By: Hateshi's Last Guardian

From the Shadows Come Light

Chapter Two:::::::::::::::::::::::::::

It was mid day and the hot sun was relentlessly beating down on Duo's black coat. *Damn why did the colors for death and destruction have to be black. The same color the sun is attracted to, it should've been khaki!* The rocks shifted under his boats and you could here their crackling trying to make room for the movement. He focused more on the sounds, he listened to see if the kid was keeping pace. Her breaths were heavy and tired, he couldn't help but think she'd slow him down earlier, but all day she has kept up with him never once did she ask for a break. *Not that I'd give her one, it'll be dark before we know it a demons will be on the hunt for people like us.*

Eventually Duo came across a little pond he stopped. *I am tired shes tired, I am sweaty, she is well never mind* The girl stopped behind him, not saying anything . She hadn't said anything all day she giggled at breakfast but never a word. "Kid you need a breather?" she looked up at him and thought it was strange that he never moved to see her expression, never once has he looked back at her since he took his first step on the road. "Master, ye are in no need then I am in no need." Duo's eye brows quirked he took his hood off and turned around facing her. He bent down to her face level.

"Does that mean yes or no kid?" "It means whatever your will is, master." Duo wanted to laugh, he wanted to be upset, but instead he was just cold "Listen her kid, I ain't nobodies master! You got that?" she just looked on blankly. "Kid, I can't even take care of myself, and let alone be the master of some little girls life." He shook his head no, "And, don't ever call me master." Still yet she just looked confused, he put his hand on her head "The name is Duo, Duo Maxwell I may run, I may hide, but I'll never tell a lie." She giggled at his remark, he pushed her in the direction the pond. "So you gonna tell me your name, or should I pry it from your throat?" She laughed again, "I Youkai Sango, the last of the Exterminators tribe."

"Well I'll take it that you are from the village that was burned to the ground?" She nodded yes in response, "Is your brothers name Kohaku?" She once again nodded this time her eyes were beginning to teary. "I am sorry what about what happened to your home, but their was nothing you could do about it?" She sniffled and whipped her nose "I guess I'll shall never know now." Tears were freely flowing from her checks. Duo slide her closer to him put arm around her, and said wise words. "Sango Youkai the Last of the Exterminators tribe, you were to young and small to fight in the lost battle. But keep faith for you are the survivor and you will grow stronger in remembrance of the day terror struck and took you for all you had. One day you will be able to claim revenge for your losses."

At this she began to sob and hugged Duo clinging to him. Duo was afraid, he'd never really been around kids, and so he did what came natural to him and held her. She was a child and she did need him, but he couldn't help but wonder if this would be a problem? I mean he is the God of Death right? How was he going to strike terror into his enemies with a kid around and a girl none the less. More importantly would if he got attached?

She could be targeted, she'd be a weak spot, something that he'd always hafta look back for. And when she did bite the dust, by one of his foe's no doubt, it would be more proof that he should remain alone lurking in the shadows of darkness. Where his home is, he could only fail at protecting her. He said it his self, he couldn't take care of anyone. His thoughts were racing but in away he just might need her.

He patted her back and stood picking her up in his arms. *I'll take care of her until I find a place for her, someone took me in once when I was an orphan so why wouldn't anyone want an angel like her?* He held her in his arm and kept walking eventually the sobs stopped so he assumed she had fallen to sleep. She felt so warm to him, but he shook his head *No this is a temporary arrangement, and nothing more.*

It was just getting dark when he approached a village, by this time all the people were coming out of their little hut homes to see what the commotion was about. The whispers in the air fled fast "Stranger? In a black coat, and caring something, is an enemy come to bring us death, is he a priest?, no a warrior." Rumors already spread and hadn't been in the village over an thirty minutes and he'd become a warrior, High Lord, and a Priest. Duo came to the end of the town were an elderly woman with a patch over her eye came out. "Why are ye here?" From under Duo's hood he spoke ominous "I need a place to rest for the night, do you have such a place?"

"Humph, ye seem mighty troublesome why should I let ye stranger dressed in death into our village?" Duo let one hand lose pulling his hood off and shifted the groaning Sango in his arms. "I understand your concern, if you are so stressed over me, then at least let the child stay the night out of the cold. I am afraid my coat won't keep her warm through the night." Duo looked to the sky, the elderly woman put her hand to his chin to get a better look at his eyes and face.

