Inuyami frowned and looked over towards the cubbards. One hung open, obviously empty of all but dust, while the others would yield the same resaults. She pursed her lips in thought and pointed them to the left. As she tought, her ears dropped a bit to both side. If this were an anime, a line of dots would of been nesting atop her head.

"Unfortunate there's nothing to eat here. There is a village on the other side of these woods though... we obviously can't go back there for a long while..." Inuyami said with a wink and an over her shoulder gesture towards the village Todd had just helped her escape from. "Any how, their having some sort of celebration over that way. If you're hungry I've got a bit of their human money."

Inokumaru nodded to Gemini as a way to say 'trouble doesn't begin to discribe it' but remained silent as she went off to her first scam. She had a childish yet cute way about her and the way she did everything. Playing the human like a fiddle, a smirk consumed Inokumaru's face. Their were being robbed, literally, by kindness and she was doing it right below their noses.

Gemini returned to where she'd left Inokumaru standing with a wicker basket of fruits and veggies. Not only did she score food but she'd also gotten a basket to carry their squanderings in. He listened to her proposal and nodded his again in agreement. Inokumaru wasn't a strong talker, he tended to just keep quiet and agree with people more then he prefered to answer. Bending over, he picked Miko from the ground and held him gently.

"If you like, tell them I'm mostly blind in my good eye... and that your friend here helps me get around." He hated mentioning his very obvious eye patch, but he was starving and the quicker they could collect the food and get out of the village the sooner he would be able to eat.

Todd only hesitated a moment."sounds good to me.I'm starving!" He said, standing up."let's go! I was on my way east anyway, so this works out perfectly.food and a pretty girl." He stopped and blushed at the boldness of his words."so um...after you." He said, eyes downcast as he tried to hide his embarrassment.

Gemini smiled."good idea! You're a natural.though to be honest, I didn't notice you even had an eye patch until just now.your looks distract from any imperfections." She said frankly, and went over to the bread vendor.with a show of very convincing tears and gestures, she soon had another basket with several loaves of bread inside, and room for the meat to come.next, working a little kitsune magic, she altered her appearance slightly so that she looked like she could be Inokumaru's sister and went to preform for the meat and sweets vendors.by the time she was done, an hour had passed and she had gotten them enough food to last several days."there's the last of it." She said, changing back to herself."let's find a quiet place so no one notices all this food and dig in." She said.

Inuyami smiled at the compliment but payed it no attention. She knew that playing naive was the best way to flirt so she figured to just let it slide.

"Alright," Inuyami gestured for Todd to exit before her. When he had she exited herself and recast a spell on the barrior to re-enforce it's strength against outsiders or people who weren't alloud with in. "Remember where that was okay. You're always welcome to come back and visit me. I added your energy signature to the ones that are alloud to pass through."

Now heading east, Todd and Inuyami's scent blew on the wind threw the trees and into the village. As Inokumaru watched Gemini finish her collection of food, he picked up the scent of his target, but she wasn't alone; and nor was he. Inokumaru decided to play it cool and didn't mention it to Gemini.

"Sometimes even I forget I have it.. but it's not a luxury that lasts long." Inokumaru raised his hand to the eye patch but didn't dwell on the tought. He thought of what Gemini had said about his appearance. Girl his whole life had made comments like that, quite a few had even asked him to go stready but he hadn't ever invested time in a romantic relationship. Until he met Gemini, he really hadn't seen much use for it. There was just something about her... He shook his head and recollected himself. "A nice quiet place away from all of this noise, and all these people.. that sounds perfect to me." Inokumaru took the basket from the kitsune girl and carried them like a gentle man.

Todd nodded."I'll do that.you're the most interesting person I've met in a long time." He said with a smile as he followed the girl out of the barrier.in his mind he marked the spot where they had entered.he didn't want to forget.it was strange, he thought, how he had been so blind before, and hadn't even known it.but now that he had met Inuyami, his eyes were opened for what seemed like the first time, and he was amazed at how much brighter the world looked.

