Chapter 1

June 24, 2006

Disclaimer: Rumiko Takahashi owns all of the Inu-Yasha characters, but the rest are mine, please don't sue or steal. Thanks.

Seven years passed quietly at the Taijiya village, with the occasional youkai the only interruption of daily training and chores. The village had grown as more orphaned children from the wars came to learn how to defend themselves, and have a place to belong. The Heads of the village, Miroku and Sango, now had Tori, their oldest; Miya, their first daughter at six; followed by their second daughter, Kesha, now three. The Taijiya delivered her fourth child and second son, Aoi, just days ago, leaving the older students to train the younger.

Koga and Mayoka had moved back with the wolf tribe, where he took back his duty of ouji. The Taijiya and wolves hardly ever saw each other now; only in times of need did they call on the other for aid. Mayoka now had a flirtatious wolf cub that followed her around all the time, under the watchful eyes of her Otousan of course. The ouji had never forgotten his promise to keep any harm of the heart from reaching his daughter.

Inu-Yasha and his mate traveled the country, doing whatever was needed. They fought youkai, helped rebuild villages, and tend to the sick and elderly. Their love grew as they moved, eventually growing into a baby girl, Yui, now five years old. The three were cautious of straying too close to the Taijiya village, Koga's den, and Kaede's old village. They had built a way of life for themselves, one that they did not wish interfered upon...

The sky was still pitch black, but I could not fall back into sleep. I lay awake, staring up at the star specked sky, the warmth of Yui against my side, with Inu-Yasha's arm draped over both of us. My mind began to wander once again back to seven years ago, the last time I had spoken to Sango, Miroku, Koga, or Mayoka. How were they doing?

I smile as I think back about Tori, and how he must now be beginning his training as a Taijiya with his mother, or maybe he had gotten the power of his father, instead training to become a Houshi. Whatever he had grown to be, I'm sure he is handsome even at seven. And how about Kaguya's son, Aijou? He was a full youkai, and just a year older than Tori, which meant that the two were probably good friends, as well as sparing partners.

A glimpse of Mayoka's smiling face flashes in front of my eyes, and I laugh quietly. So my Koga had adopted a human girl, and right about now she was probably settling down with her own family, after all, she was now seventeen. And how about Koga, had he found a mate for himself? I wish him all the happiness after so long of paining after me.

I turn my head to look at Yui as she sleeps soundly. My baby is quickly growing up before my very eyes, I can no longer cradle her close to my chest as I used to, now I can only hug her, and carry her on my hip. I wonder if Inu-Yasha would be willing to let me have another pup.

Speaking of which, his hand has begun to move against my stomach, his claws tracing circles through my kimono. I arc into him slightly, letting him know I am awake. I lift my eyes to his face, where molten gold meets me. "What's up?" I whisper with a smile.

"I could ask you the same thing." He says back sternly. My smile fades at his worry.

"It's nothing, Inu-Yasha, just thinking." I assure him. He stares at me silently another second before nodding once.

"Get some sleep; you'll need it for tomorrow's trip." He lays his head back down, his work complete.

"Since when have I not been able to keep up with you?" He didn't answer me. I sit up, moving his arm off my waist and into my lap. "Inu-Yasha?"

"Can't you sense it?" His voice is a whisper.

"Sense what?"

"The youkai." His voice is unusually tight tonight. I close my eyes and search around us. My eyes snap back open as I find the youkai my mate speaks about.

"Oh…Kami…" Breath rushes out of my lungs. "How long has that been there?"

"Not long."

"It will be a challenge." I smile softly at him as he nods with closed eyes.

"Mh hm." His murmur comes. My hanyou misses those times from before, when we were all together, searching for the Shikon no Tama. My smile fades as I think about before that, when he was treated so badly.

"Inu-Yasha…?" I whisper.

"Yeah?" He replies just as quietly with a small sigh.

"Come with me." His eyes snap open at my serious tone.

"What's wrong?" His eyes are sharp again as his ears twist around, trying to catch any sounds. I place a reassuring hand on his cheek.

"Everything's fine. Just come with me." I get to my feet slowly, dragging my hand across his skin before loosing the connection. He glances down at Yui once before standing at my side. Thoughts of my mate's pain at being an outcast runs through my head as I lead him a short distance away.

I turn around and pull him into a passionate kiss, a fire instantly roaring to life in my blood. He pulls back with a grin. "So it's one of these kinds of 'come with me's." He says. I only smile as I pull him back to me. I will show my hanyou he has a place in the world, he no longer needs to worry about being an outcast.

((The Ending of a Beginning))

The next morning I wake up alone; Inu-Yasha has taken Yui down to the river, I can hear her laughter ringing up to me. I smile as I get to my feet before walking down to the bank. I watch my two hanyous quietly. Their silver hair and ears glisten as they throw water at each other. "Papa!" Yui shouts as Inu-Yasha picks her up.

"What?" He grins as he flips her over his shoulder. She squeals in glee and pounds at his back playfully.

"Put me down!"

