A/N: New story :D Actually my first Inuyasha story. The main character is OC, so if you don't like my made up characters then don't read. And I usually don't say the pairings but if you're a fan of Sango/Miroku(and hate any other pairings concerning the two that isn't that then) this probably isn't the story for you.

I actually planned to publish this when I finished writing all the chapters but I got really uninspired around chapter 16 so I decided to publish it and see if I get reviews. (Which help inspire me ;D)

Also, sorry for any grammatical errors, I did spell check this and proof-read it but I tend to notice errors after I publish it.

Enough of my rambling...

hope you enjoy. :D

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.

L e f t I n T h e D a r k

1

She gasped. She felt the sharp cold metal on her throat. If she dared to moved an inch, blood would be spilled. Her attacker's other hand gripped her shoulder holding her in place.

"Son, is this one of the demon slayers?" The man said; his voice was gruff and deep.

He looked at his son who had piercing dark green eyes and a mop of brown hair. He glanced at her. He looked her over; "Yes."

"A woman!" His father sounded surprised that she was indeed a slayer. In fact the only slayer from that village alive; with the exception of two. The man pressed the sword into her neck. "What is your name, girl?"

"Kaori," She replied. Then stronger she said, "My name is Kaori."

"Hm." The man withdrew his sword. "Why are you still alive?"

She was still alive because of her refusal to die. It was true; even if it meant abandoning her village while all the demons attacked. Though, she wasn't so sure why she wanted to live now, she'd lost everyone she'd know and loved. Then a thought struck her and an electric current ran through her body. Father! She thought. He went with the other slayers...they had to be alive. Of course they were.

Kaori snorted and said, "I could ask you the same." It was true it was basically a kill-or-be-killed world out here. Those who couldn't fight were weak. Kaori refused to be weak.

Her father always said that the demons who could take the form of a human were the most powerful. He was correct all those times except one. Which was now these demons who captured her were not that strong. Their strength was in numbers.

Kaori soon realized that she was in a room of some sort. She cursed herself for not being aware of her surroundings. Her hands were bound behind her back, yet she was free to move her feet. Not only were these men weak, they were also stupid. That was a horrible combination. Kaori wondered briefly how the two demons could have survived so long.

Suddenly the man sniffed, "There's something odd in your blood."

Kaori went to move back but the man was gripping her shoulder tightly. She grimaced when he blew his sour breath on her face.

"Where is the shard of the Shikon jewel?"

Kaori blinked in surprise, "The jewel?"

"Yes! That's what I said. It originated in your village, master said it was there so we attacked it hoping to find it. When you ran off we assumed you were protecting it."

Kaori froze and the wheels turned in her head. But this wasn't the time nor place to be trying to figure this out. She didn't have time.

Kaori sneered, "We haven't had the jewel in years! And even if I did have it, you'd have to kill me to get."

"That can be arranged," The man's son spoke up from a corner in a deadly tone and a smirk on his lips.

"Calm Raiden." Said the man though he had a smirk on his lips also, as if the idea was appealing. Raiden's father seemed pretty hypocritical since he was the exact opposite of calm.

"Well, I can understand why you would want a shard." Kaori spoke up boldly.

Raiden glanced at her, Kaori could feel his demonic energy. It was strong, stronger than his father's. Maybe she misjudged him he was apparently the stronger and smarter of the two. That made getting out of there slightly more difficult. But maybe she'd enjoy this challenge; if it didn't get her killed.

"Hm." Raiden said, he stood and strolled over to her. "Father, she has power I can feel it. Any demons in your ancestry?"

Kaori blanched, "No!" She took a step back. Never! She's been trained to fight demons. It was an insult to be called one.

"But you have power." He said. "And you're going to tell me what it is."

Kaori snorted as if to say 'I-am?' Kaori didn't let any surprise pass through her cool exterior when Raiden grabbed her black hair.

"I can lie to you if that's what you would like." Kaori replied easily. "But I have no power."

"You little witch." Kaori winced then cursed herself for doing so. "I can feel the power radiating off of you in waves." Raiden cut her cheek with a small knife.