"I take it ye, mean us no harm, so stay just one night the leave from this place boy." She showed him to a mat for him and Sango, while she asked if he would be needing food. Duo looked at Sango wondering if she would rather sleep or eat. So shook her gently "Yo, kid you need chow?" She rubbed her eyes, and yawned "Chow?" Duo shook his head "You want some food?"

She shook her head yes, Duo turned to the elderly woman "Yes, if you don't mind." It didn't take long for her to whip up some stew. Sango sipped her's in silence, "Um... Thanks" the lady raised her head and looked at him curiously "I am Lady Kaede." "Duo Maxwell." Sango's head lifted "He may run and hide but he'll never tell a lie." She giggled about now slurping on her stew. Lady Kaede raised a brow, "Sango, stop all that racket your gonna wake up the whole village." Sango slowed her eating again, witch got laughter out of Lady Kaede.

After Sango finished her meal Duo made sure she was in bed and gave her his coat for extra blanket. Morning came and Lady Kaede had long since been working out the fields, and around about the village. But at the moment she was chit chatting with Lady Wari. The lady spoke out of curiosity "A stranger in the town last night, did you know Lady Kaede?" "Yes my child." "Was it a man or a rodent demon?" Lady Kaede shook her head at the young woman. "Shouldn't ye know the difference of man and demon by now?" The young woman blushed, "Well I wasn't awake." "It was a man."

"A man in a dark coat, carrying something, weapons because he was a warrior, or??" "Before ye's imagination lets lose it was a young child." Lady Wari's interest dropped quickly "A child........" She whispered, "I don't think their from around here." Lady Kaede nodded "Have they gone?" "No they have not even awoken yet." Lady Wari's face went pale "What kinda man is he? To sleep this late?" "I suppose his journey was long and hard, he may be resting for a the next journey." Then suddenly out flocked from Kaede's home a child running around in a black coat. Then followed by a hurtling man, slipping on strange sandals. His long hair was in a pony tail notted up and unruly looking as it waved about trying to catch the child.

"Sango, Sango!! Gimmie that you little freak." He ran in circles until he fell over a root. He rose with dirt on his face glaring at the little Sango running in circles. He roared spitting out dirt "You little, errrm..... Sango you will stop now." And so she did stop smiling happily at him "You will wipe that smile of your face and walk over here and hand me the coat!" And she did as told slowly dragging her self, Duo was cursing under his breathe "Sango, out of the many things you may learn from me I am not a nice morning person nor will I be until, I get may daily dose of ...." he broke off. He could sense he was losing her attention so he bent down to her level "Songo, JUST DON'T FUCK WITH ME WHEN I WAKE UP!!!"

She nodded afraid of punishment. "Thank you! are you ready we are leaving unless you'd like to stay!!" She smiled witch through Duo of his rocker, "Then so be it, you stay then!" He quickly started to walk away and then Sango tried to catch up to him crying, screaming like someone was ripping her legs off calling to Duo. "Noo, I am sorry, Please don't leave me behind Duo, I'll do anything!!" Duo stopped feeling bad for messing around with a kids mind so he walked back to her. And shook her "Hey you stupid kid, you ain't gonna get rid of me so easily!" She stopped crying he laughed "I wasn't playing I am a really bad morning person! Like waking from the dead!" He tickled her and made her laugh.

But most importantly I think it was registering, if he wasn't able to walk away now after a short period of time then what was it gonna be like at the end of the week. After all he knew this was a fine village to leave her at, so why not? But it didn't take long, nope he gave her an inch and she took a mile. It was just a little creek in the door of letting her get close and now she was closer than any one had ever been to him. Yeah this girl was playing in the shadows of death and didn't even know it......

Authors Notes : So what do you think so far? I hope it's good, I think next I may put a little action into and maybe some of Duo's ol buddies will show up. You never know. What's your opinion on the Sango thing? You think I should dump her or keep her along for the ride? Please Review! (Oh yes I looked around and I just don't have any clue as to how to spell Lady Kaede's name. So feel free to tell me! :)