His smiled slightly faded.

She sighed again. "I've been staying with the Wolf Demon Tribe." She looked up at him. "I never told you this, but I met one when I was a child. A young wolf cub named Koga. He took me in."

"Koga?" he questioned. "The leader of the wolf demons? You've been acquainted with that beast?"

"He's not a beast," she said calmly.

"There was a tribe that was slaughtered by his wolves not too long ago. Last spring I believe. The survivors claimed Koga was there. He was in hunt of a jewel shard of the Shikon no Tama."

"Well, he can be reckless," she stated. "And very forgetful. Though sense then, we've been through a lot. He's humbled down some. Still quite forgetful though."

"Has he done anything to you?" Shiro questioned. "Hurt you in any kind of way?"

Val began to laughed. "I don't think he could even if he tried. Even with the jewel shards in his legs." She laughed some more. "This one time when were still young, him, Ginta, Hakkaku and I were playing hide and seek, I know it was quite child-like, but quite fun. And, Koga suddenly pounced me from behind and I grabbed his shoulders and body slammed and pinned him down in the dirt. We stayed there for an hour wrestling in the dirt. It was quite fun."

Shiro blinked a few times in amazement. His daughter has certainly lost her humbleness about her. There was a fire in her eyes, there was also pain there as well. "Then may I ask were those wounds on your arms came from? And everywhere else on your body."

"Eh?" She was taken back some. "Koga-sama didn't do it. There was. . . .a battle. A battle between this horrible demon. And, the demon gave them to me. Koga-sama, and Inu Yasha saved me. And, Kagome-chan, and Sango-chan, and Miroku-san. They all saved me. And helped me."

She hugged her body.

"Ah, I have something for you!"

"Hmm? What is it?"

"Wait here, I'll get it for you." He got up and went to the closest and opened it. He dug around a bit until he pulled out a folded kimono.

"That was Kaasan's," Val realized.

"Yes, it is." He handed it to her. "She wanted you to where that on your wedding day. I know that day, never came, Val, but it's entrusted to you, whether you choose to marry or not."

Valdrianth smiled and held it close to her. "Arigatou."

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Author's Notes

Wow I finally updated! I know it's been so long people. School has just been consuming every part of my life right now!!

I hope you enjoyed this chapter!