Times of Change

Disclaimer:  Inuyasha and all of its characters don't belong to me.  Neither does Kurama (he's from the cast of Yu Yu Hakusho).  I do claim all original characters though, even the bad ones.  Well that about wraps it up, let me know what you think at the end!

Learian Words and their translated/loosely translated meanings:

Kreelie- idiot

Tione- sister

Tionto- brother

Eliree- lover

Lireeh-tionto- Heart-brother

Lireeh-tione- Heart-sister

Lonii- Son

Lanii- Daughter

Ceriee- Mother

Cireen- Father

Chapter 18:  Memories Do Have Power…

*****  Warning!  This chapter, while it is not graphic, does deal with child abuse and rape.  Again I am going to remind readers that the rating on this story is PG-13!  Take that into consideration with this chapter.  No actual rape is committed; it is just mentioned in passing.  This is a chapter that needs to be ready though because it explains a great deal about Shad and Destiny's past and the ten years they spent as slaves to a man named Yin… *******

            Betrayal…

            Twisted truths…

            Justice…

            Lies…

            You must judge…!

            Will another race fall…?

            Justice…!  Give us justice…!

            What will you choose Guardian…?

            Destiny let out a soft cry as she yanked herself from her sleep and her quickly fading dream.  Was it a dream or something yet to come?  Destiny wondered as she sat up, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.  For once she didn't see Kurama or Shadow anywhere near and was a bit puzzled. 

            "They're sparring."  Miroku said from off to the side, instantly capturing her attention.

            "Lovely."  She replied with a yawn and stretched briefly before noticing the sad look on the monk's face.  "What is wrong?"  She asked after a moment.

            "I?  There's nothing wrong with me that a lovely woman couldn't fix."  He replied and pasted a bright smile unto his face.

            Destiny frowned and narrowed her eyes at him.  "You're a horrible liar, Miroku.  Care to try again?"  She stated calmly, ignoring the astonished look that sprang to his face.

            "How did you know?!"  He demanded.

            "Miroku, I'm not an idiot.  Besides, you're not that hard to read."  She answered blithely, causing Miroku to glare at her angrily.  She merely grinned back at him as if to say, 'that's the best you've got?'.  After a few tense moments he leaned back and looked at her thoughtfully.

            "How did you and your brother ever survive each other?"  He asked.

            "We always told each other the truth."  She answered instantly, causing him to grimace before he looked over at Sango.  A slow, thoughtful smile made it's way across Destiny's face then before turning into a satisfied grin.  "You know," she said slowly.  "You could always just tell her the truth about how you feel."

            "What?"  Miroku yelped, looking at Sango hastily to make sure that she was still asleep.

            "Think about it.  One day someone will see Sango for the wonderful person that she really is.  The question that you should be concerned is, if you don't get to her first and tell her your real feelings and earn her trust and affections, then who is?"  When he didn't answer Destiny decided her work was done and left to go find Kurama, her brother, and the two pups she'd adopted as brothers.

            "Come on pup.  Get me."  Destiny taunted and spun neatly around Sesshoumaru.  It was the next morning and thanks to a few taunts from Shad they were both enjoying a playful sparring.  They both used their own weapons and everyone had gathered around to watch the two expert swordsmen battle.  Both were fast but Sesshoumaru was stronger; however, Destiny was faster.  Sesshoumaru had years of experience behind him but then, so did Destiny.

            Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes and used his superior strength to bear down on her, forcing Destiny to retreat.  What are you a woman?  Fight!  Shad yelled at his sister.  Destiny leaped back from Sesshoumaru and used some of her precious time to glare at her brother before returning her attention to the attacking youkai.  This time she used his own strength against him and knocked his sword from his hand.  She made a grave miscalculation when she thought he'd go after his sword, instead Sesshoumaru used his own magic and summoned forth his glowing green whip.  And became one on the most serious mistakes that he would make in his life.

