Chapter One

Impassive eyes watched over the slowly growing village; and while it wasn't the first time those eyes had rested upon it, it was the first time they wished they weren't at that moment.

Being Death had its advantages in that she could see and hear anything she wished while being completely invisible to everyone. Well everyone that wasn't on the verge of dying that is; to those that already had one foot in the grave so to speak, they could see her as plain as day.

It almost amused her when they spoke to her out loud while their friends and loved ones watched on in confusion. But only almost.

The time has come; you must perform your duty. A voice whispered in her mind.

But I don't… I don't think I can, not this time.

You must.

Knowing it was pointless to argue with the logical side of herself; the girl that was once known as Higurashi Kagome, known now only as Death or Death's Mistress, started her way down the hill.

Dread began to fill her but her silent steps never wavered; it had been four years since she'd seen any of them, which was a good thing for them. If she didn't see them then that meant they weren't in danger of dying; and even though her punishment would end once the very last had been ferried to the afterlife, she never prayed for that day.

The hut looked the same as it had when she was alive; and before she even passed through the mat sealing the inside from the outside world, she knew everyone was there.

It was almost like a dream to her as she took in the sight of all of her friends gathered around the fire; and for a single moment she felt alive once more, as if all she had to do was say something and they would look up and greet her with smiles.

She shook the longing for the past off and glanced around to find that there were no happy expressions; how could there be when the aged woman they all loved and respected was laid out on her sleeping mat, her breath rattling in her lungs.

Inuyasha's face was downcast while his ears were drooping on the top of his head; Kikyou- alive and well thanks to her wish- was seated by his side, his hand clenched tightly in hers as she tried to fight off tears. Miroku and Sango; now married and proud parents of two little bundles of joy, had their arms around one another as their children slept with their heads on their laps. Shippo; her dear little Shippo, was cuddled up to Kirara in her miniature form, the slight shaking of his shoulders though told her he wasn't asleep.

If not for the fact that her true self had been locked away so that she could perform her gruesome duty; she would've probably run from the hut, the sight was so painfully heartbreaking.

The time draws ever near. A voice that wasn't her own whispered to her.

Wait please. She said. For four years I have done this duty and haven't asked for anything; I know I have no right to ask you anything even now, but please hear me out.

Speak.

I know death is a part of a mortal's life; know that it cannot be changed, but does it really have to be so cold? She asked in her mind. You have wiped me of all emotion; yet these souls I collect are so in need of it, perhaps even more so than when they were alive. Please… grant me the ability to express emotion, let me help them in the only way I can. Let me provide them comfort on their journey to the afterlife so they are less inclined to fight against their destiny.

For a moment the voice was silent and she felt the breath she didn't need catch in her throat. Very well; your mask has been lifted, provide them with comfort.

She felt something shift within her and reached a hand up to touch her face a moment; when she couldn't tell by feel alone, she went over to a bucket of water and knelt to peer into it. With her enhanced eyesight she was able to see that her face no longer looked like it had been chiseled from marble; instead a gentle sadness had taken its place, and when she smiled it was filled with sorrow.

Not exactly what I had in mind, but I can work with it. She thought to herself.

You have a duty to perform.

Very quickly she was yanked back into the reality of the situation; but this time she did not resist as her feet carried her over to where the aged woman lie, nor did she stop herself from kneeling at her side.

"Kaede, oh Kaede." She said softly; unafraid that the others would hear her.

She watched with tear filled eyes as the woman who had been like a second mother struggled to open her eyes. "Is… that ye… child?" She rasped, drawing the attention of the demons in their midst.

"Yes." She bit her lip then glanced over her shoulder to find Inuyasha telling the others he'd heard Kaede say something; she looked back down at her. "Please… don't tell them. One day their time will come and then they'll know; but until then, I'd rather they didn't know what's become of me."

"What's… become… of ye?"

"There was a price to pay for my wish." She said after a moment. "In return for wishing my friends back to life; the Kami claimed me and charged me with the task of ferrying souls to the afterlife. I'm Death now Kaede."

Kaede sighed softly as she gazed up at the shadowed form hovering over her. "I see."

"Kaede?" Inuyasha asked softly as he and the others moved to kneel around her; none of them seeming to notice that they'd involuntarily left the spot where she was kneeling open. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing… be wrong… it's just my time… draws near." She said with a soft smile.

"Don't talk like that Kaede." Kikyou pleaded as she grabbed her hand. "You'll be up and about before you know it."

"Sister… we both know… that is not the case." Kaede sighed. "I've lived a… long and full… life."

"But-"

"Inuyasha hush." She said as she patted his hand. "It's alright… and I'm… not afraid… how can I be… when I've seen… Death's face?"

