2

Satomi dreamt of the days of her youth, wandering barefoot through the creeks with her younger brother and baby sister. The days where her family could afford nothing, so they had everything in their small hut and their hearts. Smiling and laughing with everyone as they played and helped each other grow. She could not even begin to count the times she had the sew up her kimono because they could not afford another. Singing for money, she would travel on roads and learned to fend for herself minorly. Come home a day or two later with some money to get by. The world felt so different then. Innocent even.

Hearing footsteps that brought her back from her slumber, Satomi sensed it was from Rin. The little girl meant no harm, and Satomi made it a point to stay still as the young girl approached. She could hear the sigh of relief as the steps stopped near her. However, there was not a greeting or advancement. There was a calmness to it, but Satomi had to open one of her eyes to see what was going on. Rin was bent down and simply watching as her weight rested on the back of her legs. "Well, good morning," Satomi said with a small smile as Rin stood up with a start probably lost in thought.

"Good morning! I'm sorry if I woke you up, it is still rather early. I just couldn't sleep," she said nervously as a hand went to the back of her head. Laughing at her response, Satomi shook her head with a smile.

"There's nothing to apologize for. I suppose you don't meet very many people here, do you?" Looking around, it was not a common trade road. Just a simple village with rice fields as many others were in the area. No main roads, the only attraction would be the priestess that resided here if there was a need. There was a rumor that a priestess and a half demon lived around here and helped the local area as needed. Her powers were without question and she had heard that the priestess and the half demon had put an end to the swine of a devil named Naraku. Maybe that was what brought her here specifically. The purity here was beyond what she was used to despite the demon flying away yesterday.

"Did you sleep well? I can't imagine the tree was warm or very comfortable," Rin asked looking to the tree and back to Satomi curiously.

Following the girl's glance, she shrugged her shoulders. "To be put simply, I've had worse for much longer," she said with a sigh as she stood up revealing herself to be a tall and very lithe woman. Given her physical nature, her body wasn't especially curvaceous but rather warrior like. The kimono she wore would be like the demon slayer Rin knew. Long and with leggings underneath, the color being a dark blue with white designs of lotus flowers along the left side. Her hair was braided but still very long, reaching the back of her knees.

"You're very pretty," Rin said bluntly as she took a moment to look at the mysterious woman. Rin was known to not trust people beyond those in the village, and yet this woman caused her no alarm. However, even that comment took even her by surprise. It was the kind of look that noble women seemed to have with the angelic air about them that makes them look untouchable by ones such as her. Lord Sesshomaru and her would look as they were from another world in the same area.

"Oh," Satomi responded in surprise before realizing more than that would be necessary. "Thank you very much, you're too kind." Smiling shyly, she tucked a stray strand behind her ear. "I do believe we were going to go to your village today. I do need to restock on some essentials and I'd love to meet the woman you told me about yesterday, the priestess."

Taking that as a sure sign of acceptance, Rin smiled as she led Satomi to the village talking about all the different villagers in the area. Who worked with the rice, and who made the kimonos and who did any other task she thought important. Everyone stared at them which left Rin unphased, but Satomi hated the attention. She was used to it to some degree, her stature and demeanor made her different and yet she simply wished to blend in at times like this.

"So, Rin… where are you from?" Satomi asked cautiously unable to really place that she knew this young girl. Her own little sister would be the same age by now… it had been eight years since she had seen her last. Only three when her little sister sobbed as Satomi was taken away by the palace guard. Hearing that they had been taken from her into the afterlife was beyond painful. To think that one was alive was more than she could ever ask for.

"A small village far from here, my family died when I was little," Rin said simply not phased by the question. "You?" She stopped to turn to her new-found friend.

"I too am from a small village, a poor family really. They died while I was… away," she said unable to bring herself to say the details. The young girl didn't seem phased by much, but she still had a soft spot for her and didn't wish to burden her with details she didn't need to know. "I never got to say good bye, even to my toddler sister…"

"I'm sure they knew you loved them. You seem like the type who would let them know, so I'm sure they're not mad," Rin said not knowing how that released much of Satomi's fears. The feeling nearly brought tears to her eyes. They welled up, but she kept them away, just barely.