            It was the first day that Sesshoumaru would ever know true terror, and it was then that the others saw a side of Destiny that very few had seen, and lived to tell about.  As soon as Sesshoumaru brought out the whip her eyes focused on it and all play went out of her stance as an intense hate filled her eyes as they took in the threat.  A low growl came from her throat as her eyes and the silver star on her forehead began to glow before she shifted out of her defensive stance and for the first time went on the offensive, attacking Sesshoumaru ruthlessly.

            The others had no way of knowing that the Destiny in front of them was not the one they all knew.  She was Death's Angel once again, but while she'd been calm and in control before she was hatred driven and deadly intent upon destroying that whip, and the one who held it…  For it wasn't Sesshoumaru that she suddenly hated but the whip that dragged up horrible, painful memories that threw her into the past.

            Damn!  Shad growled.  He'd forgotten, and underestimated, the depth of Destiny's hatred for whips.  Kurama, we've got to stop her before she kills him!  Shad shouted in mind-speech; knowing all too well the memories that Destiny was experiencing…

*~*~*~*~*~*  Flashback *~*~*~*~*~*

            A ten-year-old Destiny stood impassively over the huge mortal she'd just been forced to slay.  Her eyes held no pity as she gazed at the mortal.  If he had been able he would have knocked her unconscious, raped, and then killed her in the most painful way possible.  She'd killed him as swiftly and painlessly as she could; however, such actions would now cause her to be punished.

            How very right she was.

            A few moments later, the young Learian was gabbed roughly and thrown against the wall by mortals twice her size.  She didn't cry out though, only glared at them beneath her lowered eyelids.  They were afraid of her, those cold-hearted mortals; and what they feared they hated.  But that was fine with her, she hated them too.  "You little bitch!"  Snarled her so-called master, Yin.  "Don't you know how to do anything right!?"  He continued to berate her.

            "Apparently not."  She answered coldly and he yanked her around, grabbed her by her delicate jawbones and squeezed the bones cruelly as he sneered into her eyes.  Eyes that made a mockery of her young age, they were the eyes of one who'd never been a child, of one who'd suffered too long but refused to be broken.

You can't take me… Yeah!

Gotta fight another fight.  I gotta run another night.

I get it up, check it out.  I'm on my way and it don't feel right.

I've got to get me back.  I can't be beat and that's a fact.

It's okay, I'll find a way.  Ain't gonna take me down. No way!

Yeah…

Don't touch a thing till you know what's inside it!

Don't push me I'll fight it!

Never gonna give in!  Never gonna give it up, no!

If you can't catch a wave then you're never gonna ride it.

You can't come, uninvited!

Never gonna give in!  Never gonna give it up, no!

You can't take me, I'm free…

"You'll regret that little girl!"  He snarled and struck her across her face, cutting her lip open with his rings.  "Bind her to the wall!"  He ordered and the men turned her back around and stripped her of her clothes before chaining her to wall with manacles on her wrists and ankles.  Destiny didn't struggle or protest, which infuriated Yin even more.  This girl had been in his possession since she was younger than four and he had yet to break her.

Once she was secured, he unfurled the whip that was constantly at his side and looked at the poison barbed leather lovingly before sending it towards the already scarred back that belonged to the young girl with the woman's eyes.

Why did  it all go wrong?  I wanna know what's going on.

What's this, holding me?  I'm not where I'm supposed to be.

I gotta fight another fight!  I gotta fight with all my might.

I'm getting out, so check it out.  You're in my way, yeah you better watch out!

Yeah!  Come on!

Don't touch a thing till you know what's inside it!

Don't push me I'll fight it!

Never gonna give in!  Never gonna give it up, no!

If you can't catch a wave then you're never gonna ride it.

You can't come, uninvited!

Never gonna give in!  Never gonna give it up, no!

You can't take me.  I'm free!

Oh yeah!  I'm free!