Gemini chuckled and smiled coyly as she followed Inokumaru away from the village."what a gentleman.and so strong! Thank you for carrying those big heavy baskets for me." She said, flirting shamelessly.men had tried to gain her attentions before, but she had always been cold and unreachable, like the moon.something about Inokumaru, though, drew her out of her shell.he was like the sun, she decided, bright and attractive, but dangerous.she shook her head.the sun and the moon? When had she become such a romantic? She was beginning to sound like those airheaded human girls that wouldn't stop giggling."there's a clearing in the forest up ahead that's pretty sheltered.we can go there." She said.

By the time Todd and Inuyami had reached the villaged, Inokumaru and Gemini where long gone. The festival was begining to pick up now as the hours in the day wound down. Human always seemed more active after sun down, but it only lasted a couple hours. Fools they where, always exserted their energy in less then two hours. It seemed, to Inuyami, that it was impossible for them to stay awake longer then three hours past sun set. Not that she particularly cared, night was when she traveled, humans can't bother you when their all asleep.

"It's a good thing we waited until dusk to get here," Inuyami said to Todd when they reached the village. The music had picked up but it was obvious this was one of the last songs. The children had all gone to bed and most of the adults had gone to tend to them as the slumbered. "I can't stand being around to many humans at once, but things get a lot cheeper as the night get's later. They just want to get rid of their food. What would you like first? There's all sorts of things they offer here."

Inokumaru smiled at Gemini's comment about him carrying the four baskets of goodies. He pulled the cloths inside the baskets over the food to keep dirt and bugs from getting into them. Fallowing him to the clearing, he kept in mind that his target was moving towards him while they moved in the oposite direction. She was so close and yet there was nothing he could do for the moment, not to mention even if he tried he wouldn't of had the strength to take her down.

Todd smiled and blushed as his stomach growled again, loud enough to draw attention from the closest humans."anything meat please.I definitely need some meat." He said.perhaps it had something to do with being a fox demon but he always seemed hungry, and he could always eat his body weight in meat.he ate other things, too but he was primarily a carnivore.he was fully aware that humans couldn't eat even half as much as he could, so he tried to restrain himself when he was around them.it wasn't easy.

They reached the clearing quickly, and Gemini took one of the baskets and set up."you seem distracted.is it that girl again?" She asked coolly.she didn't like that whoever this girl was kept distracting him."eat up and then I will help you find her.I'll hog tie her myself if it means letting your mind rest for a bit." She said the last savagely, tearing a chunk of bread off a loaf with her teeth.Miko found the meat basket and dragged out a bit close to his own size, and contentedly started gnawing on it.

"MEAT IT IS!!" Inuyami hollared, a finger in the air she marched towards the meat vendor. She passed a couple words back and forth with him and soon returned with three pounds of meat. It wasn't much considering it was two of them eating the meal, but it would at least get the hunger pains to stop. "FREE!" She said with a smile of pride. "The man said I was so friendly and kind. I guess someone else has been threw here cause he said 'it's just a wonderful day of pretty girls with pointy ears today.' Isn't that funny?" Inuyami giggle naive to the indirect warning, even though the human hadn't known or intended to do so.

Inokumaru shook his head no, though he knew she probably knew he was lying. A deep breath, a sigh, and then he sat down and broke a piece of bread off another one of the loaves in the basket. He bit down, chewed, swallowed and then looked at Gemini. She was willing to do so much for him, even though they had just met that morning. What was it about her? Why was she so generous and willing to help him? He doubted she would want to continue with her plan to help him if she really knew why he was after Inuyami. Never the less, he had to tell her, it wasn't right of him not to.

"Gemini, the girl I'm looking for, she is my half sister. I am to find her and take her back to my master." Inokumaru to her, looking into her red eye. He cursed himself in his mind for having to involve her in any of this. Just knowing was a burden she shouldn't have to suffer that just because of him.

Todd grinned from ear to ear."you are amazing.truly amazing!" He said, and he meant it.he had never met anyone so interesting in his life.she had this way about her, a kind of easy confidence and grace that made him want to smile.it was something he never had, being so shy, and he truly admired it in Inuyami."well, let's eat! I'm starved!" He said.