It stung; but Kaori didn't show any signs of being hurt. She felt warm sticky blood on her face, she wanted to wipe it off but her hands were bound. A maroon droplet of blood fell towards the floor.

"I told you. I. Don't. Know." Kaori was ready to go. She glanced around the room. All of her weapons were about five feet away on a small table. Her knives and katana were discarded carelessly as was her black cloak on top. Her cloak worked to disguise her weapons. Little did they know that she also had a few things up her sleeve. Literally.

The thought struck her, she'd been such an idiot. Well actually, her kidnappers were. Raiden still held her hair so she brought her knee up and kneed him in the groin. He doubled over in pain on the floor, cussing her with ever groan. While Kaori was conversing with the demons she'd been working the knots that tied her hands together. They'd been loose for a while she just had to wait for the right moment. And it came.

Pulling a knife from her boot she ran to the door.

"Her boot?" She heard Raiden's father murmur "Why didn't we think of that?"

Kaori managed to grab her cloak and a few other knives, she was saddened that she couldn't nick her katana. She had become quite fond of it. 'Oh well' she sighed. She'd have to get another.

Her escape, wouldn't be easy.

She drew a knife and threw it at Raiden's father. It didn't kill him. That was not what she had intended doing. It went through his sleeve binding him to the ground. With his free left arm he reached to retrieve it. Kaori threw the next knife, trapping both of his arms. She did his feet as well. Just to make sure he wouldn't get up she hit him on the head with the hilt of her knife, he fell unconscious.

Now she had to deal with Raiden. She assumed his strength came from his mother because his father was basically useless. Raiden was gathering some sort of dark energy, he blending into the shadows. Making it hard for her to see where her was. That was a dangerous thing. Suddenly something slashed her leg, she fell forward and it lashed again on her back. Kaori clenched her teeth and silenced the scream that was threatening to escape. She willed herself to stand grimacing at the pain.

Kaori stood, things were not looking up. The room had darkened and Kaori could only make out Raiden's figure for a second before he disappeared in the shadows. There was another slash and Kaori felt warm sticky blood on her forehead. She winced and made a dash across the room. She got to the corner and grabbed her cloak, knives, and most importantly her katana.

Kaori slashed violently yet blindly around the room. She could see nothing. So instead she tried extending her senses. Finally she felt his presence across the room. She needed to hit and run. Demons healed fast, as soon has she made her last move he would be half way healed.

Kaori ran towards him quiet and deadly. She slashed his legs so he wouldn't be walking anywhere. She heard a groan and he feel, his legs bleeding. Kaori hit him with the hilt of her katana, also knocking him unconscious.

After that Kaori dashed out the door, she was limping, bloody, and bruised. But she was alive. And at that moment she didn't know if that was a good thing or not. She thought that she was more broken up on the inside then on the outside. And she was exactly right.

But she did have a reason for living. The thought slightly lifted spirits. There was still her father and her brother, Akio.

Kaori wanted to go on the mission too, but her father and her uncle said that she was one of the best slayers they had. She had to stay and protect the village with some of the other less-skilled slayers. She didn't do a lot of protecting; she did some running. Like a coward. She thought.

She's wanted to go with, but her uncle was the chief of the village. He'd trained her with her cousin, what he said went.

But the village was gone, as was her mother and new born sister. The village went down in vein, they hadn't even had a shard of the jewel. Everyone was gone.

And suddenly Kaori wanted to break down right there. And she did, she knew it wasn't the wisest decision, but it was one she could handle. There was no one to watch her mourn or cry.

Kaori may appear unprotected and venerable but she was unconsciously creating a barrier around her self. Masking her presence from attackers sight. She was blending in with the night, without even knowing that she was doing so.

Kaori fell asleep with the taste of salty tears on her lips, her cloak was curled around her like a blanket and her fingers were tight on her katana. But she wasn't at peace. She was far from it.

o~O~o

Kaori woke up to a growling stomach. She was hungry and weak. She grimaced when she stood. And cursed at her foolishness. She'd fallen asleep, leaving her wounds unattended.

She looked around for a piece of material to wrap around the wounds with. She groaned when she realized that she was clad in her slayer outfit. She couldn't tear any material from that.