After what seemed like an eternity, Yin's arm finally tired and after one last lashing he lowered his arm.  "Whew.  I'm tired."  He said wearily and wiped his face free of the sweat that had formed from his exertions.  He looked at the girl hatefully and studied her.  Her blood ran down her back and had a large pool of red blood at her feet.  In fact, her entire backside was covered with her blood, yet she had never cried out and refused to faint.  "Worthless bitch."  He snarled again, his temper beginning to boil.  "Omar!  I want you to take over disciplining our 'guest.'"  He commanded one of his men and went inside to eat his supper.

"With pleasure sir."  Omar answered as he took over his leaders place.

By nightfall, Destiny's body was little more than a bloody mess of bruises and sliced flesh that raged with fever.  Yet even as she prayed for death, the desire for revenge burned even more brightly in her heart.  As did her hatred for the cruel whip…

*~*~*~*~*~*  End Flashback  *~*~*~*~*~*

            Shadow and Kurama both raced towards Destiny and Sesshoumaru, both intent on saving his life and stopping her.  Thanks to his own skills and speed, he's managed to scrape by so far but Destiny was a Learian, and if the weakest of their people had enough power to destroy planets then the strongest would eventually wear down even the Lord of the Western Lands.  Sesshoumaru already suffered from many wounds inflicted upon his body and had tried to defend himself with his whip but had only enraged her more.

            Cease using the whip!  Shad yelled at him again and again but Sesshoumaru was fighting for his life and paid the Learian Wolf no attention.  Sesshoumaru!  If you want to live you will stop using that whip!  Shad growled into his mind.  Again he was ignored, or at least he was until Sesshoumaru dropped the whip and grabbed his sword in the same, fluid motion; managing to strike Destiny as well.  No!  Shad screamed but it was too late.  Years of training had turned both him and Destiny into warriors of the highest caliber and their reflexes were incredibly fast.  They could only watch in horror as Destiny's sword slid into Sesshoumaru's stomach.  A fatal death wound…

            Kurama and Shad finally reached them and Kurama pulled Destiny away from both her sword and Sesshoumaru.  She elbowed him wildly and he forced her onto the ground and covered her small body to the ground, pining her.  "Destiny!"  He yelled, trying to break through to her.  For a moment her eyes flickered as she met his but that brief flicker of recognition faded and distrust filled her eyes once again, mixed with a rapidly fading hatred.

            "I know you not."  She stated clearly, angrily, yet in a way, honestly.

            Kurama felt more pain in that moment when she denied him then in any other moment in his life.  "How can you not know me?"  He whispered quietly, his voice nearly vibrating with pain.

            Destiny watched him with the eyes of the ten-year-old she had once been and felt a slight pang of empathy with the mortal her heart and soul knew and recognized but she knew him not.  She wanted to ask him who he was but knew that she couldn't.  Still something made her want to reach out to this mortal.  "Get off of me!"  She growled instead and struggled underneath him.

            Destiny.  Shad spoke privately to her in a soft voice.  She still continued to fight and growl.

            Heart-sister, come back to us.  He pleaded and her eyes closed and her struggles started to calm.

            Lireeh-tione, come back to us.  To me.  He begged again and touched his muzzle gently to her face.  When she opened her eyes again, it was the Destiny they all knew but there were still shadows in her eyes that even now were fading.

            "What have I done?"  Destiny asked in an anguished filled whisper.

            It was the whip.  Shad answered.

            Destiny took a deep breath and placed her hands on Kurama's face and pulled him down to her.  "I'm sorry heart-mate.  I would never purposely deny you."  She apologized, desperately trying to soothe the pain she had caused in his heart.

            By then, Inuyasha and the others reached them and Inuyasha fell to his knees beside Sesshoumaru.  "Brother…"  He said softly, causing his brother's eyes to open.  What an ironic sense of humor fate had; they'd only started to begin their lives as brothers and now one lay dieing.

            "Inu… take care… Rin."  Sesshoumaru struggled to say.

            Destiny!  Shad yelled.

            Kurama let her up then and she hastily stood up and made her way to where Sesshoumaru lay.  "Get back!"  Inuyasha snarled as she came closer.  Destiny flinched visibly but kept approaching.