Gemini chewed for a moment, swallowed, and looked Inokumaru straight in the eye.she opened her mouth and said,"so?" After another moments pause, she spoke again."so you have a beef with your half sister.that doesn't matter to me.I am curious who this master is, and why this girl is so important.I mean, I don't know her, so I could care less what happens to her.but you...I care what happens to you.I don't necessarily agree with turning in family, but if it keeps you safe and makes you happy, I'm more than happy to help." She said coolly, taking another bite of bread.in her mind, images of her family flashed, and one in particular stood out.her cousin.the fire.the laughing.the screaming.his words that night.the fire had saved her...but at the cost of her family...and now, if she only had the chance, how she longed to see him again, to sink her claws into his chest and rip out that blackened heart...she shook her head, clearing the images.her cousin was gone, and that was that."I'm more than happy to help." She repeated, her tone darker this time.

((Inuyami: ))

(( vO_OV where did my last post go... did I really not hit submit? ~falls to the floor~ damnit... well here's a new one))

Inuyami smiled at Todd with a flutter of joy springing threw her heart. She'd never receaved compliments, even one as mild as that, but it still made her proud to be who she was.

"Hai, my stomach is growling. Do you want to stay here and enjoy the music?" She asked not giving much thought or desire to wanting to return to the dust place she called home. It was so lonely there and though it was the safest plave for her, she alway felt trapped when she was there. "I'm sure if we get hungry again others will be even more kind to us and just give the food to us since it's getting late. "Humans..." She scoffed, "can't stay up much later then when the moon gets a quarter way into the sky..."

A gentle smile took Inokumaru's face as he watched the fox girl devour her bread. It was cute, watching her eat like a wild animal with little or even no concern towards what everyone may or may not think about her. He took a moment and wondered what he would be like if he could be as casual. Inokumaru was also a little taken back by what the girl had told him. She was really willing to help him carry out the capture of his sister? For now, he'd leave the more grusome parts of his story out, the less she knew the safer it would be for her when they got Inuyami back to Naraku.

"It's not a matter of what makes me happy, it's a matter of what was supposed to be done some 21 years ago." Inokumaru said taking a piece large of jerky from another basket. With his hands, he ripped the jerky in to two large pieces and a smaller one that he offered to Miko. "You see... I... I mean my master, he wishes to destroy her and in doing so has promised that not only will he revive my mother, but has also insured my freedom with the compleation of my task."

((I may make a profile for Sesshomaru to use occationally on the side,,, and maybe Naraku but I may just leave that bastard as a character we can both use))

((I HATE when that happens!! It's so frustrating.))
Todd nodded."sure.anywhere is good as long as we can eat there." He said, trying to talk over the very loud growling of his stomach.he didn't want to be on his way yet.he didn't want to have to leave Inuyami.he was attracted to her, he admitted to himself, and she intrigued him.with her around, it was easy to be happy, to forget all the bad things and not worry.

Gemini frowned."so you're really trapped? Couldn't you just walk away, pretend like you were never in his service?" She asked with a pang of anger at whoever dared to enslave this sweet man."I would never be able to handle it, being someones lackey.I'd die first.if this is the case, then I'll definitely help you, so you can be free.who's this master of yours, anyway? Can he really revive the dead?" She asked, curious.a small part of her wondered why a grown man was so hung up on his mother.did he need some kind of validation from her? Her instincts kicked in then, telling her that the mother was not to be trusted.she wouldn't say anything, though, since Inokumaru clearly loved his mother.
((Ok, sounds good.))

Inuyami smiled and went to the tree line just beside the village and jumped into a tall tree. She hung upside down from a thick branch and looked at Todd, her bossoms nearly falling out of her wrap around top.

"Let's eat up here! Human's aren't any good at climbing trees!" She said as she extended her arms to take the meat from him so that he could get up into the tree with less hastle.

Inokumaru nodded to Gemini, answering her question about reviving the dead.

"Yes but it's better to not even bother. The one's he does bring back are just extentions of himself... they lose their individuality." He tried his best to avoid telling Gemini Naraku's name. Most people around these parts knew Naraku's name, and it usually wasn't with good association.

