“Do you want to get squashed?! Snap out of it and run!” Satomi screeched, barely hesitating before she grabbed a sobbing middle-aged woman up from the smoldering ground and pulled her towards safety.

“If they don’t move, they’ll just have to go down with the damn thing! I ain’t waitin’ all day just to use the wind scar!” InuYasha yelled, his sword held high.

“We’re going as fast as we can!” Satomi yelled back at him irately. Stupid old hags are slow as hell. she thought, using a name she’d heard InuYasha refer to Kaede as many times. Hisa dragged the line of children along beside her. Thankfully, they got out of the way of InuYasha, moving towards the entrance of the dark, dense forest barrier that Hisa had persuaded the trees to form. The rest of the traumatic group followed Satomi, wailing, up to the tree trunk-and-vine walls of the structure, waiting only briefly before the vines parted and let them through.

Inside the great dome of woodland green were people of all ages and sizes; some sobbing, some staring in shock, some burned and some unharmed. Hisa went among them immediately, making children laugh with silly faces to stop their tears and reassuring clingy old bats. Satomi knew that they all felt safe in here; Hisa was the kind of girl who gave of a motherly air, and she was probably asking the trees to send up calming vibrations from the soil. Indeed, Satomi felt much less panicked and agitated inside the shelter.

“Hisa,” Satomi complained with a groan. “Why are these people so stupid? They won’t come when I tell them and I end up dragging them away to save their sorry asses.”

Hisa tutted with a small smile as the whole congregation seemed not to notice the black-haired girl’s comment. “Satomi, be reasonable. It’s hard leaving your home and maybe even family members behind. They’re scared and hurt. You can’t blame them.”

Satomi huffed and continued grumbling. “Fine, but I’m not making the next run.”

“Then Katsuro will,” Hisa replied. “We’ll stay and rest up. Why don’t you sit down?”

Satomi sighed in relief and plopped onto the soft, cushiony grass, peeling off her worn shoes and socks to rub her blistered feet. “Walking all day and then I get to run around and save imbeciles from a stupid little fire.”

“You’re brave for doing it, Satomi,” Hisa said, and meant it. “You’re so calm. I’m jealous.”

For once, Satomi was serious. “I’m not brave, I’m just stupid. I don’t think about the danger,” she admitted quietly as her heartbeat slowed. She was very good at masking fear.

Hisa sat down beside her and patted her back lightly. “Still. It’s a good thing you’re doing.” She left Satomi to think about that and then called Katsuro.

“Katsuro!” she yelled.

A shadowy figure stood up in a corner and arched its back with a yawn and a groan. He stepped into the dim light of the shelter, eyes still half-lidded. He had minor burns decorating his arms and legs, but most of them, Satomi knew, were fake, displayed in order to get treated by the brunette. Satomi had to smirk and admire his clever plot. He was a good actor; with each of the mysteriously-appearing “burns,” Hisa never expected that he was involved in any foul-play. Soon enough she had to notice, though, didn’t she?

Satomi grinned playfully at the sleepy Kitsune. “Wake up, sunshine, your turn to make a run,” she said in a sickly sweet voice. “Oh, and would you tell Sango he’s got a weak point on the inside of his forearm and get Kouga to come help us where his little talents would be better used? Thanks, hun.”

“What took you so long?” he asked simply in return, and smirked. Satomi frowned. That wasn’t fair; Katsuro had a physical advantage.

“Nevermind. Just tell Sango, nab Kouga, and see if you can beat the refugee record. Shouldn’t be too hard for an almighty Kitsune like you.” She rolled her eyes dramatically.

“What, eleven? Piece of cake.” And then he darted out of the shelter carelessly.

Hisa sighed in admiration. “He’s so brave. He gets all those burns saving people, you know. He’s putting everyone else before himself.” In the few hours that Katsuro had wandered over to the shelter and started helping Satomi and Hisa round up the refugees, the brunette had warmed to him considerably. So had Satomi, for that matter, but for different reasons.

“No,” Satomi replied, unamused as she watched the vine opening close slowly, “he’s just stupid, too. Stupid and clever.”

---

Not ten minutes had passed, but muffled shouting began to sound outside the dome. A worried-looking Hisa waved a hand to part the vines of the dome, sweat beaded on her forehead from the exertion of persuading the animals and plants around her, making poultices, and trying to coax healing properties from the earth.

Katsuro pushed through first, looking grimmer than normal (which still wasn’t very grim). Behind him followed Kouga, his arms burdened with a limp Kagome, who had a nasty, charred burn scarring her leg.

“Oh, kami,” Hisa breathed, running over to pry the anguished wolf away from the injured miko. Satomi’s face was white. Frozen in her spot on the thick, grassy floor, she stared in horror at Kagome’s awful burn. It’s going to scar so badly, was her thought, her purple eyes narrow in panic.

“Put her down,” Hisa commanded, her voice cracking. “Get me the dark green oval leaf pile – yes, that one.”

Hisa bit down on her lip and began gently treating Kagome. Satomi felt spurred.

“Katsuro, she’s going to need more of those leaves,” Satomi instructed, stumbling wobblily to her feet, settling into her element of command. “Kouga, go round up more refugees. You’re the best for it. I promise, Kagome will be here when you get back.” A sharp pang struck her heart at the least sentence. He’ll always put Kagome first.

At first, Kouga seemed about to protest, but Satomi was so serious she wasn’t talking with her hands. He nodded grimly, bit back a dry sob, and exited the dome with Katsuro, who had been surprisingly compliant, where they split in different directions.

