Noro was in pain. Her side burned, as if a wedge of red hot steel had been driven through her ribs and into her lungs. Her feet stung too, as well as many other cuts on her body, including one that stretched from her right eyebrow to her ear of the same side.

Because of this, it definitely hurt to open her eyes, but she did so anyway.

The sunlight made her blink rapidly to adjust her sight, and she slowly became aware of the fact that she was not dead, and was in fact lieing on wool blanket that was laying on the ground.

"Oh, you're awake," someone said, and she turned to the voice.

The source of the comment was a small girl, with a head of wild, unkept black hair, and a bright smile. The child approached, and knelt next to Noro. Noro then realized that all of her wounds, including the large one on her chest, had been treated, sewn, and bandaged.

"Hello," the girl said. "Feel better?"

Noro decided to speak, but faltered when her dry tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth. But she got the words out in a rasp. "Who are you?"

The girl somehow smiled even wider. "I'm Rin!"

The child, Rin, motioned with then with her hand towards a small green imp and a two headed dragon. "That's Master Jaken, and behind him is Ah-Un."

Noro gulped, an unfamiliar, but strong emotion coursing through her. She chalked it up to fear as she whispered, "demons."

The green imp, his name Jaken, had apparently been listening the entire time, because he took this opportunity to answer, his voice irritating, like ten tea kettles whistling loudly.

"Yes," he said, " and it was these demons that were charitable enough to go out of their way and save your pitiable human behind. You should act more grateful."

"Master Jaken, I'm human and I helped," Rin complained.

Noro was clearly able to identify the emotions rolling through her now as she struggled to sit up. Rage and humiliation. "I didn't ask for  your charity and I don't need your pity," she snapped.

Suddenly, Noro was in shadow, a figure towering over her from behind. "Clearly," a voice answered, it's tone scathing and sarcastic.

Rin leaped up, eyes sparkling. "Lord Sesshomaru, you've returned! Look, the lady is awake!"

Noro turned to face the "Lord Sesshomaru", and her eyes met with an aristocratic face, his downward gaze both apathetic and condescending.

Without blinking, he answered Rin. "Yes, I can see that."

"Yeah, and she's healing very well too!"

Noro took a breath and looked at their surroundings.

They were camped on the edge of a meadow, with Ah-Un the two headed dragon resting in the shade of the nearby trees. The trees themselves were unfamiliar, and the air was freakin as well, a breeze from the north carrying a few dead leaves away. Noro then glanced back up at the demon they called Sesshomaru, studying him as he was preoccupied with Rins ramblings.

His chin was sharp, and the markings on his cheeks a soft purple, his lips thin, like he had never smiled, and his eyes were like coins at the bottom of a frozen lake, pretty, but ultimately cold, lifeless, and difficult to reach.

"Woman, are you healed enough to travel?"

It seemed that the demon lord had spoken to her.

Noro glared at him, and rubbed a hand over her aching chest. "I'm fine," she muttered.

Sesshomaru nodded and turned around. "You and Rin will ride on Ah-Un until you are healed enough to travel by foot. The dragon should not have to carry two incompetent humans."

Noro managed to stand up. "Now wait a minute, who said I'm coming with you!?"

He glanced back over her, and then shrugged. "Very well."

Rin tugged on Noro arm. "But Miss, you must stay with us. You're hurt."

"I'm sorry... Rin was it? But I can't stay. And I'm fine."

But Noro's words proved rather unsatisfactory as her next breath turned into a wracking cough. She curled her arms around her middle and hunched over, Rin putting a hand on her back to steady her as the coughs subsided. Rin had a worried look on her face.

"Miss," she said, "you really must stay. You shouldn't travel on your own."

Noro looked over at the young child.

"Does it really mean that much to you if I stay?"

Rin nodded fervently. "Yes!"

Noro jutted her chin out in the direction of the dai-yokai. "What about him?"

"Lord Sesshomaru? He's really kind when you get to know him. He's already saved my life before."

Noro shuffled around a little, avoiding the little girls pleading eyes. But eventually she sighed in defeat.

Unlike last night, Noro could clearly see that the two demons didn't mean her any immediate harm, and though the imp demon Jaken had been nothing but rude to her, that was no reason to travel through unfamiliar woods alone. And she was in no hurry to return to the village.

Noro glanced back over at Rin. Though one could never be too careful. Rin seemed to be the one behind her rescue, so Noro would have to stick close to her for protection.

"Please," Rin begged.

"Well ok," Noro agreed. "I'll stay." She glanced over at Sesshomaru. "At least... for now."

Rin grinned and clapped her hands together happily. "Really? Yay!"

She then pulled Noro over to the two headed dragon. "You'll get to ride on Ah-Un with me while you're healing," she said. "And don't worry. Ah-Un's really gentle."

As they got close to the dragon, they raised their heads, sniffing first at Rin, then Noro in greeting, one head nudging at her bandages while the other allowed a scratch on the nose. Ah-Un then willingly laid down in the grass so that Noro could climb on easier, and with Rins help, soon they were ready to go.

As they started through the forest after Lord Sesshomaru, Rin turned to Noro.

"What's your name by the way?"

"My name's Norowareta, but you can call me Noro."

********