Chapter 4

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.

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A/N~ I've had reviews from people wanting to know who Shale is. Shale is my own character, an OOC. I forewarned everyone of this, I think. Anyway. If you don't like the fact that Shale is the main character then I'm sorry.

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'Why did I have to get so angry? Why? Everything was going fine until tonight. Why did I have to lose it?' These thoughts ran through Shale's mind as she tried to get as far from her home as possible. She heard people following her, calling her name, but she outran them all. She ran and ran, not knowing where she was going, just wanting to get away. She could still here someone chasing her, and pushed herself to keep running, to get away from them. She turned a corner into an alley and stopped dead, a brick wall in her path. Seconds later someone was panting right behind her. She turned slowly and her eyes widened in shock at who she saw. Sesshoumaru stood there, breathing a little harder than usual.

"Why did you follow me?" Sesshoumaru sighed. "Why did you run?" Shale looked at him for a moment, looked to the ground, and then back at him, fresh tears in her eyes. "You wouldn't understand. You're too caught up in yourself. That's what this was all about you know. You simply wanted to gain the upper hand so you could get my friends and I to be good little children and bow down to you." Tears were making salty streams down her face as she spoke and before Sesshoumaru could respond she pushed past him and walked off down the street towards a small park.

Sesshoumaru stood staring at the spot Shale had been at. He had come after her out of pure concern, nothing more, yet his past acts had distorted Shale's vision of him and now she wouldn't believe a word he said. He felt a dull ache in his chest slowly begin as he turned slowly and watched her disappear into a park. He took a deep breath and went after her.

~*~*~*~*~

Kagome sighed again as she sat on the roof of the porch. Shale had punched Kikyou, and then she'd ran. Kagome knew what would happen and she felt bad for Shale. She was an accident. A child never meant to be born, but after Shale's mother had gotten married they pretended differently. Of late, though, her parents had slowly started to favor Kikyou over Shale, and their fathers had started to punish Shale for doing things that Kikyou blamed on her. Nothing anyone could stay would stop it, and it had left Shale in the dark, never to feel actual love. Kagome twisted a little when the window opened and almost gasped when Inuyasha crawled out and closed the window behind him.

"What's wrong Kagome? Why did Shale run after she punched Kikyou?" Kagome looked at Inuyasha for a moment then sighed. "Inuyasha, it is hard to explain, and I don't know if I can trust you." She looked to the sky as she spoke, her knees drawn up to her chest, her arms wrapped around them. "It seems as though fate wants us to work together on this though." Inuyasha blinked at Kagome's words but nodded and followed her gaze to Polaris, the north star. "You see, Shale's real dad is my dad. He and Shale's mom had a one night stand and Shale was conceived without knowing it. My dad was going to be married in a few days, and my mom became pregnant with Kikyou and me on their honeymoon night. Shale was born a few days before Kikyou and me, but by that time Shale's mom had met someone. They were married right after Shale's first birthday and we were all brought up to believe that nothing had happened. Then a few years back our parents told Kikyou, Shale, and me what had happened. My dad was so harsh when he spoke, saying Shale was a mistake. Her mom told her it was nonsense at first, but over the past few years our parents turned away from her. The Kitsune family, the Ookami family, and the Yamito family were much nicer to Shale, but she still wasn't their daughter. Shale has felt kind of alone, and her father and my father warned her that if she ever caused Kikyou bodily harm after the first time that they'd send her to an orphanage."

Inuyasha stared at Kagome for a minute. "So you mean...." Kagome nodded and turned to Inuyasha, her eyes showing her sadness. "Shale needs out of this place. The others try and help, and they get Shale stuff, but they don't have any real say." Inuyasha nodded and sighed. "I think that Sesshoumaru should know all this." Kagome blinked but sighed. "I suppose."

~*~*~*~*~

Sango had explained much the same thing to Miroku as they sat in the backyard. "Miroku, tell me one thing. Why does the RB feel they have to be worshiped by every body?" Miroku shrugged. "None of us really know. It's just something we strived for so much that it became a way of life." Sango nodded and stood up. "I see. Well tell that leader of yours that if he wants to win us over he'll actually get to know us and befriend us, not just try and make us obey his every command."

She started to walk away and Miroku followed her with his eyes. "Sango. Even if Sesshoumaru hasn't been trying, I have." Sango spun and faced Miroku, eyes wide. She shook herself mentally and continued to walk away.

~*~*~*~*~

Ayame and Kouga simply sat in silence in the living room with Kikyou, Naraku, Rin, Kohaku, and Shippou. The two were watching Kikyou and Naraku in disgust as Naraku played 'doctor.' Ayame finally growled at them. "Would you two get a fucking room? We don't want to watch that." The two lovebirds looked up and Kikyou stood up slowly, feigning pain. "Oh but Ayame, it hurts so bad. I think Shale damaged something." Ayame growled again. "Your acting may win over Shale's and your parents but it doesn't win mine or Sango's or Shippou and Kohaku's. Get out of this room before *I* punch you." Kikyou looked scared for a moment before she led Naraku up the stairs. "Stupid bitch." Ayame muttered as they left. Kouga looked at her from the corner of his eyes.

