A/N: Wow I can't even believe that I made it this far! I mean chapter seven hellz yeah! Who else thinks this is great besides me!?! hears crickets Ahem! I guess no one...Heh. Ok now for real now! Id like to thank all my loyal readers! Ok I guess I should do the disclaimer! Well here it is DISCLAIMER: Inu yasha or any other of the char. Do not belong to me. Why? Because I am 15 and no money moron! Ok the only real char. That belong to me is Alu and Kioshi! Happy reading all!

Chapter 7

A life for a life.

Kioshi looked to the sky. She had been up for the last few hours thinking about Inu yasha and all the good times he and she had. 'Inu yasha do you really hate me?' she questioned in her mind. She had a feeling she knew the answer though. And she hated the answer that she was receiving from her mind. The female couldn't help what she felt at the moment.
She missed Inu yasha no matter how much he hated her. 'You bitch!' His voice rang through her ears. Kioshi put her head down in shame. "I have really done wrong." She murmured quietly to herself as the rain dripped from the leafs of the tree. "Inu yasha. What have I done why do you hate me so?" She gave a moan and took out blood she took from all those Youki. "It's low." she quietly said. "If Naraku or any other Youki attacks me with magic I am screwed." She stopped abruptly then began again. "Maybe it would be all for the best." She closed her eyes as she put her head to the bark of the tree. Was it really impossible to patch things up with Inu yasha? They fought only once before and then never again. It had to be impossible to make up with him. He should have known how much she loved him. He was her best friend. Why couldn't he look past what she had done? She had known it was horrible she had teamed up with Naraku. But it wasn't like she had a choice. He wanted her there and either way she would have to stay. Even when she was young and if by some chance she could have remembered what happened she still would have had to stay since she had no place to go. And Naraku's magic could have killed her in one blow. "Bastard." She sneered through her teeth. "You ruined my life!" She screamed as she opened her eyes fresh salty water running down her cheek.
Kioshi slowly brought her knees up to her chest and hugged her legs. She began to sob a bit louder then before. Everything they had gone through together for what? Just memories because of how childish she was back then. Kioshi slowly brought her hands to her face and cried in them. All the youki wanted to do was sit and cry that was it. She wanted to get all the memories she had about everyone she had ever met to get out of her mind. She wanted to die she didn't want to be around anymore. Maybe she should try to kill herself. All these thoughts ran through kioshi's mind all at once. She didn't know what she was going to do. She knew she had to find Sesshomaru as fast as she could no matter what Inu yasha did to her emotions. Regardless from this determination tears still fell upon the palms of her hands.
Kioshi then slowly lifted her head from her hands. She had a feeling someone was watching her. She slowly wiped away the tears from her eyes and in front of her she saw a young child approaching. The young girl as wearing a checkered yellow and orange kimono. "Are you ok?" She questioned as she got closer. Kioshi didn't answer even when the girl sat across from her. "I am Rin." She then had a smile appeared on her lips. Kioshi gave a light grin to the young child. "Rin." Kioshi began. "I am Kioshi." The girl smiled bigger. "Kioshi-sama." Kioshi shook her head. "No please just Kioshi." The child looked a bit puzzled. All her life she had been told to always address someone respectfully. "Why where you crying?" She questioned finally. "I have many reasons to cry my child." Kioshi said while having her attention focused on a cloud above. "Like why?" Kioshi smiled a bit at the girl's curiosity. "My heart. It doesn't hold light anymore. In my heart its dark and grey I have no one anymore." The child gave a sad look. "I can be your friend." Kioshi smiled a bit. She had always enjoyed taking care of children. She had loved children more then anything in life. Kioshi nodded and began to get up. "What's that on your neck?" The child said abruptly. Kioshi felt her neck and felt the indention. 'I mustn't have put my cape on tight enough to cover that horrible wretched thing.' "That my dear." Kioshi began as she walked. "That is the indention of something that happened to me long ago." The girl looked to her a bit sadden. "Does it hurt?" She wondered. "Only when I remember where I got it from." Kioshi replied as she got up and walked past the young child.
