Disclaimer: I own Ashi and Kendra that's it, Hoshi and Shi-chan belong to Clear Shadow everythin else belongs to Rumiko Takakshi. Clear Shadow helped me get out of my writers block by filling in a lot of this chapter so I thank you *karate bow* later people and thank you to all my reviewers.

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Alone and exhausted Ashi buried Kendra under the walnut tree where they had first met. He knelt at the grave staring at it for hours, ignoring the sun, which had risen high, then set below the tree lines. He ignored the moon as it replaced the sun.

        "It was a demon that took you and my mother away from me; it will be a demon that will die for you. I will not stop until the demon that took your life and my mothers lives is dead. This I swear to you, I swear it with the same damned blood that flows through my veins. He will pay; I will avenge both of you so your souls can rest in peace." Ashi picked up Kendra's sword and made a deep slit in his palm. "Blood for blood; a demons life for a human;" The blood rose over the flesh and Ashi squeezed his fist allowing the blood to drip onto Kendra's grave. Standing up Ashi took the sword and drove it into the ground; then he piled stones around it and sat down as the blood still dripped down his hand onto his clothes. He remained at the makeshift grave until the sun had begun to set, casting a red glow on him that turned his already vibrant hair a deep flame-red; so absorbed in his own thoughts that he didn't realize that he had company until a familiar hand placed itself on his head.

        "Did you dig this?" Ashi chose not to reply ignoring her presence. "Would you like to talk about today?" Ashi uttered a low growl and felt his anger rising what was there to talk about a demon attacked a village and killed Kendra, suddenly his anger hit the breaking point and he turned to Hoshi and lashed out at her

        "A demon happened you stupid girl."

        "I would appreciate of you didn't call me that. You're NINE for Kami-sama's sake." Hoshi sighed. "I can't believe this is where you've been all day."

        "Yeah, well, where the hell were YOU when the demon killed Kend--the villagers?"

        "Where was I?" Ashi could hear the anger in her voice, but couldn't stop himself it was like all the anger he had felt since Kendra had died, no since he saw the demon was surfacing taking over him

        "Yeah," Ashi jumped to his feet, knocking Hoshi's hand off his head as he did so, "What were you doing to help the villagers? The girl buried here DIED saving her people! She was only nine like me!" Hoshi was quiet for a moment. Then, without any warning at all her hand struck out and slapped him.

        "How---how DARE---How dare you." Ashi placed a hand to his smarting cheek, no normal human had that much strength, "How dare you imply that I sat at home and did nothing while people were dying. That I sat and hid while a demon destroyed everyone I knew. I had anyone who couldn't fight; women, children, elderly, all of them in my home. When I noticed that one of the little girl's were missing I went out to search for her. I have been looking ALL DAY," her fists unclenched themselves as she fought to regain her calm demeanor, "I'm only sorry that she was a stubborn thing that thought she could save everyone on her own," she clapped her hands together and bowed, showing her respect for the dead girl buried at her feet. "I came out here to find you and drag you home to eat, but, at this point you can starve. I don't care," Ashi watched her walk back home. After a moment he got up and followed; maybe if he was really nice, she'd forgive him. He paused however and looked back at the grave where his friend lay. His anger rose again just knowing that he could have saved her, he could have helped the village, more people would have survived if he hadn't been so bent on revenge. Suddenly Ashi lashed forward and with one swipe of his claws left a deep groove in the walnut tree that stood solemn. Ashi stopped breathing for a moment; he stared at the tree then looked down at his hands, he had let the demon inside him take control that's why he had lashed out at Hoshi and had left that mark in the tree. But at that moment Ashi saw it not as his anger, but as a signature of Kendra's grave, Ashi just hoped no one tried to steal her sword.

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        The night passed by in stony silence, not even Shi-chan tried to break the animosity between Hoshi and Ashi. Hoshi was still mad that Ashi had accused her of hiding out during the demon attack and Ashi was mad that she wouldn't accept his apology.  Both were being immature and childish but neither cared or was willing to forgive, and that worried Shi-chan. She liked it better when Hoshi was nice and when Ashi was...well he was always grumpy but it was a funny sort of grumpiness. For the first time since the siblings had arrived Shi-chan flat out refused to sleep in Hoshi's room.

        "Forget it. You're not sleepin' with me."

        "Don't be mean big brother. You were mean enough to Hoshi-sama," Ashi opened his mouth to reply then closed it. In the end Shi-chan slept curled up next to her brother, even though out loud he protested, Ashi was kind of glad to have her with him.

        Later that night Ashi was woken up by something. His fox ears twitched struggling to catch it. What was that sound? It came from Hoshi's room. Carefully, he didn't want to wake Shi-chan, who would be a pain in the ass if he did, he stood up and crept to Hoshi's room. Slowly he opened the door and peeked in. Hoshi stood near the window crying. It was a quiet crying but that just made it worse. Ashi felt sick. Was that his doing?

        "What are you doing in here?" Hoshi asked without looking at him.

        "I heard something," he replied.

        "Going to call me a weak stupid girl because I'm crying? Well go ahead. I don't care. I deserve to cry after the day I've had."

        "Not gonna say nothin'," he scuffed his foot on the floor uncomfortably, "It....it's not my fault is it?"

        "No," Hoshi looked away, "I'm sorry I hit you. I shouldn't have let my anger get a hold of me like that but it was just the demon and Kendra-chan and everything else. I'm sorry."

        "No it's ok," Ashi crossed over and sat next to her, "Not like it hurt or anything."

        "Then why do you have a bruise forming?"

        "Shut up," Hoshi gave him a watery smile then held out her hand, "What?"

        "Give me your hand."

        "Why?"

        "Just do it," he placed his hand in her and she lightly traced her finger tip along the lines in his palm, "You have a unnaturally long life line. Yep, typical Hanyou. Gonna live forever; You have a decent love line too. That means you're going to meet someone very special and fall in love," Ashi snorted, "Fine then. Don't believe me," she released his hand, "Would you like to see what it is I do everyday? It'd give you something to do. To take your mind off of Kendra-chan. What do you say? It'd mean less house chores as well since you'll be helping me out directly."

        "Less house chores?" his ears were perked up, "Sure!" Ashi sighed and headed back to his room; outside of the doorway he paused and looked at his palm love lines? Maybe some day Ashi thought with a grin his grin widened and for the first time in days he felt happy.

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Ok sorry it took so long to finally post, I was in major writers block then Clear Shadow saved me! YA CLEAR SHADOW!!! Anyways hope you enjoyed the chapter and please leave your review on the way out. Danke *bows*