Satomi collapsed on her knees by the groaning Kagome, who was slowly and painfully regaining confidence. “Is there anything I can do?” she asked quietly.

“There’s – there’s a pile of rags,” Hisa replied, gesturing to a wide, bowl-shaped leaf that held water.

Satomi obeyed and wet a rag, which appeared to have been an old kimono at some point, and laid it – just like in the movies – across Kagome’s forehead. “I wish there was something for the pain,” she whispered quietly as the kind miko’s face twisted in agony.

“So do I.”

Without Kagome’s sacred arrow and Miroku’s sutra striking the demon’s left leg in unison with Inuyasha’s Wind Scar, Inuyasha’s attempt to finish the creature off really had no effect.

The dog hanyou was distracted now and appeared to be in distress—torn between killing the demon and helping Tani and the village out and going to check on Kagome, who had just been badly burned, despite Vittani’s attempt to protect her.

“Inuyasha!!” Vittani managed to shout through clenched teeth and quivering limbs, “Focus!!! For ten seconds, please!”

She could have easily gotten out of the way and let the demon crush the village, but there was no way she would ever forgive herself if she were to let that happen.

Inuyasha pulled his attention back to the demon before him and lifted his sword once more, and bringing it down again with great force, unleashing a powerful blast of diamonds towards the demon’s weak point.

With that, Sango launched her Hiraikotsu, finally slicing the demon’s leg off, causing it to slide forward and collapse to the ground.

Tani immediately dropped the barrier and fell onto her back, exhaling deeply with relief.

Immediately after Inuyasha saw the demon collapse, he ran into the secluded brush to check on Kagome.

The demon, however, wasn’t giving up. He hurled another line of fire at Tani while she was down only to have her quickly back-flip out of the way.

Sango also looked torn now, but Tani made the decision of whether or not she should stay and fight or leave to be with her wounded friend for her. She made a shooing motion with her hand, “Go on, I’ll be there soon,” Sango nodded thankfully and flew off with Kirara without hesitation.

By now, Vittani was tired of the damn thing.

When it hurled more and more fire at her, she just continuously diverted it back to it’s caster but to no avail. Finally, she held both hands out beside her and with a few swift, firm movements of her arms, thick, sturdy layers of earth erupted from the ground to enclose the monster in a ragged pyramid of solid rock. She leapt onto the top of the pyramid and punched a hole in the tip as flames quickly bursting out of this new opening from the panicked creature trapped within its walls. She quickly launched powerful blasts of water inside, smoke rising from the containment.

She then waved her arms about to gather up more water and quickly merged the earthen cage and water to create a thick, heavy clay that completely consumed the creature inside. Before the demon could react, she quickly heated the solution until it was as rock solid and firm as a statue.

She let out a deep breath of satisfaction and marveled at the masterpiece she created before turning to the burning buildings and proceeding to put out the multiple fires. After a few equally exhausting and frustrating minutes of attempting to extinguish the massive fires with water, she decided to take another stab at consuming it wholly again.

Using much more concentration and not letting herself fall victim to distractions, she completed the task—without burning herself in the process this time around.

The energy she felt within her being was inconceivable and almost overwhelming.

She didn’t know whether she should welcome the power she just discovered or fear it…

---

Sprinting into the secluded brush, it didn’t take Inuyasha long at all to spot Kagome and her wounded leg. He clenched his jaw tightly, trying his best not to say anything or show any emotion.

Sango kneeled on the opposite side of Kagome, along with Satomi and held her hand, trying not to appear to be worried. She didn’t need the poor girl worrying about how bad it looked, after all…

As Katsuro ran off to collect more of the herbs Satomi requested, Vittani began making her way into the forest. The smell permeating the area was odd and she was aware of how fearful everyone around her really was.

Kagome, however, did all she could do; lay in place and wait for her body to go numb so she couldn’t feel the pain any longer. Unfortunately, the pain from the burn was all but numb. It was grueling feeling such physical agony; she was sweating despite the cool rag Satomi had just placed on her forehead and her mouth had long gone dry with fear of what results she may end up with.

She peered over to the side. She could see Inuyasha standing by the entrance to their little forest cul-de-sac. He looked angry, as usual. But in his eyes showed worry and fear and she knew—she just knew he was blaming himself for this.

It wasn’t his fault. She knew that. But if she were to tell him that, what would that help? It would only upset him more…

His jaw was locked tightly and she could easily notice the solid stare aimed at her scorched leg. His brow was wrinkled and creased with worry and his arms were crossed tightly against his chest, almost as if knotted, as he stood there by himself, tense and uneasy.

Tani eventually walked through the opening of trees and vines as well, not looking nearly as frantic as all the others had previously, but worry was still present on her face. She looked as if she started to walk towards Kagome and the others, but she hesitated and then held back, standing by the entrance and leaning against a tree instead. She began staring at her own hands. She took a deep breath before scratching the back of her neck, pushing her long ponytail out of the way in the process, and then looking away.

“I think I’ve got enough here” Katsuro’s voice came as he slowed his pace from a sprint to a jog as he returned to the group and handed a generous pile of the requested leaves to Hisa in a shrug-like manner, carefully, so that none were dropped in the process.

“I think you’ve definitely got enough herbs there, Katsuro,” Kagome said aiming to lighten the mood a bit and attempting a smile in the process, “Thank You.”

Katsuro chuckled, “Just trying to be thorough. It’s no problem, really. I’m definitely up for first-aid next though…” he said, actually taking something rather seriously for once and proceeding to move to the crying children in the area and turning into cute, huggable creatures for their amusement.