The young girl gave a smile and chased after her new found friend. "You're a Youki?" She smiled as she admired the woman's tail. Kioshi smirked as she made her way to the river and got down on her knees. "That I am my child." The girl sat along with Kioshi staring at the tail wanting to touch it more then anything else in the world. "If you really want to pat it you may. I don't mind." The girl looked up to Kioshi with big eyes then slowly patted the her tail.
Kioshi then cupped her hands together and put them in the river. "Say Rin have you ever seen a real wolf?" The girl nodded and began. "I was killed and brought back to life by my savior." Kioshi smiled. "Are you afraid of them?" The girl nodded slightly which caused Kioshi to sigh. "You see Rin I have a wolf. And I want to call her over so you can meet her would you mind?" The young girl gave an uneasy smile but nodded lightly. "Thank you" Kioshi said then splashed her face with water. "Much better" Kioshi murmured to herself happily. "Alu!" The Youki called out to her old friend.
The girl looked around a bit scared waiting for the wolf. "Don't worry Rin. Alu will only attack someone if I tell her to. And I promise I will never do something like that to any of my friends." The child gave a huge smile to the woman facing the water. "Alu." Kioshi began as she turned around. "What took you so long?" Alu slowly approached from behind the young child and walked to Kioshi. "Alu this is Rin. She is a good child so make sure she is safe." The wolf panted a bit but then walked up to the child who had her eyes closed. The grey wolf looked back to her companion who nodded to her. The wolf then licked the child's face which caused the child to open her eyes. "She is nice?" She then began to pat the wolfs head. "Yes Alu is very nice. And now that you made friends with her she will watch over you." The girl giggled when Alu knocked her down licking her face.
Kioshi watched with happiness as a tear ran down her cheek. That child reminded her of herself when she was her age. And Alu she was acting happy not sad and quiet like she usually was. "Kioshi-sama?" This pulled her out of her thoughts as she wiped away a tear of happiness off of her cheek. "Are you still sad?" Kioshi shook her head no and began. "I have had Alu since she was a puppy. But for a long time I have never seen her this happy. In fact when I was your age you remind me of well me." The girl gave a bright smile and began "really? I do?" The Youki nodded. "When I was a child I was so care free. That is till my parents were killed I didn't talk for eight months." The girl gave a smile and looked to her feet. "My parents died too. After that I never talked. But when I was saved I knew I might have a good life and I knew that I could trust my savior." Kioshi looked to the young child. 'Who is this savior she is always talking about?' She questioned in her mind but was pulled from her thoughts when a scream hit her ears.
Kioshi quickly turned around to face a giant snake that was at least forty feet tall. "Kioshi-sama!" cried the young child. Kioshi quickly looked to her then the snake that took a dive for the young girl. "Alu!" She called. The wolf quickly responded by tackling the child before the snake could get her. The snake then hit the ground as Kioshi slowly made her way towered it. Soon it got up slithering up to the child and the wolf who was growling fiercely. But then the snake collapsed. "What happened?" The young girl questioned as she opened her eyes. "Kioshi-sama!" The child screamed when she saw her older friend had killed the monster. Rin the quickly ran to the woman's side and hugged her leg. "You saved me Kioshi-sama!" The female Youki smiled a bit as she looked towards the girl but something caught her eye. There she saw some kind of shard on the floor. "What's this?" she then bent down to pick it up. "It's a jewel." She said out loud then saw it was not just a jewel. "It's a shard of the Shikon Jewel!" The child looked to her older friend a bit confused. "Shikon Jewel?" she repeated slowly. Kioshi nodded her head in a yes motion and decided to tell the child about it. "The Shikon Jewel is very powerful. It was made in a far off village long ago. You see when I was a child my best friend Kikyo was assigned to look after it. Kikyo was a very powerful miko but died because of the jewel. The jewel is so powerful it could turn a hanyou into a full demon of a full human. "Kioshi-sama!" The girl said in amazement till she heard a familiar voice.
