The Angel & Wolf (being edited)

Determinated

Since Kaede needed the herbs, Kyo was unable to retrieve them due to her capture. Shinto offered to take up the task; her wings were useless now, so she needed something to do.

Worry clenched her heart if she was sitting around. There was also how she stupidly let Inuyasha do what he wanted. She could feel the ghost of his touch lingering where he moved her hair.

The angel had to stop him before he got any other ideas about invading her space. She subconsciously brushed the pads of her fingers along the faint scar. The sound of a tornado snapped her from her daze.

She recognised the form of travel as Koga. He'd been sullen when he found out about Kyo. Still was.

"Hey, Shinto." He said with a slight wave.

"Hey." Shinto gave a wave back.

The angel ripped a ripe green plant from its roots and placed it in the basket on her back. "Do you need something?"

He stood while she continued her activity. "Yeah, do you know the whereabouts of Kyo?"

Shinto stopped briefly, sighing, "If I did, I wouldn't be here."

He let go a sigh through his nose. "Yeah, that's true; I hope that mutt has been putting his nose to good use."

"He's busy fighting demons with the rest of his friends."

Koga folded his arms across his chest. "I think Kyo should be our top priority."

Shinto slid the straps of the reed basket off her shoulders and inspected its contents. Making sure she'd gotten all the right ingredients.

"He doesn't know Kyo too well; of course, she isn't."

The wolf demon kicked some random rocks. "He seems only willing to do it because you and Kyo are mates."

The angel eyed him. "Are you trying to get at something?"

"No, but it's obvious you two have some history. I'm guessing not the good kind judging from your deep scar."

So the wolf wasn't as dense as she had previously thought, apart from detecting the attraction Kyo held for him.

"Well, it's none of your business anyway." She responded harshly.

"I wasn't trying to pry, all I did was guess, and I know I hit the mark."

She threw the basket back on her shoulders. "I know it's just a subject I'd rather avoid ever talking about." she turned and walked to Kaede's hut to give her the herbs.

<>

The old priestess looked quite pleased with the amount the angel had collected. "Ye has done a swell job on finding so many."

Shinto smiled. "Thank you."

Kagome entered the hut looking glum; she sat down without saying a word. Kaede spoke to her. "What's the matter, Kagome?"

The schoolgirl met the priestess's stare. "It's Inuyasha..."

Shinto got up to leave; the angel preferred not to hear any drama between them. But she stopped midway when Kagome said, "he's gone after Kikyo again."

Kikyo?

Inuyasha had explained many things but not whatever Kagome was talking about. "Isn't Kikyo dead?" The question left her mouth before she remembered she didn't care, right?

"Oh, you don't know." Kagome made a quick summary of him going after the supposedly dead priestess. Shinto learned of the events and was not pleased. It took all of her will not to explode.

"I see." Was all she could manage.

Kagome had her questions about the mysterious woman. Like what was the history between them? Why did she dislike Inuyasha? And the scar...

"I'm going out." Kagome and Kaede were startled by her sudden sentence. Shinto left without saying her whereabouts.

<>

Koga had travelled far from where he usually ventured. He breathed deeply into his lungs and willed his senses to find any trace.

He pressed his eyes closed and begged for any sign. A few minutes passed as he sniffed the air, nostrils flaring wide.

Blank...blank...blank.

Just a bit more....a speck of Kyo's aroma filled his sinuses. "Got ya."

He didn't care about reinforcements; he ran with all the speed he could muster.

His best mate had been in Naraku's clutches too long., five days.