Jade watched as the fired died into the heated rubble of burnt wood and thick brown grasses. The smell of smoke intoxicated her; it'd been so long since she had felt heat. She looked up from the extinct flames to see her captures closed lids and lying bodies. The oddly dressed Miko , whom Jade now learned was from the present day Japan, lye dazed in her world of rest, slightly twitching her fingers as she dreamt. The kitsune lay at her head, snoring into hair. The monk, Miroku was soundless in his position on his side, few feet away from the young demon exterminator, who was the sister of the boy Naraku now possessed, Kohaku . Jade finally reached her sites on the hanyou, he sat as he slept, still and quiet with his sword on his arm, obviously uncomfortable. Jade sighed in sadness as her thoughts ran through her past. She held the image of her uncle, standing strong, brave...dying. He had acquired a deadly disease when she had been sixteen; it attacked his lungs and larynx, rotting them to blackened sacs of puss and useless flesh. He had been barely able to walk her to the field to wish her good-bye and send her on her way through the portal which forbid her to return to her home until she had accomplished her goal to avenge her family. She remembered the expression on his face as he kissed her hand, crying into her palm. His tears had been of blood, gliding down his bronzed cheeks. But his eyes glowed with pride and love, begging her not to leave him... Jade had smiled, with her own eyes rimmed with tears, this man had been her mother, her father, and her teacher. He had been the only man to ignore her outer self, focusing on her soul and spirit to love, not to lust. He had not told her he loved her, that he would miss her company and courage, he had not even said farewell...he had only said to hurry....hurry and come home.

Jade slowly lifted her lashed lids to still find these odd band of comrades unawake...now was her opportunity. She slowly stood to her feet, her violin and bow now in hand; gently she stepped through the dead fire, making soft, nearly inaudible pats of movement. Once she was few yards from those who had rescued her, she looked back, her expression shameful and saddened, she did not want to leave these people, they had been so kind to her, so wonderfully loyal, but she could not put them in danger. Tomorrow was the rise of the full moon, she would be transforming into her monthly, demonic state. Each month on that night, the night when that large, space domained rock rose in full circle, into its natural, whole orb Jade would change. She was hanyou and as expected would alter when the time came. All normal, untouched half demons experienced a similar state, a state which would convert them into their human forms...Jade was the exception. Because she had been cursed to look almost completely as a human, her temporary phase of transformation, was performed backwards...she would become full demon for twenty-four hours. The only unfortunate side affect of this phase was her control. When in her demonic state Jade could not control her actions, this could not be learned, taught, or understood. Sesshoumaru could never phantom why Jade was unable to manage when her "monthly" arrived. This was not the same as teaching her to birth her demonic side, therefore reaching her ultimate potential in strength and swordsmanship...this was different. This was evil, Jade had to be fully restrained when in this phase, and she could not be allowed to wander or search...for if she did the consequences would be dire. She would kill all that lay before her, destroying all that came in her contact; when in this state she could not be trusted. Jade continued to walk on though the darkened, dank forest.

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"Can't make them?!! What do you mean you can't make them?!!! You made them for me fifty years ago!!! You made for that sick **** but a decade's past!!!" Jade screamed into the face of the old man as she held him up with her left fist, allowing him to elevate few inches from the ground with her harsh grip around his neck. Totosai softly shrieked in fear as he gazed at the angered face slightly below him.

"I am sorry Lady Jade, truly I am but the key ingredient I need to create the metal restraints you desire is no longer among the earth..." Jade roared in rage as she hurled the aged man into the stone wall of his caved home...she needed those restraints by night fall.

"What do you mean the ingredient is no longer among the earth?!" Jade closed her eyes as she gritted her question through a tightened jaw and pierced lips, she was growing impatient. The old man mumbled in pain as he crawled to his feet, silently cursing his female visitor.

"Ten years ago Naraku came here asking for a particular kind of leash and collar, one that could sustain the controllings of a crazed InuYoukai , these restraints also happened to be the exact twins of the very ones that I created for you and your husband fifty years ago, they are the strongest chains that were ever born by my hands. Those chains can not be topped, no other metal is stronger than that of which is entwined in the leashes and collars I made for you. When I presented Naraku's order to him he asked what I used to create the restraints, I only told him the key substance, The Orbed Weed, the plant that gives the metal its unbreakable affect, shortly after I told him Naraku completely wiped out what was left of the rare plant, ensuring that I could never create that precious metal again. Please do not think ill of me Lady Jade!!!"

As she slowly turned to face Totosai , Jade opened her angered eyes, her pupils swollen with upcoming rage. She darted across the stone room to the old man, again grasping him by his throat, pressing into his flesh gently.

"Do not refer to me as Lady Jade, I am no longer a wife!"

Totosai moaned in fear again as he gazed upon his abuser, "I-I am sorry, I just assumed you and Lord Sesshoumaru were still- " Suddenly a gasp was heard.

Jade quickly released the old man and rushed out of the cave to investigate her hearings. She looked around the plant life that surrounded her. Trees seemed to give her greetings as the sun was seen behind them, creeping through the gaps of leaves and thorns that curled into the abyss that was the forest. Jade placed her left hand on the grip of her sword, preparing to unsheathe it if necessary.

"Show yourself!" Jade roared her demand while taking in whiffs of the cold morning air, attempting to catch the scent of the one who was no doubt following her. A full minute had passed as Jade calculated the sniffs she had inhaled...nothing. She groaned in annoyance after she concluded that no one was upon her. She took one last glance over her surroundings and angrily walked back into the home of Totosai .

"Old Fool!!! You are certain no other restraints are able to yield me?!!!" Totosai froze in fear yet again as he watched Jade command an answer.

"I-I am afraid so M'Lady ...the only way you will be able to transform tonight, and not cause any damage, is to seek out Sesshoumaru or Naraku and-" Again the old man was cut off, interrupted by Jade's sword piercing his right hand, pinning him to the stone wall behind him. Totosai fell to the ground, striving to free his hand from the bladed weapon. As he screamed in pain, his fingers wriggling from the pinched nerves and muscles that had been sliced, Jade approached. She bent down to the old man's level, cupping his mouth with her palm, silencing him. Her voice growled as she spoke, lips eluding heat upon the crooked ear of the aged, human male.

"That bastard is not to be mentioned in my presence, unless his name is spoken in the absence of your life." Jade abruptly yanked her sword free from the flesh of the old man after she replied to his comment and screams. Totosai was left to his wound as Jade walked on from his home, swiping a leathered sac from the rugged ground before she exited the cave. She quickly threw the sac over and behind her shoulder after she placed her instrument and bow within it, making it simpler to speed her pace. Her thoughts churned as she stepped upon the freshly dewed grass, knowing what she must do. 'Fifty years have passed and now I must find you...yet again.'

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