"Thank you, Rin. I suppose I never saw it that way before," she said as she continued walking. "Let us continue, shall we?" Smiling, oblivious at the impact of her words, she ran into Kaede's hut and announced the young woman as Satomi followed. "Good day, priestess. I am a simple traveling entertainer and if you wouldn't mind having my company for a few days I would also need to restock on my supplies."

"Aye, well if you mean us to ill will then it is fine if you stay," Kaede said as they bowed to each other slightly. "My name is Kaede if you need any assistance. There is another priestess named Kagome who should be back today at some point if you need anything else. Now, are you hungry? You look like you have nay ate in days, my child."

Thanking her graciously, they all sat and talked about the village as a small stew Kaede had been brewing was served. Normal conversation was strange for Satomi and even more so in such an unfamiliar place. Grateful only scratched the surface of feelings for this moment. She learned that there was a powerful priestess here years ago and that she sealed a half demon to a tree. Fifty years later, a reincarnation appeared and together through their adventures brought down an evil being. None other than Naraku. Her heart nearly skipped a beat when she listened to the tale that took place over much of the day. This other priestess was the reincarnation and that she would be back. Finally closure to so many years of wondering what really happened. Five years took place since Satomi was imprisoned. Two years before his death. No wonder why her body changed in her late teens. The stone must have allowed her to still grow so she could have, as Naraku said, a slow death.

"I see the world did change since I was released from my imprisonment," she said quietly as she saw the two people in the room look at her strangely. "Naraku imprisoned me in a curse. I could not move, I could not see, and it could only be broken from his death. I challenged him and I was arrogant. He wished for me to die slowly and alone." Explaining seemed to help since both looked at her in understanding. They both explained their troubles with the evil half demon. "I awake to find out my family is dead after searching many days and nights. So, I found a way to live on my own and treasure my life for their sake."

The world was still brutal, but she strove to find the beauty in it more so now than before. Life was never a guarantee and she told them about her adventures and lands traveled. All the different people as they looked at her in awe as she sang songs from the North, South, East and West. Admiring her voice as it rang out in the small hut, she gained the attention of Sango and she gathered into the small hut with the children. The little ones wanted to learn the songs and Satomi felt like she was at home as the twin girls played with her braid. Letting it loose, they admired its shine and softness. Somehow this felt like so long ago. This felt like home.

Suddenly, there were two others as well. A man with silver hair and… dog ears. The woman behind him was a priestess. Beautiful and still quite young. Perhaps a year younger than Satomi. "Inu-Yasha and Kagome, you've returned safely," Kaede said as Sango stood to hug her friend and Rin smiled from ear to ear. A little fox demon came bounding in with a monk and crying with excitement to the sight of the priestess. Satomi just took in the sight of everyone as the monk went to Sango and they smiled in welcome. So warm and inviting. Truly a beautiful reunion. "This is Satomi, a young entertainer who also had a run in with Naraku years ago. Without his defeat she would still be in stone. Truly the demon was pure evil."

Kagome turned her attention to Satomi and smiled. "I'm glad you could make it here and visit. It's not often we have company from the outside," she said bowing slightly.

"Well, without you all I wouldn't be able to be here at all. So, I thank you," Satomi said as she told Inu-Yasha, Kagome, Miroku and Sango her story. She had never been able to be so open with her story before as no one knew much about the scourge and defilement to this land that Naraku stood for. Most humans only knew the death he left behind without much of a reason why. "I'm grateful to you all and I only hope to continue to live my life on my terms."

"You have quite the story. To be put into stone and still be able to age. Tell me how long you were trapped?" Kagome was curious about the young woman. She was harmless, at least in terms of intent. Her energy was different though, something she never felt before. Human but more tuned into something hidden as well. Not demon but something else.

"Well, I was taken from my home when I was twelve. Naraku took over the castle where I was at when I was thirteen. Trained to try to kill him for two years until I was fifteen. So, at fifteen I sought him out and I did find him. However, I was arrogant. I awoke two years later and have been on the road for four years now. It doesn't feel like that much time has passed with as much peace as I've seen overall. Still there are wars but it seems quiet now."

"Almost too quiet," Inu-Yasha spoke up as he shrugged. "I feel the air in the North is darker and tenser than before. With Naraku gone, it's not surprising someone wants something to stir up again. Sesshomaru is probably trying to see for himself by now. If we can feel it here… that can't be good."

