Pairing: Kagome/Haku (subject to addition...)

Anime/Movie: Inuyasha and Spirited Away

Chapter one

"Lady Kagome, we have perfectly good tubs that we can fill for you here. There is truly no need to go into the forest..."

Kagome glanced at the inn keeper's wife as the elderly woman rung her hands nervously. A frown made its way onto the miko's face as she glanced around at her friends, who all lounged about the inn that Miroku had 'blessed'.

"I appreciate your concern, Obaa-san, but I'm sure I'll be fine," she said quietly, fingering the bow on her back lightly as the woman became even more worried.

"Please, Lady Kagome! The men are out hunting...unnatural things tonight! You must remain inside!"

Kagome sighed, before turning to the Inu Hanyou for help, who scoffed and brushed off the old woman's concern.

"Kagome can take care of any human that tries to hurt her, Obaa-san. You don't have to worry about her. Worry about any men that try to sneak up on her in the baths," Inuyasha smirked at the miko as she rolled her eyes.

"Thank you for your kind words of wisdom, Inuyasha. I'll be back soon everyone," she said, pulling open the door to the inn gently.

"Why is it so important that you go bath in hot springs tonight, Kagome? You normally aren't this insistent," Sango called quietly, and Kagome turned to smile sadly at her.

"I just...feel that that's where I need to be right now," she whispered, before sliding the door closed and running in the direction Inuyasha had pointed for the springs.

Looking around the empty springs, her blue eyes fell on the waterfall that cascaded from the springs and into the river below. Peering into the clear water for anything dangerous, she saw what appeared to be a small fissure in the rocks at the bottom of the spring, water spewing from it in a manner that reminded her of underwater volcanoes. Laying her bow beside the springs, she shed her cloths and slipped into a two piece bathing suit that she used when she feared being snuck up on. Alert of her surroundings for once, she slowly eased her way into the warm water, sighing happily as her muscles relaxed immediately.

After ten minutes of relaxing, yet waiting for something to happen, her senses picked up on the sounds of something very large scrambling towards her spot sloppily. Confusion filled her as she quickly crawled from the spring in time for a what appeared to be the largest snake she had ever seen dive into the somewhat deep waters. Panic made her silent when she saw the red liquid quickly filling the springs.

"The beast went that way!"

"There's a woman over there!"

"Hurry or we'll lose the devil! His hide must be worth a fortune!"

Kagome scowled as she wrapped a robe about herself quickly, before picking up her bow. Her eyes fell on the white 'snake' who's emerald eyes glowed at her from beneath the waters. A small smile made its way onto her lips.

"You're the reason I needed to be here, huh, Kami-sama?" she whispered, and turned to face the village men that had just reached the springs, bringing her bow up to point and 'invisible' arrow at them.

"A-A miko!"

"Wench, get away from our prize!"

"He's ours! We hunted him fair and square!"

Kagome's eyes narrowed in anger as she let the arrow materialize fully, its silver gleaming in the setting sun. She put herself between the men and the springs, and felt a small frown work its way across her face.

"You dare to hunt a Kami you fools!" she growled, her grip on the arrow tightening as the men appeared unaffected.

"You've got to be kidding me! A miko devoting herself to the likes of a lesser Kami! Wench, you're better off worshiping a tree for all the good it will do you!" the leader spat, making her eyes narrow.

"You might want to fear for your business, Innkeeper-san. My companion may have blessed your inn, but I'm sure we can undo that blessing for something less...fortunate," she threatened, though she knew it was an empty threat as she would never do something like that, however, her eyes blazing with rage as the men continued to advance, readying their spears.

"You can't do that if you're dead! Fire!"

A chill went up her spine as she realized that her barrier might not stand against human weapons. None the less, she formed the barrier around herself and the Kami coiled in the spring. She had a split second to realize that the spears had indeed passed her barrier, before something long, and wet wrapped about her form completely. A pair of glowing emeralds stared at her, pain flashing through them before they disappeared from her view, and the grip around her slackened as a deafening roar echoed in the approaching night.

"Kagome!"

Kagome whimpered as she felt her leg trapped under the somewhat heavy body of what she now realized was a white dragon. She winced as she heard the hanyou running towards them, drawing his sword.

"Inuyasha! He protected me when the villagers attacked me! They were trying to kill him for his skin!" Kagome called quickly, knowing exactly what information to give the male in order to make him realize that the dragon was not the bad guy.

"What the fuck is with all the poaching going on lately!" Inuyasha growled as he planted himself between them and the villagers.

A small sigh left her as she finally pulled leg free and stood in the middle of the injured dragon's coiled body. Just last week a group of poachers had attempted to capture Kirara for her coat, making the whole group become well aware of the rise in fur's popularity. She hummed soothingly to the dragon when its head lifted weakly to look at her, and her hands carefully, yet quickly pulled the spears from his long body, making it shudder strong enough that it almost knocked her over. Her hand soothed over the shiny, yet bloody scales as she called her healing powers to them, carefully healing each of the numerous cuts that scattered across its body.

"L-Lord Inuyasha! We must dispose of this...thing!"

Inuyasha glanced behind him at the large reptile that was curled around Kagome protectively as she hummed to it, healing its many injuries slowly but surely, and his eyes widened as he recognized the feeling of the energy the being put off.

"You guys are stupid fucks. Even I know not to mess with a kami. Now go back to your little village disappointed, and tell my group to come to this spring. We won't be staying at your inn tonight," Inuyasha growled, before turning to approach the two.

Kagome paled as the dragon lifted his head to hiss at Inuyasha as he walked up to them slowly. The hanyou looked down at him, his expression blank, before his eyes raked the long body.

"They really did a number on you, eh bud?" he said quietly, and Kagome smiled as she knew that her friend had automatically connected with the dragon in a way that only outcasts could.

"It might take a few more minutes, but I should have him healed completely soon," she said quietly, watching intently as the villagers seemed to huddle, before hanging their heads and slowly walking back towards the village.

"Humans are so narrow minded," she whispered, scowling as she continued healing.

"They'll be forsaken by the very gods the pray for protection from if they continue like this. Dumb fucks," Inuyasha snorted, his ears laying flat on his head when Kagome glared at him for his language.