Mizuko groaned as the ability to feel returned to her body. Her head was spinning and trying to sit up only made it worse.

"So...you're awake..." a voice said. Mizuko searched around. It was dark, so she couldn't identify who was talking, much less where she was. All she could tell was that it wasn't the same voice she'd heard at the battle. Her eyes widened.

Seichi. What had happened? Was he alright?!

"Why did you bother saving that girl?! She's a HUMAN!! What use could she possibly to us?!" the voice shouted at someone. Mizuko flinched at the knowledge that there was more than one.

"What was I supposed to do? Sit back and watch her die? Those demons would've torn her to pieces if I hadn't stepped in. It wasn't like her buddy was going out of his way to protect her." said the voice from the battlefield. At least this one sounded more docile than the other.

Some one lit a lantern near her and Mizuko flinched against the sudden change in brightness. She saw a man standing next to her, leaning slightly on a tree.
He was tall, maybe five ten or five eleven. His hair was pure ebony black, like Seichi's, which he kept in a long ponytail that went almost to his waist. He was dressed in some furry animal skin, a dog or a wolf maybe, but what caught Mizuko's attention were his eyes.

They were a bottom-less, empty sky blue; they held no light or anything. Just lifeless orbs of color, like someone without a soul.

Comparing the two, she preferred Seichi's harsh and accusing eyes any day.
The man suddenly lifted her up by her shirt collar and held her ups so their faces were level.

"Alright, human. What were you doing in that clearing?" he asked menacingly.
"Ah...I was there ...cause..." Mizuko whispered as quietly as she could manage.
"Speak up, or I'll feed you to the wolves..." the man threatened, but he moved closer in an attempt to hear. Mizuko continued to mumble until his ear was right next to her mouth. Then she yelled as loud as humanly possible.
The man leapt backwards in surprise, painfully deafened by her sc

ream. Mizuko pulled herself to her feet in the midst of the confusion and took off running. She didn't care where she ended up, so long as she was far away from those demons. And if she got far enough, she might reach another town. The forests only went on for so long. But before she could even get close, she heard howling from behind her. Her heart thundered loudly in her chest. That man hadn't been kidding about the wolves.

She tried to run faster, but the wolves easily caught up to her. She let out a small cry of panic as they tackled her to the ground.

"Nice try, bitch." the man said as he walked over to her. Mizuko then noticed that the wolves were simply holding her down. She couldn't even feel their claws against her skin. He walked over and stood near the wolves. "Drag her back to the camp." he ordered.

Each wolf grabbed hold of her clothes and literally dragged her back the way she'd come. One the way back, she realized how slow she moved compared to them. The distance seemed so short now. They carried her to the tree she'd been sitting near before and tied her up so she couldn't escape again. After that she was ignored.

Hours past, and Mizuko began to doze off, until her stomach started growling. She hadn't eaten anything since before the battle, and that could've been last week for all she knew. All she could tell for certain was that it had been at least a full day, since it was dark.

"Getting hungry yet?"

Mizuko glared at the darkness. "Go away. I wouldn't even be in this mess if it hadn't been for you." She said angrily.

"If it hadn't been for me, you would be dead right now." the voice retorted.
"Oh. So I'm supposed to thank you or something?" Mizuko asked sarcastically. The demon sighed.

"Well this isn't the first time I've saved you, now is it?"

Mizuko's eyes widened as he came out of the shadows. "It...It's you. You're the demon who saved me when I was little..." she said in amazement.

"Nice to see you again, as well." he said with a small smirk. Mizuko didn't answer this time. She couldn't even look at him. This was the boy she had been hoping and striving to meet all these years...and she'd just treated him with the same disrespect that was normally reserved for Seichi.

How embarrassing...she thought despairingly. Finally she dared herself look up at him through her curtain of hair. This was the first time she'd ever seen his full appearance like this before.

His hair was an unusual gleaming silver, almost white, and fell to his waist. He was wearing an old fashion blood red kimono and hakama, much like the Shinto priests of the ancient past. His eyes were still a brilliant gold. The same eyes she'd remembered all these years. He was carrying a tray -made from a piece of tree bark.