"I've been in the south for some time, so I suppose it's no wonder I had no idea. It makes sense with how many have traveled that direction in the recent months. No one says much, but I do believe they had a feeling something was wrong." It fell silent for a moment as everyone thought about it. Yet another war and this time it would be heading straight for them as they were in the Western Lands.

"Well, he is the Lord of the West now I guess… so he would want to know if something dangerous is coming. It would take something big to threaten Sesshomaru considering his reputation. Chances are we will find out soon if it's going to be concerning or not," Inu-Yasha finished as he scoffed giving with brother some praise. But even he had to admit, his brother was one of the stronger demons out there. Now that he had Bakusaiga and Tenseiga to both kill and regenerate, he was usually left alone from the other lands. The fact he found time to see Rin yet made Inu-Yasha realize that the demon was not worried about his position. Not that he'd let him know either way.

"Well, still if it affects us then we should help," Kagome said looking at Inu-Yasha with determination. "Your brother is obviously my brother now too since I'm your wife. You should know we help family." The woman was rather defiant, and they broke out into an argument about family and duty and the fact Sesshomaru was a big bad demon who could take care of himself.

Meeting these people had to be the strangest and most fun moment in her life. They didn't seem worried about her and she wasn't worried about them. No wonder they beat Naraku, and yet it was a wonder they did with how they argued. Out of love, but still… interesting.

"Well, Satomi," Kaede said clearing her thought to bring an order to the home. "You are welcome to stay here with us until you are ready to go." Rin beamed as she hugged the woman and the twin girls giggled throwing themselves on her as well. She had no idea how well this would go, but she had a feeling that she was here for a reason beyond even her knowledge.

"Thank you. I believe this will do just nicely," she said with a smile.

XXXXX

Two weeks had passed since that day she was welcome here with open arms. Kagome and she talked about the priestess training and helped her with the day to day tasks. What Satomi had planned to be just a normal few days here then gone turned into much longer than that. Singing to the children and while she worked allowed her to do what she would normally do just without pay. However, she was given food and shelter for all her help. The winter months would be settling in soon and everyone was starting to prepare.

The day to day work was calming as she settled into her role as a general helper no matter the task. The children would follow her and beg her for songs. Their favorite was 'Blue Bird' talking about flying in the sky above all the sadness and war to a better place and life.

"You said if you could fly

You would fly high high into the sky

And all you'd ever know

Is the blue the blue sky up above"

Singing as she walked into the forest, she saw someone land nearby. It was the same demon that she witnessed flying away those two weeks ago. He was even more handsome up close. Long silver hair and garments of a lord. Was this Inu-Yasha's half brother they spoke of before? Rin spoke of him frequently, but it was mostly of how as much as he was quiet and stern, he was a kind demon. However, there was an aloof nature that made her wonder just how nice he could even be.

He took a sniff in the air and his eyes widened slightly before they narrowed at her. "Who are you?" His voice was a demand and her heart skipped a beat in both fear and admiration.

"I'm… well…" Freezing in her unsureness of what to do, she never faced a strong demon like this before. She was used to lesser demons, but he meant business immediately.

"Satomi!" Rin exclaimed happily as she ran into the woman's legs and hugged her. "This is Lord Sesshomaru!" Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow at the young girl's reaction to the stranger. Obviously, something happened while he was away, and he wanted an explanation. "Sesshomaru, this is Satomi, my new friend who I met when you left last. She's been helping us so much here."

"I see," Sesshomaru said simply as he looked away from Satomi and looked to Rin.

"So, you're the Lord of the Western Lands," Satomi said as a moment of silence bothered her. She bowed politely hoping that it would be enough to avoid a glare. His eyes were on her and she could feel it intensely. As if he was trying to read her, he looked slightly puzzled and glared again as she rose and looked at him once more. Blushing in not knowing what to do, she turned her gaze away to Rin who was smiling oblivious to the awkward situation.

"I suppose they told you then," he said as he walked by them. Rin happily tagging along. His aloof nature was truly something. His demonic energy was also something else.

"I'll see you later, Satomi," Rin said happily waving behind her for a moment before looking forward and chatting happily with him.

Sitting in the grass from the intensity of the meeting, she felt as if she both dodged a fight and yet it didn't feel like that would be the last of him either. The demon was frightening, even if his face was handsome. He wouldn't take her off guard again.