I'm back! Fweee! And I got REVIEWS!

Icygirl12: Yes ma'am, and thank you!

Chi Yomomotou: Well, of course! You're supposed to feel sorry for poor Inu.

Karlee: I will, and I'm glad you thought so!

Disclaimer: I own nothing . . . .

Claimer: Except my character.

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The Inu-tachi traveled along the road with heavy hearts. Kagome's ashes had been buried at the base of the Goshinboku, and the group traveled with no particular destination in mind. Miroku had not once groped Sango, nor asked any pretty women to bear his child. Shippou wouldn't speak, even when coaxed with candy. Inuyasha tried to pretend he was okay, but any passerby could see through his masquerade.

The day wore slowly on, and it was only just before sunset when Inuyasha realized it was the night of the new moon. He didn't bring the matter up. He didn't care.

Seconds later, there was an anguished yell from the forest. The traveling party froze, Miroku in mid-step. Inuyasha sniffed the air and growled.

"Who is it?" Sango asked.

"Sesshoumaru," He spat, quickly bounding off into the forest, heedless of his ever-slowing pace.

By the time he reached the spot where he had presumed Sesshoumaru would be, night had fallen. The clearing was unnervingly silent.

"Hello?"

His query was met with a slight rustling in the bushes to his right. Reflexively, Inuyasha unsheathed Tetsusaiga, though he knew it would be next to useless.

A face poked out from the bushes, vivid green eyes staring blankly at him.

Hesitantly, he sheathed his sword. "Who the hell are you?"

The person remained silent, blinking at him.

"You mute or something?"

"Yes."

He was taken aback, both by her slightly absurd answer and her voice. It was quite a something—Melodious, harmonious, and rhythmic, with an undertone of discord and pain. Not something you hear every day.

The woman laughed and stood up. Inuyasha found himself face-to face with a human girl about his height and age—not chronologically, of course—with knee-length, pin-straight black hair. Her skin was pale, very pale, and her face had a gaunt, unhealthy look to it, as if she hadn't eaten in months. A black and silver kimono hung loosely off her body, obviously several sizes to big for her. Her feet were bare and bone-thin, resting uncomfortably on the leaf-laden ground.

"To answer your first question, I go by Bosoi." She said, sitting down. "But that's not who I am, is it?"

Inuyasha answered with that most versatile of phrases. "Feh."

Bosoi laughed again, the sound strained. "Perhaps you should leave. I'm . . . not feeling well. There are demons nearby . . . you'll get hurt."

Inuyasha had already turned and started walking when he noticed an odd smell in the air. It took him a moment to identify it as blood. He turned back around to face Bosoi. "You're hurt."

She grimaced. "Just a little bit . . . stings like hell, but I'll live if nothing gets to me before sunrise."

"Before—?"

"When I can see properly again," She added hastily.

AN/ . . . No, this couldn't be some arcane hint! Not at all! I'm not THAT stoopid. o.O

"Let me see," Inuyasha said quietly, his good side getting the better of him.

"As if I could stop you," She muttered, placing her hands on the ground and pivoting so her back was turned to him.

There was a sharp intake of breath. Five bloody gashes made their way from her right shoulder to the opposite hip. They were beginning to turn a sickly shade of green.

"What the fuck did you do!"

"I didn't do anything, thank you," She said scathingly. "I was attacked."

"By what?"

"Ummm . . . silver hair, missing an arm, looks like a girl—"

"Sesshoumaru," Inuyasha hissed, his eyes narrowing.

"Ah. Whatever her name was. She seemed to have a dislike for . . . me." AN/ That was NOT a typo . . . –is murdered by rabid fangirls-

Inuyasha nodded. "I'll just bet . . . keh."

She turned around, smiling at him. "Oh, so you know her? I'm sorry."

Inuyasha looked away, then stood up. "Well, you don't look like you're gonna keel over in the next five seconds. I'm leaving."

"Matte! You could at least tell me your name."

He paused. "Inuyasha."

She nodded, grinning. "I thought so. I guess you don't remember me, though . . . ."

He glanced at her, confused.

"We've been human together once before."

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Not a very good ending, but then again, neither is the story, lol. I don't really have much to say here, so . . . Ja!

Tachi: Group

Inu: Dog

Goshinboku: God tree

Sesshoumaru: the killing perfection (Or, as it was humorously translated on ear-tweak, "killing life circle.")

Tetsusaiga: Iron fang

Bosoi: Short for Kokorobosoi, meaning lonely.

Matte: Wait

Tomodachi (from title): Friend

P.S.: CLICKTHELITTLEPURPLEYBLUISHBUTTONDOWNTHEREANDREVIEWORELSE!

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