Hi, we are the authors, yes we are…My name is Taeru-chan and I am the hard working one. *Taeru-chan points at Haipaa-chan*  the person over there is Haipaa-chan, and she's the weird and annoying one. *Haipaa-chan jumping up and down* WHO YA CALLING ANNOYING??!! *Taeru-chan waving her hand annoyed* hai hai, now on with the story. Hope you like it!! *Starting to type the story with Haipaa-chan jumping frustratingly behind her.*

Oh and, Disclaimer – We do not own Inuyasha or any of the other characters. (except for the characters described in this chapter, which we invented.) All Inuyasha crew are © Takahashi.

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生命の運命

Destiny of Life

"The hours of darkness are said to be the time when one is most likely to lose something dear. It is a curse laid on to mankind by the fierce gods. However we believe in no such things. We are no humans, but a race of respectable creatures. Honor of being Demon. "

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Part I

"What is going on? This smell…" She shifted uncomfortably in her sleep, "it is unwelcome…" Suddenly, recognition washed over her resting form and she abruptly sat up " it's the smell of Death!"

Out of pure instinct, she rushed out of her hut, only to be greeted head on by a wave of extreme heat and light. She squinted her eyes allowing them to adjust to the light. She brought up her hands to shield herself from the heat and slowly walked forward.

A great fire outlined her home village, contrasting against the dark midnight black of the sky.

How could something like this have happened? It was impossible! No human or demon should have been able to pass the guards and burn the village without anyone noticing. The alarms should have been sounded! "this is unacceptable! "

A screech was heard from nearby. She followed the sound, jumping from roof to roof, feeling each one collapse under he feet. The sound lead her to the edge of the village, where a forest marked the boundaries, with the flames behind her, still devouring what she called home. For the first time a mix of emotions rushed in. There was sadness and loss. "This can't be. Mother, father…". There was uncertainty and confusion. "How could this have happened? Why now? Why didn't anyone notice?!"

As for the first time, she realized her home was burning. She realized she had no idea where her parents, brothers and sisters were. She knew nothing of what had happened or what had caused it. Staring into the fire she collapsed to her knees and continued staring. There was nothing more she felt she could do.

There was, for perhaps the first time in years, fear. She was afraid of loosing everything she knew, to the fire. She was afraid of what might happen, or of what might already have happened. As much as she tried to avoid it and hold it back, she could not. She cried.

She was so caught up in it all, she didn't notice the dark silhouette hidden among the trees. It smirked and raised a clawed hand as if ready to strike. Its dark hair hid all of its features, except for the blood red eyes.

She did not notice what was going on behind her, but her keen senses picked up a soft rustle behind. With watery eyes, she turned around, to see what the cause of the sound was.

Standing in front of her was a man-like wolf. He was old, it was obvious in his movements. However, it was nearly just as obvious he was a skilled warrior. There was grace in his movements, and something almost magical in his amber eyes.

She recognized him as being her old and wise grandfather. Still kneeling, she wiped away her tears. She knew how much her grandfather hated seeing her cry, even though his back was turned toward her. He seemed to be growling something to someone unseen.

She wiped her face on her sleeve and reached out a hand toward her grandfather.

"ojiisan…" Her tone was no more than a soft whisper, swallowed up by the roars of the flame behind her. Shakily, she stood up and started dragging herself over to him.

Sensing her, he thrust his hand to the side, gesturing her to stop. She stopped.

He looked over his shoulder towards her, his eyes gleaming golden in the firelight. Ghastly shadows played across his face, accenting his old battle scars and signs of age. She stopped, not only at his command, but at his frightening and prevailing appearance.

"Go, child!" he hissed, "Run, use your speed and go to the north end of the village. I will meet you there." He turned and seemed to bark at whatever was among the trees, hiding cowardly with the shadows. "Trust me child, don't stop for anything, the flames will not harm you, and most importantly do not…" He turned and looked at her over his shoulder once more, only this time, his features were warmer, and softer. He looked at her lovingly an with obvious concern "don't cry child…"

She wanted to stay. She wanted to fight alongside her grandfather in the battle she knew was soon to be coming. But knowing her grandfather's wisdom, and remembering how he had never led her astray, she nodded softly, and whipped away the tears in her eyes. Picking herself up, she shaggily turned around and started walking toward the flames once more. 

"run" her grandfather's voice echoed in her head, so she ran.

The last thing she heard from him was a cry of battle and a collision between two forces, both immensely strong.

She found that her grandfather was right. The flames did not harm her. It felt like a warm breeze, brushing against her skin. She kept on running thought the flames, dodging and jumping over flaming logs or under collapsing pillars.

Soon she realized the flames were getting hotter and hotter. It no longer felt like a soft breeze, but like a wave of heat in the middle of a hot summer month. And it was getting hotter, and hotter; she ran faster, and faster, until she heard a muffled cry from a nearby hut. It was terrified and empty, she recognized it immediately. She instantly ran towards it.

It was coming from a large shelter, half consumed by the flames. She used her long sleeve for protection against the ever-growing heat. Peeking inside, she saw a person, a young woman, holding a small child. She was crying. She was her mother.

"Mother!!" she found herself screaming through a wall of flames. The wind blew the straw covering over the opening of the door, blocking her mother's view; "no…" she felt tears gathering again. The flames were blown to the side once more, and back again. The gap between was just enough for her to catch a glimpse of her mother's crying face. The image seemed to last for ever. Despite the situation, she saw her smile. The smile was painful and heartbreaking, one of a person's last minutes on earth.

Yet again, the flames became a breeze. They were soft, no longer burning and dangerous. They seemed to disappear, along with everything else between her and her mother. She was staring into the face of love, for perhaps the last time. Her mother behind a wall of transparent flames, beyond her help, beyond anything she could do. She felt helpless.

She reached out, a trembling hand stretched out to reach, to touch, to help. Her mother did the same. She held out a hand for her to grab. It was so close, ever so close, the fingers almost intertwined.

Everything was being engulfed by a great wave of white light. The flames were completely disappearing, and along with them, was going the image of her mother. Her hand was gone, her last smile vanished into that wave of pure white, blinding light.

Finally, when everything was gone, when a sensation of emptiness and loss filled what was no longer air, she woke up.

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Author's note

Haipaa-chan:*drops her piece of cake* AH! T_T no…..my poor cake….

Taeru-chan: .…*sweatdrop* um…yes…anyway, hi our first story, yes it is. I hope you will like it. This is part one and there will be a part two uploaded soon.

Haipaa-chan: *in a sad mood* my poor cake…my poor stomach…

Taeru-chan: AHEM!!!

Haipaa-chan: o yes… PLEASE R&R!!! ARIGATO!!!!

Taeru-chan: *take cotton ball out of ears* what she said…bye. *going off with a stressed and hyper Haipaa-chan in the background still talking about her poor cake .*