Kaori touched the wound on her forehead, it wasn't bad as she thought. She applied a little pressure and winced.

Kaori stood and ignored the pain. She wrapped her cloak around her self and put her knives and sword in place.

Kaori frowned and her heart ached, she was used to waking up to her father's snore or her mother's smile. Sometimes even her younger sister's cry. The best days were when Akio and her cousin woke her up. They'd often go to the stream.

Kaori banished those painful memories from her mind.

She found a small river after about three hours of walking. She knelt down next to the body of water and cupped her hands. She took a sip of water, liking how it felt cool going down her dry throat. Kaori put some water on her wounds in an attempt to clean them.

She grimaced again and continued on her way. She decided that she was going to go to the castle where the slayers had been sent.

She was actually halfway there, she'd be there by dusk.

Telling her friends about the destruction of their village would be hard. There would be outbursts of anger and tears of sadness and despair. She had gone through those same things. Her heart ached when she thought of all the loved ones they could no longer return to. Sisters and brother and husbands and wives. Family and friends. And a place called home was now gone.

Kaori briefly wondered about Kirara, if she was still there and alive.

Finally Kaori saw the trees parting and knew that she was close.

"Ack!" Kaori yelled as she fell towards the ground. She clutched at her wounded leg and moaned. Kaori slowly rose and looked back at what she tripped over.

A body.

Of one of the slayers.

Cold sweat broke out over Kaori and she raced towards the small clearing. More bodies; every single one of them she knew.

Finally she stumbled over to Akio's body. It was bloody and bruised. Kaori wept over her brother's lifeless form.

He wasn't supposed to die! He couldn't! She could almost hear him saying something like 'Why are you crying like a baby Kaori? Cheer up' He was always preachy and would say 'Life's too short.'

Kaori touched his cold hand, wanting him to squeeze back. She wanted him to shove her off of him and tell her to go away like all the other times. She wanted to argue with her brother, her best friend, her protector.

Then she noticed her father, he was off to the side. Kaori stumbled towards him. Tears streamed down her face as she looked at his wide glassy brown eyes. Eyes that used to shine bright with kindness and wisdom were now dull and terrified.

Kaori touched his face and wanted him to jump and say 'Fooled ya!' like the time she was six. This time she did sob loudly. She clutched her father's ripped shirt. They're all gone. All of them. She was alone. She wanted him to come to life and hug her and whisper that everything was going to be fine. But she had to stand and face reality.

She stood wobbly on her feet and whispered, "Who did this?" She would kill them. It would be a slow antagonizing death. She wasn't slow, she connected the pieces. The person behind the attack against her village was the person who had killed the slayers.

Kaori screamed, it was a sound filled with rage and sadness. The hatred shone in her usually warm red eyes as she slowly absorbed the pain and truth of the world.

Then her expression became blank except for the look of determination in her eyes. She wouldn't let her emotions get in the way. And she wouldn't give up until whoever did this was dead.

Kaori glanced up, she felt as if someone was watching her. She stared into the face of a man with long black hair and calm red eyes. He was starring at her.

Kaori grimaced and turned. She had to train. She had to get stronger. She would avenge their deaths.

-:- -:- -:-

Naraku watched the girl through curious red eyes. She had come and caused quite a scene. With her yelling and crying Naraku was disturbed from his meditating. And that was a problem.

He walked outside and saw the girl who was slightly familiar. He noted that she looked slightly like that other slayer girl, Sango.

Naraku called Kohaku to him. He'd already given him a shard of the jewel, luckily he hadn't erased his memory.

"Who is that girl? Do you know her?"

Kohaku nodded, he had his memories for now, but his emotions were gone. "That is my cousin."

"Oh?" Naraku raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, her mother is my dad's sister."

"Hm, can she fight?"

"Yes, she is as good as Sango."

Naraku lifted his eyes to the girl who had just disappeared into the forest limping. "She is in pain." He mused. "A lower class demon will take her out. Don't worry Kohaku, she'll be dead soon."

A/N:

OOOOOOOOOOOOOH drama already?

**Cough* if that even counts has drama.

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