The fault was hers and hers alone. 

Kagome knew she should have never told Shippo about Halloween, and especially not about trick or treating. The kitsune’s affinity for illusion and penchant for mischief made him a born trickster. If she looked into the river one more time and saw a skull instead of her face, Kagome was going to smack him. 

She knelt at the water’s edge to fill her canteen. It had been hours since they last stopped and she was getting hungry. Kagome hoped they came across a village soon. She was getting tired of living off of ramen, beef jerky, and candy bars.

A howl pierced the air, causing her to jerk upright. 

The sound wasn’t the cry of the wolf tribe nor did it sound like any animal Kagome was familiar with. Instinctively, her hands went to her bow, her hunger forgotten. She scanned the forest. Each shadowy nook and every hollow became more pronounced. Every option was far too small for her to hide in. Her only chance was to run. 

And hope whatever lurked in the woods did not find her. 

Securing her bow across her shoulders, Kagome bent to retrieve her half-filled canteen. Somewhere to her right, a twig snapped and she jolted. 

Another howl— this one much closer —came. 

Kagome took off. She didn’t look behind her, too afraid of what she’d see if she did. 

“Miroku! Sango! Kirara! Inuyasha! Someone help me!” 

“Shippo?” Kagome changed direction, cutting across the stream toward the sound of the kitsune. “Shippo!”  

“Kagome!” the fox cried. His eyes were frantic as she tried to locate the demon. “It’s after me!”

“What is?” she asked.

“I dunno. A bear or a wolf demon or something. Whatever it is, it’s big,” Shippo declared. 

“Take this and run!” Kagome ordered, handing him her canteen. 

“But Kagome—.”

“Don’t turn around. Just go!” 

She faced the direction the howls were coming from and aimed her arrow. The ground quaked beneath her feet. Kagome gulped but held her ground. She chanted to herself, waiting for the beast to show itself. 

Hit the mark. Hit the mark. Hit the mark. 

When Kagome’s senses told her to fire, she let loose her arrow. There was a strange cry that came from the woods. It sounded almost like a dying bird instead of a massive demon. 

She didn’t linger to confirm that she’d missed. Kagome bolted, checking every few steps to see if she was being followed. Which was why she ran head-first into a solid chest. With an ‘ow,’ she bounced off of him and to the ground. 

“Sesshomaru?” She blinked as if unsure her vision was playing tricks on her or if the daiyokai was truly there. 

He offered her a hand up, a gesture no more unusual than the fact he was here. Why hadn’t she sensed his yoki so close? 

His golden eyes stared at something over her head. She wondered if he could make out the approaching threat. 

“We have to go,” Kagome urged him, wrapping her arms around one of his and pulling the demon lord toward the meadow. 

“Why?” 

She paused. His question, though not unwarranted, was unexpected. Kagome thought he would remark on the fact she had touched him or ask where Inuyasha was. Sesshomaru did neither. Was it because he already knew? Had he crossed paths with the demon chasing her earlier? 

“It’s not safe,” Kagome said, withdrawing from him. 

“It is nothing to be alarmed about.” 

A sensation of dread filled her. That howl. Those glowing red eyes. Had it been Sesshomaru all along? 

She stumbled backward, eyes widening. “You.”