            Stand down pup, and be a witness to a gift older than your ancestors.  Shad warned and they backed up from Sesshoumaru as she knelt down beside him. 

            "Forgive me, brother."  Destiny whispered as she took Sesshoumaru's hand in her own.

            "Nothing… to forgive.  Understand…"  He breathed.

            "There is much to forgive, and even more to overcome."  She answered and placed his hand over her heart and moved her free hand over his.  Destiny closed her eyes then and began to softly hum.  Shortly afterwards the silver star on her brow began to glow, then her body.  Destiny leaned over after a moment longer and touched her lips to Sesshoumaru's and the blue glow intensified until it covered them both.

            Heart beats with heart.  Breath gives life.  Heal and be made whole.  Shad murmured softly in their minds.

            "What does that mean?"  Miroku asked.

            Watch.  Shad answered and the bright glow slowly faded.  Destiny opened her eyes wearily and would have fallen over but Sesshoumaru caught her with both of his hands.  She was very pale now and her usually bright eyes lacked their normal luster.  The wound on her shoulder was bleeding heavily now but she didn't seem to notice.  For a long moment the two looked at each other.  One in weary sadness and the other in surprise and understanding.  In those few moments when Destiny's magic had surrounded them her heart had beaten for both of them as her very life force seeped into Sesshoumaru.  Healing and curing any wounds or imperfections that had been put upon his body.  Thus she had managed to give him his arm back.

            "How did you-?"  Sesshoumaru started to ask but she silenced him with a soft touch to his face and looked over at Kurama.  The silver kitsune instantly understood and walked over to them and carefully gathered Destiny into his arms.

            If possible, she looked even paler now and she buried her face into his neck.  Hot tears fell from her face and onto his skin but she didn't make a sound.  Kurama felt his heart wrench yet again, this time for her, and cuddled her eyen closer to him and tucked her head under his chin and purred in a very low, soothing manner.  Forgive me.  She begged privately to Kurama.

            Hush, love.  He shushed her.

            "I'm sorry…
  She said aloud and fell unconscious as her body sought to heal itself and replenish its strength.

            "What happened just now?"  Sango asked.

            The whip.  That is the one thing Destiny hates more than anything.

            "Why?"  Sesshoumaru asked.

            I cannot say.

            "I was nearly slaughtered and you won't tell me the reason why?"  He growled angrily.

            I cannot!

            "Why?"  Kagome questioned.  Shad just looked away in shame.

            "Tell them."  Kurama said quietly.  "Destiny would want them to know why."  For a long moment he was silent as he went through his own memories and started to speak.  Bringing the small group back into his own memories.  Back to a lifetime of hell…

*~*~*~*~*~*  Flashback *~*~*~*~*~*

            It wasn't the last time Destiny would be beaten until she nearly died from poison and loss of blood.  The nights were the worst though.  Men and women alike roamed about in the darkness, if they found any prisoner they had been given free leave to have their way with them.  Sometimes even five year olds were raped.  Shad was lucky that he couldn't change into his human form but Destiny was free game.  Thankfully, she'd never been caught, although there had been a few close times.

            Once she had stopped a guard from raping a three year old and had almost been beaten to death for such but Shad, hearing her cries, had smelt her blood and broken out of his cage and had killed the guard.  Both refused to be broken by the mortals that held them chained to their hell and hated those mortals with what should have been an all-consuming hatred.  They should have gone insane, many others had; adults and children alike.  But their love as siblings kept them sane, along with the seemingly out of reach dream of being free.

            After Yin ordered a few of his whores to teach Destiny and a few other girls how to seduce men with a single glance and pleasure them out of their minds with a simple touch she became even more hunted on the night raids.  But they were older now, their fourteenth birthday had come and gone and with it, the beginnings of the powerful heritage.