"No can do, your Okaasan's up, time to head out." Inu-Yasha says as he turns around to grin at me. "Morning." He adds.

"Mama, tell Papa to put me down!" Yui says, lifting her head to look at me. I smile again as Inu-Yasha stops in front of me.

"Now, now, Inu-Yasha, don't be so mean to my baby."

"I'm not a baby anymore, Mama." Yui points out.

"You're right." I say thoughtfully. I shrug a second later. "Do as you will, Inu-Yasha." I turn around and begin to walk away.

"Hear that pup? Gotta stand on your own two feet now." Inu-Yasha laughs behind me. Yui screeches once more before laughing. My mate runs after me, my pup still on his shoulder.

"Mama!" She calls, holding her arms open to me. I smile as I take her onto my side, Inu-Yasha making sure that the fire is properly put out. "I love you." Yui says as she leans her head against my chest.

"I love you too, Yui." I reply as I place a soft kiss on her forehead.

"Where's Hokori?" Inu-Yasha asks as he returns to us. I turn up to him.

"He's right there." I nod toward the neko behind Inu-Yasha. My mate turns around to meet the youkai.

"You ready to go then?" Inu-Yasha asks the air. I nod and turn to Yui again.

"Do you want to ride with Papa or me and Hokori?" I ask my pup. She wiggles out of my hold and runs at Inu-Yasha.

"I want to ride with Papa." Yui giggles as she reaches up to the older hanyou. Inu-Yasha smiles as he reaches down to scoop her into his arms.

"Alright then, let's head out, we've got a youkai to dust." Inu-Yasha shifts Yui onto his back and takes off at a run. I jump onto Hokori's back and he takes to the air after my hanyou's.

((The Ending of a Beginning))

"Stay on Hokori, Yui!" I yell as I shoot another arrow at the large Tiger youkai. It roars as the arrow gets lodged in its left shoulder.

"But Mama—" She tries to protest.

"Do as she says, Yui." Inu-Yasha growls at her. Yui shrinks back and nods silently.

"Stay back, Hokori, don't let Yui get close!" I command again. The neko growls softly and flies into the air a short distance away.

"Sankon Tessou!" I pull back as Inu-Yasha dashes forward, striking at the youkai. The youkai is quick, the blades only catching its back left paw. An ear shattering roar rips through my head as the youkai stumbles away. I ignore my pain as I lift my bow again, this time filling the head with enough power to destroy the youkai.

"Back, Inu-Yasha." I call to my mate as I release the arrow. He instantly does as I say, jumping a good twenty feet back from the youkai.

There is another roar as light engulfs the youkai and a wave of power surges through me in and aftershock. As I uncover my eyes, there are no remains of the youkai. I sigh slowly; that wasn't as powerful as I thought it would be. I turn to my right where Inu-Yasha stands. "You alright?" I call.

"Fine." He nods as he turns to me. "But that was mine!" He whines with a smile. I laugh as we move together.

"Sorry, next time." I promise.

"That's what you—" A scream and roar combined cuts him off. We both whirl around, my heart stopping in horror at the sight before us.

"MAMA!" Yui screams again as she is lifted into the air, but not by Hokori. A youkai in human form stands there, his one large arm wrapped completely around my pup's chest and shoulders. It stood there smiling. "PAPA!" Yui adds, tears beginning to form in her purple eyes.

"Thank you for taking care of Takire, he always was a pain in the ass." The bastard spoke.

"Put. Her. Down." Inu-Yasha growls dangerously calmly. I can see the blood dripping down his wrists as his claws dig into the warm flesh of his palms.

"You can't use—" I whisper, but he cuts me off.

"I know."

The youkai laughs and I can feel pain coming off my daughter in waves as his hold increases on her. "Who are you? What do you want?" I ask calmly.

"My name is Arashi, and what do I want? Why I want this little whelp. Hanyou isn't she? Hanyou meat is the best there is, especially when their young, and so rare!" It laughs again, shooting electricity down my spine.

"We have to do something!" I hiss toward Inu-Yasha.

"I know."

"Well what?"

"PAPA!" Yui puts in. I can feel the fear and anger growing in my mate; he doesn't know what to do. He can't use Hijinkessou or Sankon Tessou, Yui's too close, just like I can't use my arrows.

"I am done here, I take my leave." The youkai says with a bow. "It was a pleasure doing business with you."

"MAMA! PAPA!" Yui's voice has become shrill as the youkai turns away and vanishes down the road.

"YUI!" Inu-Yasha and I scream together, instantly running after the pair. I collapse moments later, when there is not even a hint of my pup or Arashi anywhere in my mind. I slam my fists into the ground and scream. I hear a tree fall before Inu-Yasha's shaking hand is on my shoulder.

"We'll find her," he whispers the promise. "We'll find Yui and kill that bastard." He wraps his arms around my broken form and pulls me close to his chest. I nod into his haori and for the first time since Yui was born, I cry.

AN: Hey everyone! This is the continuing of Across A Land, and this time I have a Beta Reader, so I hope this well be even better for you all. Please leave me a review and let me know what you think about this first chapter!