"Here. I snuck you some food." he said as he sat it down in front of her, and then untied her. "Don't try to escape. The wolves are on guard everywhere."

She scowled, but accepted the food gratefully. It didn't matter to her that it was the leftovers of a demon's meal. After a moment, she cautiously looked up at him.
"What's your name?" she asked slowly. She'd been waiting to ask him that all this time. But she hadn't expected it to be like this.

"Inuyasha." he answered, smirking a little. "Your name's Mizuko, right? The humans were calling out that name when I met you that day."

"Yeah. That's right." Mizuko answered, a little surprised. She hadn't expected him to remember anything about that day. The fact that he did sent a giddy sort of pleasure coursing through her. It was like he had just confessed to liking her or something. She glanced around at the surrounding area. Even though she couldn't see anything, it felt like a hundred eyes were glued to her. Every move she made was being watched.

"Inuyasha...why am I here...?" she asked after a long moment.

He wasn't fazed by her question. "You already got your answer, when I told Kouga. If I hadn't interfered, those demons would've killed you for sure..."

"Kouga...?" Mizuko mumbled. Then she remembered the black haired demon that had sent the wolves after her. "Oh. So that's his name..."

"Yeah. He's the leader of our 'pack' as he calls it..."

"Do all demons live in groups?"

"Only a few. Most prefer to be on their own." Inuyasha answered. "Didn't they tell you anything before they threw you at those demons yesterday?"

"Nope; just that they were evil and had to be killed." Mizuko answered bluntly.
Inuyasha laughed a little. "Huh. They should've blindfolded you while they were at it..."

Mizuko couldn't help but nod in agreement. This would've been more enjoyable if she wasn't the victim of a kidnapping.

"I get that you want to go home. If I had any say in this blasted group, you would've been taken back a long time ago." Inuyasha said.

"I don't want to go home! What made you think that?"

"Your expression. It's pretty easy to figure out." he replied. "I'll get you back home, if you help me with something first."

"Sure. Just tell me what I have to do!" Mizuko said eagerly. She couldn't help but feel excited. The very idea that he needed HER help just added to the crush-like happiness.

"It's nothing too hard. I just need you to help me get into this place I found a while back. It's got some sort of shield on it, and only a human can get through." Inuyasha explained. Mizuko grinned and nodded happily.

"Alright! Will Kouga be coming with us?" she asked.

Inuyasha snorted at her question, reminding her a little of how Seichi used to dismiss her questions. "As if. I can't stand that guy. I'm only in his group because I have no other choice. He was friends with my family before I was born so after they died; I was left to him and his brainless wolves."

Mizuko blinked in surprise. Even he had family issues! If she hadn't known anything except that bit, she might've thought he was human.

"Eat up quickly. We'll leave after the wolves doze off." he said to her quietly.

"I thought they were on guard..."

"Remember what I said about them being brainless? They can never stay awake for very long. Give it two more hours and they'll be out like the dead." he replied with a smirk.

Mizuko laughed a little and then returned to eating. After he left she stared at the almost empty bark tray and then sighed. Home...was that what she really wanted? Did she really want to return to that city...?

I'd been planning all these years to meet Inuyasha...and now...I just leave...? She thought, as if trying to force the answer out of her. Am I really losing anything by staying here...? What's so special about that world...that I'd miss it if I stayed here...? For a moment, she thought of her sister. They were sort of close, but for the most part, they had nothing in common. Tsukiko was definitely the type that could handle being on her own.

‘"I'll protect you...so stop freaking yourself out...." '

Seichi...she thought sadly. I...I wonder what he's up to right now. He's probably celebrating that he doesn't have to baby-sit me anymore...I'm sure he wouldn't care if I choose to stay here. Somehow she was satisfied with that reality and settled back against the tree to sleep. She had a few more hours before she and Inuyasha would have to leave. She gave a small yawn and the world faded away...