"Rin who is this?" Kioshi quickly turned around as Alu stood in front of her and the child baring its teeth in order to protect them. "Jaken-Sama!" The child cried and ran over to the small demon. The demon had brown garments on his green skin and his walking staff had two heads of a man and a woman. "Alu stop for now. The Rin seems to know that youki." Alu did as commanded and backed away. "Jaken-sama! This is Kioshi! She is a Youki also." Jaken growled a bit and his staff spit fire when he hit the ground with it. He laughed with pleasure as little Rin cried for Kioshi. "Kioshi-sama!!!" "I am fine Rin" Kioshi said behind them with a smile on her lips. "Kioshi-Sama! How did you move that fast?" Kioshi laughed a bit and began. "I am part cheetah Youki." Rin gave a smile as Jaken just turned around. "How did you?" He said a bit annoyed. "I should have warned you I am one of the fastest youki's alive." "Kioshi-sama!" Kioshi then took her attention off of the male youki and looked to the human. "Yes?" "Umm can you meet my savior?" Kioshi smiled but looked to the ground. "I am sorry Rin but I have to be some place." She then got up and turned around to walk away. "Wait Kioshi-sama!" yelled the child running up to her. "Can you come back again?" Kioshi looked to her and softened her hard confused eyes. "I will. How about tomorrow?" The child's face brightened. "Tomorrow!?! Promise?" Kioshi nodded her head then began. "Here take my cape for collateral so ill have to come back." The child gave a big smile after Kioshi finished tying the cape around her neck fully exposing the indention of the hand on her throat. "Thank you Kioshi-sama!" yelled little Rin twirling around in circles as the wind filled her cape. "Ill see you tomorrow Rin my child." Rin nodded and motioned Kioshi to bend down to her height. "Yes Rin?" She questioned. "Please come back." she whispered in kioshi's ear then hugged her lightly. "That I will." Kioshi whispered back as the child let go. "Good-bye Kioshi-sama!" Kioshi turned away as she walked into the darkness of the woods.
"Alu." Kioshi said suddenly as they walked. "Go with Rin for now and watch over her but keep out of sight." The wolf looked up to her as they walked. "Don't worry about me I am just going to the village I will be fine." The wolf looked to her then turned around and ran back into the forest the just had came from.
The female walked alone and gave a large sigh. That child reminded her of the children she had killed many years ago. But more in particular a child she was very fond of. This child was her savior. To her this child was a hero her hero. She missed the child more then words could ever explain. Kioshi then was soon pulled from her thoughts as she entered a village where children from the age's ten to twelve surrounded her with a bunch of hugs. "Kioshi-sama!" The smallest cried. The child who called her name was about four years old. She had short hair and a tattered kimono on. "Chika!" Kioshi cried and lifted the child above her head. "Kioshi-sama?" said one of the older children. "Yes Haruki?" Kioshi questioned the young man. "Can you tell us stories of what you have been doing?" Kioshi smiled as all the children began to cheer her on. "Yeah please tell us a story!" a couple cried. "I promise I will before I leave children but right now I have to talk to the elders." The children gave a disappointed sigh as Kioshi put down Chika. "Now where are they?" The oldest being twelve volunteered to show Kioshi.