Todd blushed and nearly got a nosebleed when he realized that he was just eye level with Inuyami's breasts.shaking this fact out of his head, he averted his eyes politely and climbed up after her.he had a bit more trouble climbing than she did- he wasn't used to tree climbing- but he made it.once comfortably seated, he allowed himself to look at the demoness."I guess I take after my human mother, since I had that much trouble..." he attempted to be lighthearted, but he wasn't entirely sure she bought it.

Gemini frowned, something coming together in her mind."your master...sounds like the demon Naraku.he is cruel, I have heard.he..." she paused, not sure how much to tell him.Miko nudged her comfortingly and she nodded."have you ever heard of the kitsune nobility? I am, or rather, I was the heiress to that throne.when I was young, Naraku, who felt threatened and jealous of my family's influence, set fire to my home.the flames were devastating, the blaze killed every single member of my family.I escaped, my maid died protecting my life, and I watched from a distance as my home and my family disappeared.the fire was put out by the rain, and after a day or so I ran as far as I could.I found Miko the next day.Naraku learned that I had survived, and now he searches for me, intent on either making me his slave or killing me.surprisingly, that fire also saved me.my cousin coveted me, you see.I was very young, and he was...a lecherous fool.he came to my chamber that night and...tried to..." she shook her head."but then we heard the screaming, and the fire was upon us.my maid found me and brought me to safety, and my cousin died.if I could only turn him over to Naraku,,I would do so with a smile.which is why I don't mind helping with your sister." She said.throughout her confession, she had not looked at Inokumaru, but now that she had finished she looked up at him, her eyes filled with sorrow and pain.Miko whined softly.

Inuyami gave a shrug and winkled her nose. She wasn't sure how she should reply to Todd's statement so before she answered she took a bite of jerkey. Wondering if her comments about humans were bothering him though she didn't say anything to intentionaly diss the humans. She swallowed the mouth full of seasoned dried beef and looked at Todd.

"It takes practice too I suppose.." Inuyami said before taking another large tear of meat off the chunk.

((I'll post for inokumaru in my next post... I'm late for work but wanted to put something up so you knew i didn't forget about out thread))

((Okie.))
Todd shrugged, trying to rid himself of his discomfort.he knew she hadn't meant any harm by her comment."my mother was very protective.she didn't allow me to climb trees." He said, taking a bite of jerky."it was like she wanted me to seem as human as possible, growing up.like she didn't want any attention drawn to me.it's one of the questions she never answered before she died...and probably a piece of the puzzle of why I am being watched." He added thoughtfully, one ear twitching.his tail swayed through the air over the ground as he finished the jerky and took a large chunk of salted pork.

"It wouldn't matter if she had all of the time in the world, there are just some questions that we're meant to find the answers ourselves." Inuyami said standing on the branch that she'd been sitting on. Placing both her hands behind her head she stretched her back and yawned a bit from the feeling of her chest expanding. With her eyes closed she let her head fall backwards, cracking the her spine as it swayed from side to side. "And sometimes there are just answers that we're just not supposed to know, ya know what I mean?" She opened her eyes and looked at Todd sideways with a soft smile.

A paniced gasp escaped Inokumaru when Gemini guessed the name of his master. Had he truely, indirectly discribed him to much and reavealed how truely screwed up things were? Mentally he shook his head and listened to her story, knowing fully well that he had a hand in the slaughter of her tribe. Was she truly going to be willing to help him if she knew that Naraku's keep was where they would eventually end up?

"I see." Inokumaru said lowly, keeping his emotions hidden from his face. She didn't need to know right now, she wasn't really even involved yet. The less she knew and the less he said, the safer she would be.

Todd watched Inuyami stretch, and found that he couldn't look away.she was truly beautiful.his ear twitched at her words.they were mysterious, but in a way they made sense.he nodded."yes, I think I do understand.I'm glad you're here, Inuyami.sometimes it helps to get an outside point of view." He said.

Gemini heard the gasp, and chose to ignore it.his total shutdown of emotion or expression told her everything she needed to know.Miko barked, and she nodded."yes, Miko, you're right." She said, and looked at Inokumaru."listen.your past...is not my business.I believe I know whom you serve, but I do not wish to pry, since clearly you don't want to talk about it.but I will say this: Miko trusts you.despite that he can smell him on you, he thinks you are a good person, and that you would not hurt me.I trust Miko's judgement, and...I trust you.Miko says if you care for someone, their lifestyle shouldn't matter.I think he's right.so it doesn't matter to me if you do, in fact, work for Naraku.I will help you anyway." She said, taking advantage of his silence to express herself- which she was not at all used to doing, and it showed.

