New idea? Yes…*^^* Gomen ne, minna! I just have a little too much ideas running through my head, and I’m currently studying for a Japanese test at the same time. ^^ I hope you enjoy this, ten points to the reader that KNOWS what’s going on. This is dedicated to my imouto, who after same explanations, discovered exactly where I was going with this, and Cherii—please visit her site at http://steelpenguin.com/~fromangeltofoes/spirited/  She needs IY fics, and she would love if you donated. ^.^

To Know…

Prologue

By: Lazuli

lazulidreamer@yahoo.com

           “Inuyasha, are you *sure* this is the right way?” Kagome asked plaintively. “We’ve been wandering around the woods for hours, not finding anyway out of here! I thought you said you knew where we were!”

           Inuyasha glared at her. “Shut up!” He snarled.  He winced inwardly when she cringed from his tone. His eyes were confused as he took in his surroundings, his nose telling him of a familiar scent that should not exist! It was impossible, and yet it was here—taunting him, teasing his memory. Kagome near him wasn’t helping any…how to explain to her that he *did* know this area, but not since he was very young?

           “Inuyasha, do you want to turn back? I’m sure we can find our way back to Kaede’s village in a couple of days.” She smile encouragingly at him, but he shook his head. 

           “Nah, you need shelter, Kagome. You’re not in that skirt of yours—and that’s too nice of a kimono to get damaged. If I remember correctly, there’s a village outside of the woods.”          

“Are you sure?” She asked. He nodded quickly, pulling her on his back as he took to the trees, making better time than they had while they were walking. She clung to him tightly as he reached the outskirts of the forest, his eyes picking out the layout of the town. His gaze focused on a building set apart from the rest, and his eyes widened in shock. It couldn’t be…

           Inuyasha landed softly on the ground, his heart beating irregularly. He couldn’t understand that this place was here, that it existed. It should have burned down a long time ago—he had seen the ashes of the building, had carried them with him for years. He held on to Kagome’s hand tightly, and she stared up at him in confusion.

           “Don’t worry about it.” He said quickly. “It’s my imagination that’s all. Let’s get you to this house…I can sleep in a tree tonight—but I want you safe in there with other humans.” His eyes flicked toward the house again, but mentally shook his head.

           Kagome looked as if she wanted to protest, but he firmly pushed her toward the house. “Go now…at least find out if you can get some food so we can make our way back.” She nodded, still looking over her shoulder at him as he settled in a tree.

           Kagome gradually made her way to the house that Inuyasha indicated—it was a much larger one, and recognized it as one that nobility kept. She almost froze in her tracks. Why did Inuyasha want her to go here? It wasn’t as if she was Miroku, and claim to be exorcising an evil spirit away from the castle.

           She calmly walked up to the front of the doors, wondering why there were no guards at the entrance if a lord lived here. She knocked timidly on the doors, and waited for an answer as she heard footsteps coming closer to the front.

           The doors suddenly flew open, and Kagome looked into the wide eyes of a young girl, who looked like a female Inuyasha—when he was in human form. She gaped for a moment, then recovered her good manners, bowing deeply.

           “May I see the lord of the household?” She asked quietly, and the girl nodded.

           “Hai…come in. I’ll take you to see my brother—my  Lord Father is not in right now, he is out protecting the lands.” She moved aside to let Kagome come into the entryway, and the door slid shut behind them.

            Inuyasha watched as Kagome went safely into the house, and he relaxed against the tree branch. He would keep an eye out for her, but something in him did *not* want to go toward that house—he shook his head. It wasn’t just that the house brought up so many memories of his deceased mother—it was something else.

           Kagome followed the girl through the house, her eyes taking in the elegant decorations set around the house. Nothing was cluttering, it was just simple beauty. They stopped in front of a door, where the girl knocked lightly on the wooden part of the sliding door.

           “Onii-san, there is someone here to see you.” Kagome bit her lip, wondering what this lord would be like. She hadn’t met many of them…she preferred the simpler villagers that they came across.

           “Let her in, then, Sora.” Kagome was startled by the voice—it sounded somewhat familiar. Her brow furrowed in puzzlement as she tried to place it. She didn’t have much time to ponder. Sora let her into the room, and shut the door behind her. Kagome knelt on the ground, head bowed down as was proper for a lady to do.

           “Aw, get up, girl. I’m not all for that stupid stuff.” Kagome’s head snapped up. She *knew* that voice. She slowly raised her head to look into the amused eyes of Inuyasha.