            A few nights later, after Destiny and Shad were taken before Yin to receive their 'just' punishment they attacked.  In a rage of hatred and pain that had been held within for ten years they destroyed the entire compound; killing everyone within it.  It was ironic that because they'd used so much power in destroying that living hell they'd attracted the Dragon Clan and that was how Silvon found them even as they lay dying.  But Silvon had sworn to never give up on them as he carried their broken bodies, abused hearts, and distrusting minds into the safe haven of his love…

*~*~*~*~*~* End Flashback *~*~*~*~*~*

            When Shad finished telling his tale the others stared at both him and Destiny in shock.  They'd known that they'd had a hard childhood but even Inuyasha, who'd grown up scorned by humans and youkai alike, hadn't even guessed the actual depth of what the Learians had endured.

            "How can you be so normal now?"  Kagome asked Shad, unconscious of the tears that slipped down her cheeks.

            A father's love can do wonders, little sister.  Silvon loved us as if we were his own children and even the coldest hearts will thaw under such.  He answered with a fond smile.  Sesshoumaru nodded his agreement.  That was a lesson that he'd learned as well; thanks in a large part to Shad, Destiny, and Kurama.

            "Shouldn't we continue on our way?"  He asked Inuyasha who nodded in reply.

            "Shad?"  Inuyasha asked before taking his place at the head of the group.

            Yes?

            "I'm sorry for the way I snapped at Destiny.  I thought that she –"

            I know pup, I know.  Shad interrupted and smiled reassuringly at the hanyou and then got ready to move out.

            Five minutes later, the little clearing that had seen so much drama in so short a time was empty…

Shad - *waits for more to come up and glares over at S.D. when it doesn't*  You can't leave it like that!

S.D. -  Says who?

Shad – Says me!

S.D. – *yawns*  And?

Shad – *glares*  You're supposed to humor me.

S.D. – *laughing*  Not likely fuzz ball.  Now then, on to the reviewers.  Furea, you're up first.  Thanks for the review but as for finding Shad a mate…  Who'd want him?

Shad – Hey!  *looks offended*  I'm lovable.

S.D. – Riiiight.

Shad – Next up is Anata!  Long time no see!  I'll get S.D. to fix Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru's Dad's name as soon as she can.  Thanks for reviewing.

S.D. – Admiral Biatch you're next up.  Thanks for reviewing, I was very happy to see that you think my story is one of the bests.  I may disagree but I'm flattered all the same.  I hope you like this chapter!

Shad – Next is… Tori!  I'm very pleased that you agree the scroll was corny.  I mean, come on!  It's an insult that thing even half-way worked!  *grumbles*  As for me and S.D. getting together…  *looks over at S.D. and growls*  I highly doubt that, she doesn't know her place.  Too arrogant.

S.D. - *whacks Shad upside the head with a pillow and looks around for a shoe*  Keep talking fuzz ball.

Shad – See what I mean!

S.D. – Anyway!  Next is Silver Magiccraft.  Thanks for reviewing and even though it has fuzz ball in it I'm glad you like my story so much.

Shad – I'm surprised they like it due to the fact you're writing it.  *smirks and ducks a boot flying at his head*  Umm…  That was close…  Hey Twin Star of Suzaku  S.D. tried to hit me.  Thanks for reviewing, think you can lend me a little help though?

S.D. - *sighs and seriously considers taping his mouth shut*  You're such a baby.

Shad – Yes I am.

S.D. – Niasdreams, thanks for reviewing and if you want to make Shad angry.  *grins evilly*  Be my guest…

Shad – Thanks Jodie-chan for reviewing!  Yes, I'm very cute aren't I?  But Kagura!?  How could you do that to me?!?!  *sniffles*

S.D and Shad – Daystar, we know where you live (right up the road and over a bit).  As for the slow writing…  Why don't you write the next chapter then?

S.D. – Okay, on a more serious note, I did place a warning at the top that this may be a little extreme for some people to read.  I did tone it down a lot from what I had originally written so as not to offend anyone.  Please review, I would really like feedback on this chapter!  Thanks!

Shad – Bye!