Okay, this is my first fictional story on here. It's been a while since I've posted anything at all, or at least anything good. I hope you like my fiction. Peace out man, and please review once in a while. It helps me understand whether you like my crap or not.

(In heaven after preston has died)

Preston: Is this heaven?
God: Why yes...you've arrived to heaven, home of the father, the son, and the holy
Preston: Yeah, yeah, yeah the fucking trinity.
God: Well, well, well, isn't that a dirty mouth you have Mr. "I give hope to millions"
Preston: If I did, then why am I here? If you're as almighty as you say you are, answer that Mr. God!
God: Well, people don't care anymore.
Preston: People my ass. Those people believe in you more than they beleive in me. You give them peace...false peace.
God: I'm more sociable than you.
Preston: Really. Tell me, do you have the easter bunny and that lucky charms guy on speed dial.
God: They smell.
Preston: And so does your ass.
God: Well...that makes two of us who know that.
Preston: You really are a fucking joke. Go ahead and send me to hell...or in the ground where I belong. Dead and going nowhere.
God: That isn't righteous.
Preston: God isn't righteous. You don't exist.
God: Tell that to little kids and they'll cry, like when their parents told them about Santa.
Preston: What, that he's a fat man who falls down a chimney to rape kids?
God: GOD NO!
Preston: Oh, taking your name in vain.
God: Fu--
Preston: Can I get an AMEN!
God: Only christians say that.
Preston: More christians are in hell.
God: Because they aren't as holy as me. I'm a supreme being.
Preston: And so is the flying sphaghetti monster
God: You're a heretic.
Preston: I'd rather be that than believing in an unreal person.
God: I'm real. You're looking at me.
Preston: Ever heard of dreams? I'm in a lucid one right now where I control what I want to do. So...fuck off and have and let me have a nice afterlife Old MAN!

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. I wish I could; but, I sadly do not own such a great storyline and lack the imagination to write something of that nature. In fact, I may not even finish this story. However, lets hope that I do. Your reviews might help me do that.

INPUT YOUR IDEAS!!

The Battle at Hand

"Ashurii," Jeimuzu abruptly stated inside his office while the point of his brow jolted in disapproval. "We simply cannot allow Hotaru to join with us in our efforts to evade the Shiniragi Clan."

In his office stood a slender teenage girl adorning a silken kimono with fringe lining its arms. Her beauty was unmistakably painful in, once the sunlight from a nearby window creped in, how her appearance could only be described as god-like. Her legs quivered in fear. She knew not what the outcome of the meeting with Jeimuzu would ultimately be. Eyes have a way of speaking many things, and at that moment her eyes spoke truths that only a mother or father, or even Jeimuzu, could understand.

Jeimuzu kindly glanced into her amethyst eyes, kindness teeming from his empathetic expression. It was as though he knew she wasn't ready for such a burden as what would soon come with him and his tribe of Samurai along their journey to Kyoto to destroy the Shiniragi. "Hotaru," he whispered, nodding his head in approval with what he thought she wanted. "Do you desire to venture with us?" Walking over toward Hotaru, he took her in his arms and offered her a long and loving embrace. She was hesitant at first; but, a while of thought, she complied and slowly fell in to his arms.

"Hotaru," he asked, "Why are you so quiet?

Reprieving from silence, Ashurii placed a hand on Hotaru's shoulder and sighed. Jeimuzu released Hotaru and fell back to where he had first begun.

"Jeimuzu, this diffident child has much more to offer to the Isamu Clan than one will firstly think. Her will is strong and her power matches that of fifty of your men and women."

"Ashurii, your lies resonate in my ears but have no effect on my mind. She is ill prepared for this war. May I ask – has she been in battle?"

Ashurii shook her head, and as she did so Hotaru quickly shook hers as well. Her frail and pure state hinted her evasion from many wars. Hotaru's lips quivered, her fear reverberating throughout the room. Anyone could tell that she this fear she had was genuine, anyone except Ashurii.

"No, she has not; however, have her teachings with her instructors hardened her for battle?" For a moment it seemed as though Jeimuzu would respond to that question. But Hotaru fiercely shook her head and removed Ashurii's hand from her shoulder. Quiet for so long, she opened her lips to reveal her thoughts.

"Ashurii," replied Hotaru, "Warriors only harden themselves through battle." Reaching for the end of her Kimono, she lifted it up to show Ashurii her pale legs. "These aren't the legs of a hardened warrior. These are the legs of a geisha, the legs of a wife and mother. I am no warrior. You only care of yourself and your dreams of defeating the enemy at all costs, which are resolved by placing weaklings along the front lines like me."

"Hotaru," pleaded Ashurii, "You aren't weak. You are strong and diligent. I've seen you practice with your kendo instructor. You are his best student."

"…With a wooden stick, which hardly compares to an honest samurai sword."

"But…"

"…Stop this at once Ashurii. Lease me my freedom from this never ending conquest of the Shiniragi Clan. I am no longer a part of it."

"Hotaru…?"

"It is my destiny to fulfill, not yours. Leave me to my life."

Hotaru glanced over at Jeimuzu and nodded her head. He knew what she wanted and knew that he would allow her to stay while his warriors fought in battle against their foes. Hotaru was a most favored student of his and he greatly cared for her, so much that he would never consider placing her in battle with fierce, wrathful beasts. She was like a daughter to him. He only wanted to protect her.