Inuyami relaxed her arms and spine and looked at Todd with a smile. She noticed there was something in the way he was looking at her but just figured it was something she'd done. For being 21, Inuyami was rather naive when romance and tender feelings where concerned. She'd never really given any notice to gentle man callers before and when she did the man usually had to be rather blunt with their intentions for her to understand.

"I'm glad I can help. Sometimes just getting things off your chest helps." Above head the sun had compleatly set and the humans where begining to shoot off a new invention of theirs inspired by the magma demons up north. "Look!" Inuyami said jumping up in excitement. She pointed into the sky where a bright flash of lights and colors filled the night sky. "What do you suppose they are? They sure are beautiful!" Inuyami asked Todd as her eyes sparkled with wonder.

"...Gemini..." Inokumaru said softly as he looked at her in awe. She had no clue and yet she was so willing to help him whole heartedly. The ice in his heart and soul began to melt the slightest bit as he looked down into her large red eyes. It was just then that the sight and sound of the fire works reached the two of them. He looked up at the sky and offered his hand to Gemini with a small smile, more genuin then he'd be able to smile in year. "Would you like to get a closer look?"

Todd smiled up at Inuyami, and jumped slightly at the sound of the lights in the sky."oh! Why, they're beautiful! Certainly an appropriate ending to a good day." He said, standing up so that he was level with the demoness."if I had to give them a name, I would call them fire stars.the humans are playing with fire, though.I hope for their sake they have water nearby." He commented.glancing at the woman, Todd was again struck by her beauty, especially there in the flashing, colorful lights, with the moon shining softly on her hair."I have seen many beautiful things today, but none compare to you." He whispered.

Gemini gasped, surprised and delighted by the fireworks.she stood and gave Inokumaru one of her very rare true smiles and nodded."I would love to." She said, heart pounding in her chest."I wonder what they are.they're so pretty..." for a moment, she looked like a small child, still awed by the simple wonders of the world around her.her guard was down, and she could be seen as the innocent yet wise and dignified young lady she was.she looked at Inokumaru again, and noticed how the flashes of light played off his hair, and how his visible eye shone bright and intelligent, looking straight at her.in that moment, he was, to her, more precious than all the stars in the sky, and she was seized by a sudden desire to hold him, to keep that fragile smile on his face, to free him of all burdens and make him truly happy."let's...go see them..." she said.Miko,frightened by the noise, hid inside Gemini's bag and peeked out at the pair with curious eyes.

With a twitch of her ear, Inuyami's focus was broken. She looked from the sky over to Todd and blushed softly in the moon light. Inuyami stepped closer to Todd and leaned against him. A soft breath pressed from her lungs as she looked up into his eyes. The colors of the fire works reflected in his eyes and captivated Inuyami even more.

"I've never felt as happy or safe as I do when I'm with you, Todd." Inuyami said as the blush on her cheeks darkened.

Inokumaru took Gemini's hand and walked by her side as he lead her back towards the village so that they could get a better view. Seeing her so natural, so uninhibitied and free. Her pure emotion caused his smile to grow into a more perminated grin as everything else seemed to vanish from his mind. At least for the moment, Inokumaru wasn't thinking of his sorrows and pains.

Todd blushed and looked down into Inuyami's eyes.fireworks now forgotten, he smiled shyly."I'm really glad that you feel that way.I...I feel happier than I ever have before.I know it's quick...we only met this morning...but I feel like I've known you forever.it's like something was missing, and now that you're here, it's found." He said.and for the first time since the death of his mother ,he felt completely relaxed.

Gemini walked in silence, content to let Inokumaru hold her hand.for once in her life, she was at peace."Inokumaru...my life has been a sea of turmoil.but with you, I feel like...like I've found a calm, sunny spot in the middle of a storm.you're like a rock that I can hold on to.and I don't want to let go." She said quietly.Miko stayed in her bag, sensing that this was a private moment.Gemini gave Inokumaru's hand a little squeeze, an affectionate gesture that many would be surprised to see from her.