"Ayame? What's going on?" Ayame sighed. She explained to Kouga everything that had been explained to other people, about Shale's predicament. Rin, Kohaku, and Shippou helped here and there, making mention of things Ayame forgot. Finally Ayame picked up a cordless phone and a phonebook. "I think it's time we call someone." She stated, finding a name in the phone book and dialing the number. "Moshi moshi." A voice on the other end of the line answered. "Amaya? It's Ayame."

"Ayame!! What's up?" Ayame sighed. "It's getting bad. Shale punched Kikyou." There was hiss from the other end of the phone. "Shit. Is Shale still there?"

"No. She ran after she saw what she did. We tried to go after her but that girl is fast." There was movement from the other end of the line and then, "Ok.....So my cousin is somewhere in Tokyo, on foot, and is anyone with her?" Ayame thought for a second. "Yeah. Sesshoumaru Youkai was the only one who continued after her. He's tall with long silver hair and amber eyes." More movement. "Alright. I'll be over in a minute." Ayame said goodbye and hung up. "Amaya is coming."

Rin smiled. "It's been a while since I've seen her." Ayame nodded. "Yeah. She has been out of the country for a while." Shippou looked a little confused along with Kohaku and Kouga. Kouga glanced at his watch and sighed. "It's going to be a long night." Ayame faced him with a sigh. "Yeah it is. I have no idea as to how we're going to get Shale out of this." Kouga nodded. "This must be hard on her especially."

"It is. But hopefully since she's getting ready to be eighteen they'll let her off." Wishful thoughts in mind Ayame picked up a magazine and started reading.

~*~*~*~*~

Amaya rushed to her cousins house. She showed up in her car and smiled at the sight of Kagome sitting on the roof over the porch talking to a silver haired person. She thought of Sesshoumaru's description and raised a brow, but simply shook it off and went inside. "Ayame. Are there perhaps two people in this town who have silver hair?" Ayame looked up from her reading and smiled. She stood and nodded. "Yeah. Inuyasha, Sesshoumaru's younger brother." Amaya nodded. "Alright, so where do we start looking?" Ayame sighed. "As far as I know Shale was heading deeper into 'The District.'" Amaya groaned. "Oh Kami. Not that place. As long as she doesn't go into the park, though, I think she'll be fine." Ayame nodded. "So what are we going to do exactly?" Amaya shrugged. "I'm going to look for her in the car. If anyone wants to come with, speak now or forever hold your peace."

Shippou stood up quickly. "Let's go then. I'm Shippou incase you didn't know." Amaya smiled and turned towards the door when Kikyou came down the stairs, Naraku trailing after. "WHAT THE HELL!!" She screeched when she saw Amaya. "Nice to see you too cuz. I hear that Shale punched you in both the jaw and the stomach." Kikyou nodded, eyes brightening at the aspect of telling her side of the story. "Good. You probably deserved it." Amaya stalked to the door and threw it open, Shippou trailing her cautiously.

"Well if it wasn't the biggest bitch aside from Shale." Kikyou hissed at Amaya's back. Amaya flipped her off over her shoulder and then shouted back. "Not literally. I'm not like that!" There was laughter from the roof and from the gate to the backyard as Kagome, Inuyasha, Sango, and Miroku watched from their vantage points. Kikyou huffed and stomped off to the kitchen while Naraku tried to keep from laughing.

~*~*~*~*~

Sesshoumaru looked around the park. It was darker within its limits. He walked along the path, finding it safer than running. He stumbled along, ears alert and eyes sharp. There was rustling in the branches of trees around him, but he pretended to simply be imagining it. He continued walking until he came to a split in the path. He sighed, looking down one, then the other. One of the paths seemed to be taken regularly, as trampled looking as it was. The other was more overgrown, grass tall enough to brush his knees in some spots. He looked closely at the second path and smirked. There were footprints embedded into the grass. He walked through the grass, flattening every bit he stepped on.

There were more and more rustles in the trees, and Sesshoumaru slowly felt a cold chill climb up his spine. He simply pretended not to notice and continued on. Finally the path ended at a small pond somewhere in the park. He glanced around and saw a bench, with someone sitting on it. He walked up behind Shale and touched her shoulder lightly. "Why are you still following me Sesshoumaru? Why do you care?" She stood, shaking his hand off. She started to walk away but Sesshoumaru caught her. "Because people are worried about you." Shale laughed, but it wasn't a happy laugh. It was a coarse, hopeless laugh. Sesshoumaru sighed. "Believe what you will, but it's the truth." Shale rolled her eyes as a few silent tears rolled down her cheeks. She was glad that Sesshoumaru couldn't see her face. "Look. You just wouldn't understand. Leave me alone." With that she pulled away from him and walked off around the pond. The small increase in the rustling leaves was Sesshoumaru's one indication of trouble. "SHALE!! DUCK!!" She dropped to her knees just as a couple of daggers whizzed by. "Holy shit!!" She said more to herself than anyone else.

A/N

End of the chapter. I know I know....It's short and it's a cliffie. But hey, I finally updated....Don't hurt me!! *hides and speaks in a small voice* I'll try and update soon. Review onegai!!!

Ja ne

Shadow Daughter