~Their Salvation~

~Chapter 8~

"I wonder where he went." Aia asked softly.

"Not sure, but there's something he sees in Hana that calms him down." Eiko said as she finished changing Hana's wraps over her eyes.

"Yeah, I really thought you were dead Hana." Kaito mumbled in a sorrowful tone.

"He spared me once as I had just told you. I took my chances, but I'm fine now.~" Hana said with a soothing smile.

"Yeah, and so is Shippō, thank goodness." Kaito said looking at Shippō who was sleeping, Kaida was curled up asleep next to him. 

"Yeah." Hana whispered smiling.

"You're lucky your eyes didn't get any worse." Eiko said in a scolding tone.

"Yeah, s-sorry." Hana said with a nervous laugh rubbing the back of her neck.

"Now, it's been a long day. We all should get some rest, I pray that Hana's words will stick with him so he won't try attacking again. For now, we stay in the bunker unless someone capable of fighting is with you. NEVER go alone. Understood?" Eiko said.

"Yes, ma'am!" Everyone in the bunker said in unison.

"Now, let us rest." Hana nodded laying down getting comfy, she had put her jacket back on so she wouldn't grow cold in the night.

"Thank you, Hana. You saved many people's lives today." Kaito said softly.

"Y-Yeah, I'm glad I could help." She whispered before slowly drifting off.

Sniffling made Hana stir awake. She slowly sat up trying to listen to who it could be.

"I know Kirara, but I still feel horrible." Aia. Hana sat up completely facing where Aia's voice came from.

"Aia?" Aia let out a tiny gasp.

"O-Oh! Sorry, d-did I wake you?" She tried to sound happy, but Hana knew better.

"Aia, why are you upset?" She asked softly so the others didn't wake up.

"Huh? Hmm." She trailed off knowing she was caught. She let out a shaky breath.

"I... I got scared and just hid trying to look like I was helping Shippō, but in reality, I was too scared to face Inuyasha." She whispered with a slight whimper. Hana carefully scooted closer putting a hand on Aia's shoulder.

"It's ok to be scared Aia, it's normal." She felt Aia shake as she whimpered again.

"No, it's not, it's not ok. I'm supposed to protect everyone in the village, that's my job. Yet, I hid like a coward while someone who was injured had the courage to step up and risk their life." Hana felt bad for Aia, she didn't mean for her to feel like this at all.

"Aia." Hana whispered unsure of what to say. Aia trembled more making Kirara let out a said mew. Aia suddenly shot up and ran making Kirara call out to her.

"Aia!" Hana called before getting up and following the sound of her running, she tripped on the stairs a couple of times hearing Kaito and Eiko call out to her saying to not go but she did anyway, she was worried for Aia. She tried her best to follow the sounds of Aia's running, but Aia was a lot faster then she was.

"AIA PLEASE DON'T GO OFF ON YOUR O-" Hana slammed right into a tree making her stumble back and whine in pain. 

"AIA!!!" She yelled, but there was no response, just silence. Hana tried to listen, seeing if anyone followed her, but not a single sound other then the wind and the leaves.

"Shit." She felt her anxiety spike up, she didn't dare use her eyes again or she could go blind, but she was lost and no one was here to guide her. She flinched when she smelled crimson, it dripped down her face as well. She reached up feeling her wrap was soaking with something near the forehead and it spread enough to drip down her face. She brought her now wet fingers to her nose smelling it.

"Blood. Must have been the damned tree." She growled under her breath. She didn't dare to try wondering off, but she knew it was dangerous to stay still in hopes someone would find her.

"Aia!" She called once more, nothing. She began to tremble, taking a few steps only to freeze.

"Anyone?" She choked out now terrified. It was cold, even with her jacket on, so she hugged herself shivering. Hana let out a loud gasp when something suddenly wrapped around her and squeezed her.

"Oh, what a pretty little human.~" A hissy voice said squeezing her more making her yelp in pain, she had a hard time taking in a breath now.

"All alone, injured, cold, ssssscared.~" Hana felt tears well in her eyes only to be soaked into her wraps.

"Maybe I should but you out of your missssery?~" The creature hissed, Hana could hear what sounded like joints unhinge. She's dealt with many animals, and the way this wrapped around her and the hissing along with that sound, she knew for a fact this was some sort of snake-like creature.

"D-Don't, please." She choked out only to be crushed, she felt as if her ribs could snap any second and she whimpered in pain.

"Aww, how cute. However, it'sssss time to ssssay goodbye dear.~" The creature hissed loudly making Hana tense, she knew she was dead. Or she thought until the loud hiss suddenly stopped, the sound of ripping flesh rang above her as a warm liquid spurted onto her. The creature's squeezing stopped so Hana quickly wiggled her way out falling to the ground with a loud thud. She backed away quickly before forcing herself onto her feet turning and tried to run, then something grabbed the back of her jacket.

"No, let me go!" She screamed wiggling out of her jacket only for her arm to be nabbed by a large hand. Before Hana could say anything more she heard a soft growl making her freeze.

"I-Inu... Yasha?" She whispered. She heard whoever it was drop her jacket before they turned her gently, then she heard sniffing near her making her relax.

"Th-Thank god." Hana whispered as more tears welled in her eyes. Without even thinking about it she reached out grabbing onto the demon dog pushing her face into his chest, though the chest pieces made it rather hard to do so. Said dog demon tensed at this action, but never pushed her away either.

"Aia, she ran off. I don't know where she went." Hana whimpered softly as she started to feel lightheaded. Her hand slowly dropped to her side gaining the demon dog's attention, he looked down at the small creature he, oddly enough, softened up to. When Hana's knees gave out on her she fell, only to be caught by Inuyasha who slowly dropped to his knees with her in his arms. Hana shivered a little before whimpering softly.

"I don't even know my way back." She whispered. She flinched when Inuyasha shuffled a little, then something soft was wrapped around her. She reached up feeling what it was, it felt like bushy fur. She felt a lot safer now she wasn't alone, despite the fact the man with her was called dangerous she didn't feel unsafe around him. She leaned against him feeling tired.

"Thank... you." She whispered, then drifted off to sleep.