Knowing exactly what Todd meant, Inuyami's heart fluttered in her chest. Was he trying to tell her the same thing her heart was? In a monments flash on uncertainty and breathless desire, Inuyami turned into Todd and pressed her lips to his. Her breath and heart stopped as time slowed. Inuyami's ears burned with embarassment as she regained control of herself and stepped back looking up into Todd's golden eyes.

"I.. I'm sorry... I... don't usually... I mean I'm not the kind of girl who..." In her stuttering, Inuyami had forgotten that she and Todd where in a tree. With a few snaps and a one heavy thud, Inuyami hit the ground, butt first, and was now laying motionless on the ground with her eyes smashed shut in shame. DAMN IT DAMN IT DAMN IT she cursed herself over and over again in her mind as she wished she could dissapear or turn into the dirt she was laying on.

Feeling Gemini's hand tighten inside his own, Inokumaru looked down at the girl and stopped walking. Gazing into her red eyes, Inokumaru suddenly felt like he was floating above a vast field of wild flowers and grasses. He never knew this feeling before, he felt so free. Above the two, another round of fireworks went off. Inokumaru ran his free hand threw Gemini's hair, watching the lights flash in her eyes.

"You are so incredably beautiful..." He told her wanting to cry for an unnameable reason he couldn't begin to understand.

Stunned, Todd barely had time to react before Inuyami fell.instantly, he jumped down and landed, crouching, next to her.he didn't take time to register that he had just jumped from maybe fifty feet up and was unharmed.he put one hand gently on her back to support her."are you alright? Were you hurt? Why did you pull away?" He asked, concern evident in his voice.he looked into her eyes, searching, as if he could find in them a reason why she would go out of her way to not kiss him."why did you stop?" He asked, quieter now.

Gemini closed her eyes and smiled as he ran his hand through her hair, like a cat being stroked gently.she opened her eyes again to see him looking down at her.her ear twitched when he spoke, and the words made her heart fly.sure, others had called her beautiful, but it had never really meant anything before.when Inokumaru said it, it made her feel beautiful, made her feel special, knowing those words were just for her."and you," she said, her cheeks turning pink, "are the single most handsome man on the planet."

Now sitting up with the help and support of Todd, Inuyami opened her eyes and looked at him. Her eyes begged forgiveness for more things then her mouth could keep up with. She didn't know what to say or how to explain what she was feeling inside.

"I..I'm so sorry Todd. I'm.. just.." She took a deep breath and found her center. Alright girl keep it together. She screamed at herself in her mind wishing she could surpass this damndable emotional constipation. "I'm not good with these things." Her ears were laying flat to hear head, dissapearing in the waves of her white hair. "I really enjoy being around you... I don't want to beem to forward or push you away... i'm not one of those harlette girls though, I want you to know that." Inuyami must of looked like such a young pup to this man. Her heart shook in her chest as she anxiously waited for what Todd had to say in reply.

Gemini's complement made Inokumaru's heart race and in and instant he pulled the young girl to his chest and held her snuggly in his arms. The embrace was so magical to him, it felt the the cool night air had armed and the wind had stopped blowing. This moment was perfect to him, so beautiful and real. For the first time in years Inokumaru felt alive.

looking at Inuyami, Todd was struck suddenly by how young she looked.his heart melted, and he smiled."I think we're on the same page.I'm not...I've never felt this way, so I'm not used to this kind of thing.but, even though I'm young and still kind of innocent as far as love goes...I still think that my feelings are real.I think I love you, and I think we could make it work, if you want.I could do anything if you wanted it." He told her, reaching forward as if to touch her cheek but pausing, afraid of seeming too forward.

Gemini was only mildly surprised to find that she felt truly safe in Inokumaru's warm embrace.everything seemed slow and dream like, but at the same time she felt that she had never been more awake."Inokumaru...is this ok? Is it ok for us to just stay this way, together, just like this, forever? Because that's all I want.nothing more, nothing less.just this." She said into his chest, not wanting to move.