"Hotaru," he softly spoke, "I treat you as my child, and I care for you. I commend your wishes to stay in this dojo while my men fight for our liberty and honor."

Hotaru looked over at Ashurii. Ashurii's head was down in shame, knowing that Hotaru had understood her motives from the beginning. Strategy was her strongest area and she knew that weaklings give the stronger men more time to ready themselves and win their battles. "What is it Jeimuzu. What will you say now?"

"Only that it is now your time to serve as a member of my hardened warriors." In shock, Ashurii shook her head in fear.

"Why?"

"Is there a problem Ashurii? We lack one member. Hotaru cannot go; therefore, you must replace her."

"But…"

"…You cannot defy my order. You are more skilled and have many defensive strategies. I'm sure you will enjoy the experience."

"Jeimuzu…"

"Yes…"

"I will enjoy this, my friend."

"Good, now take Hotaru to her room and prepare for sleep. Good night.

"Good night."

The wisp of the night air blew against Hotaru's face at a swift pace. Sweat adorning her cheeks, the adamant temperature of the weather was obvious among both she and Ashurii. There was a great deal of tension between both women, a kind of maliciousness that only Ashurii could hold against Hotaru's sweetly innocent character. Ashurii's eyes held in them a fierce hatred towards Hotaru as she turned her head to glare into her eyes. Fear struck Hotaru for she knew, due to past experiences, how long Ashurii's temperature could manage during tight situations.

"Ashurii," Hotaru exclaimed, her frail hand grazing Ashurii's shoulder. She softly spoke, fearful of Ashurii's reaction to her motions. "I'm sorry for your loss…"

Hotaru continued to speak her regretful woes to Ashurii, all the while creating within Ashurii an even greater malignity towards her. Her hands quivered, angry with her previous actions. Somehow she knew Jeimuzu would deny her proposal to allow Hotaru to go to war. Hotaru was a most favored student of his. Her emotions were a mixture of the denial she had of her going to war and also the anger she had for allowing her mind to propose that Hotaru should go to war. It was a tactful decision at best; but, that decision led to her drafting into a war that she would possibly die in. At that moment, she despised Hotaru. Her weakness was her ticket to death.

"Hotaru," she spoke, venom replacing her military frame of mind. Quickly shirking away from Hotaru, she fiercely slapped her face. "You have no respect for this clan!"

"Ashurii…" Her stunned expression was all Ashurii needed to entice her spirits to even greater lengths of hatred. "Ashurii, why are you so cruel?"

"My dear, sweet, weak Hotaru – have you no common sense in matters such as these?"

"What do you mean?"

"Jeimuzu cares for you so deeply, so much that he would allow one of his greatest tacticians to die in battle."

Relentless to speak, Hotaru stood in awe; for, Ashurii's words struck the very core of her being. She knew that death accompanied war. But, she also knew of how well Ashurii could evade arrows and daggers and swords. Ashurii was her idol in combative dueling.

"Ashurii, you will not die. Your skills far outmatch those of the Shiniragi Clan. Your strength is unbeatable."

"Weakness is your only fault my dear Hotaru."

"Why must you call me that?"

"It is your essence. Your ideas of war aren't gruesomely detailed. You speak of how victorious warriors spare their lives in battle for their kingdoms and their lords. We fight for our liberty and our honor; but, we also fight a battle that will never have an outcome."

"What do you mean?" Hotaru asked.

"Your gullible ways amaze my mind. We fight only for land. The Shiniragi clan only wishes to conquer us for our beautiful landscapes and our towering shelters. Both clans are strong in their abilities to fight in combat; however, Jeimuzu wishes for all his warriors to defend our home with our lives. Jeimuzu has prepared our graves and has given us the proper tools to kill ourselves with. He will not let the enemy destroy us. We must carry our deaths out."

A tear fell down Hotaru's cheek.

"But why?"

"Because, that is the way of a Samurai and is the way all warriors must choose to live their lives. We have a short amount of time on this earth. I wanted to live my life in peace with out any cares of having to go to war. Now, because of your weakness, I will fight with my life."

Hotaru wept. Her silence had broken with her tears. She felt so weak at that moment, and her present state made that quite obvious.

"My friend, I am not at fault for your mistake."

"Why mistake have I made, Hotaru?"
"I am ill prepared for war."

"That is why you are weak and will always live your life as a weakling. You will die an old maid and will live the life I wished to live. But, remember that your life will always have its chains attached to the grave of Ashurii Katakana."

"You speak fallacies!"

"I speak only the truth."

Turning away from Hotaru, Ashurii began towards a dark and narrow path with a small hint of light at the end.

"Hotaru," Ashurii said, her back still facing Hotaru. "Speak only of how you will welcome me to greet the morning sun and how I will greet the moon when I choose to rest. Only those words will affect an answer from my mouth. Goodnight.

"Ashurii…"

"I said, goodnight."

Hotaru nodded her head. "Goodnight my friend."

"Goodnight," Ashurii spoke, shaking her head. "Goodnight my weak enemy. We shall never speak kind words again."

"I understand." Hotaru turned around in the opposite direction and began to walk towards another dark and narrow path. "I'm sorry," she whispered while walking. Then, she disappeared while the darkness consumed her.

"I'm sorry."

This is the first installment in my Sphere of Judgments story, the revised edition of a combination story that will eventually have characters from Inuyasha and characters from my cousin's stories. I hope you enjoyed my first chapter.