"What are you talking about?" Sango asked in confusion.

She bit her lip and blinked away her tears. "Tell them that Death is not such a cruel Mistress as they think her to be, and if she had the choice, she would let you stay with them."

Kaede smiled and nodded slightly before turning her gaze on all of them. "Though ye… cannot see… or hear her, Death's Mistress is here… and she has… come for me. Do not think her… so cruel for she is… as kind and gentle… as anyone could ever… hope to be; she says she would… let me stay… if she could, but… that is not… fates will."

"Oh yeah well you tell me where she is and I'll fight her for you." Inuyasha growled as he gripped the hilt of his sword.

"Now that's one fight you could never win; no matter how strong you are." She said softly. "To get into a fight with me would mean the end of your life before it was time."

"He's always… been brash; and not even… four years of domesticated life… has tempered that." Kaede rasped with a dry chuckle.

"Who are you talking to Kaede?" Shippo sniffled.

"I'm talking to her." Kaede smiled.

"Talking to whom?" Miroku asked softly.

"Ye will… understand one day, when thy… own time… comes."

"It's time Kaede."

"Ah she says… it's time." She sighed. "Do not… mourn me… long, and remember me… while ye live… thy own lives."

"Kaede don't worry, we could never forget about you." Sango said tearfully before crumpling against her husband.

"Might I ask… ye one thing?" Kaede asked softly as she gazed at her shadowed form. "Before ye… take me… that is?"

"Anything," She said while the others tried to figure out just who it was she was talking to.

"Can ye… pull thy… hood down? I want… to see…"

"Okay," She murmured as she set her scythe down then reached up to pull the hood back. Once it was pushed back, her raven locks spilled around her shoulders to pool on her legs and the floor around her.

"Thy hair is… longer than I… remember." She mused.

"Well a lot of things changed when I became Death." She shrugged.

"Thy eyes… are the… same though."

"What are you talking about?" Inuyasha exclaimed; clearly exasperated. "Who are you talking about?"

"Ah Inuyasha forgive me… it's just… been awhile…" She rasped.

"It's time Kaede, I'm sorry but we have to go." She said sorrowfully as she picked up her scythe and climbed to her feet; once standing, her hair stopped at her calves.

"Ah… it's time." She said as she smiled at the others. "It's been an… honor."

"The honor was ours Kaede." Miroku said as he held a hand over his heart.

"Please, whoever you are, whatever you are… please don't take her." Kikyou begged as she clenched onto her sisters hand.

"I'm so sorry Kikyou." She said softly. "I know you can't hear me now, but one day you will. And I hope then you will understand just how hard this is for me."

"Sister… everything will… be alright… just wait and see."

"Take my hand Kaede." She said as she held out one of her hands; exposing the frayed bandages that covered her it. At first she hadn't known what they were for but as she grew more accustomed to being Death, she began to learn all the things that entailed.

While soul collecting was her main focus- having taken over for the imps of the underworld; she was also a warrior and if properly evoked she could fight by a person's side. The black bandages were used to contain the power that she carried; if removed she could become corporeal and would be able to wield her scythe in a fight. But they didn't come off unless she was evoked; and as of yet it hadn't happened, for which she was glad.

"I'm glad… I got to… see ye one last… time." Kaede said as she reached up to clasp her hand while the others watched on in sorrow and confusion.

"So am I." She murmured as the hand went limp the moment it touched hers.

"Kaede?" Kikyou whispered as she shook the body of the woman that had been her sister; when there was no response, she collapsed. "Noooooo!"

She tried to block out the sounds of her friends sorrow as she pulled on the ethereal hand still held in her grasp; with her powers she dislodged Kaede's spirit and pulled her free.

"So this is what it's like to die?" Kaede mused as she looked around before her expression became sorrowful as she watched the scene before her.

"It's not everything it's cracked up to be." She murmured as she watched as well.

"I will miss them; but I think once I get to the afterlife, this will all seem a distant memory."

"Even less than that." She said apologetically. "But for them… the pain will linger; and even if it fades, it will never go away."

"That is only to true." Kaede sighed.

"Come, we have a journey to make." She said as she took her hand and led her out of the hut.

"Perhaps ye might be interested in telling me a story while we walk?"

"What story shall I tell you?"

"How about the story of thy own death and promotion to Death's Mistress?"

"It's not a very good story, nor is it a happy one." She said as she gazed ahead.

"Nevertheless, I would like to hear it."

"Then I shall grant your wish." She said. "It happened when I made the wish to bring Inuyasha, Sango, Kikyou, and Kohaku back to life…"

~*~