Slowly they walked through the town till they reached a hut. "They are in here." He said with a smile as Kioshi walked in the hut. "Kioshi." let out one of the younger woman. This woman seemed to be about thirty years of age with long black hair and a red kimono on. "Why has it taken so long to return this time?" She questioned "I am very sorry Hana. I didn't think id be gone for this long but I found one of them." Their faces all brightened. "So you might be able to save yourself?" questioned one of the older males. "Yes I might be able to stay alive." She answered. Kioshi the quickly scanned the hut and found someone was missing. "Where is Gin?" Kioshi questioned. They all looked down to their feet and began. "She was killed right after you left the last time you where here." Let out an older man. "Killed?" Kioshi questioned and fell to her knees. Gin was one of the oldest females in the village. And it was her who convinced every single villager to give her another chance after she had done wrong to their village so many times. "it was him wasn't it?" questioned Kioshi. A few then nodded their heads knowing who she was speaking of. She was talking about Naraku. But Kioshi was usually there to protect them from him but not that time she wasn't able to. "Why don't you go to your hut and think this over." Kioshi then looked to them and nodded her head then left. "How come? She was a really skillful archer how could he?" Kioshi shook her head as she entered the hut the villagers made her for when she stayed. "Gin." she whispered and slowly went to sleep.

.10 years before.

The female Youki and her long time companion just barely got out of Naraku's evil grasp. If she didn't have that youki blood he would have killed her and her friend both. "I must find a place we can stay Alu." The girl panted. But for some reason she recognized these woods and there she stumbled upon a village. "I recognize this village Alu." Kioshi said as she stepped onto the ground. But then stopped immediately when hearing a bow being loaded. There she slowly turned around. "We are ready for you this time Kioshi." Said a seventy year old woman with her weapon loaded. Kioshi looked down to Alu who was about to attack but she called her off before she could. "What you do to me I deserve." Kioshi said as she looked down. "And if that means I must be put to rest permanently well I understand." The woman looked to her and put her weapon down which made the men around her question her judgment. "Put down your weapons!" She demanded. Reluctantly they did as they where told "I am Gin." she said looking up to the surprised Youki. "Why?" She wanted to know why did she let her live? The woman smiled and began. "I saw you murder my parents 50 years ago." Kioshi looked to her and her eyes widened. "My father was still alive but you crushed his skull in with your foot." Kioshi looked to the woman with tears at the brim of her eyes. "If I had the chance to kill the murder of my parents I would take it." Kioshi said silently. "Everyone deserves a seconded chance. Now come." The woman nodded a bit and followed behind her to a hut.
"You shall stay here." She began. "There is a child who also sleeps here I hope you don't mind." Kioshi shook her head over and over again. She didn't care if there was a young child stayed there also. Please Kioshi go to sleep and we will discuss about plans.? Kioshi nodded her head slightly.
She then walked into the hut where a young child stayed wide awake. "Who are you?" she questioned hugging her knees the darkness hiding her face. "I am Kioshi." the woman began. "You're the Youki in the stories they tell aren't you?" Kioshi bowed her head in shame. "It is I who they talk about." She answered. The child didn't say anything more but then began once more. "I have always believed that you were not bad." This caught kioshi's attention. "I have always thought maybe something happened to you that caused you to do all these things." Kioshi smiled lightly as the child laid to sleep. "Goodnight Kioshi" "goodnight" she answered as she lay down also.

Kioshi awoke the next morning to a young child sleeping right beside her. 'She must have moved.' Kioshi thought in her mind. The girl's eyes then flung open sleepily. The child looked to be about six years old. She brown garments that were torn in different places. She had long black hair and emerald green eyes. "I am sorry." she said silently as she backed away. "I got afraid last night so I came closer to some one who could protect me." Kioshi smiled a bit "What's your name anyway? You never told me yesterday night." The child looked up to her with a smile. "My name? My name is Amaya." "That's a very beautiful name." The child's smile widened a bit to the Youki. "Now Amaya I must go meet with Gin." The child nodded as Kioshi got up. "But Alu will stay and protect you. Alu! Come inside and watch over Amaya." The wolf did as she was told as Kioshi left the hut.
Kioshi slowly walked through the village where she received many angry stares from the crowd's eyes. She couldn't blame them for being so mad at her. She did torture their village for years and years.
Not a moment to soon Kioshi found Gin. "Ah Kioshi there you are I have been waiting for you. The villagers have agreed you can stay and come and go as you please as long as you protect our village from other Youki's." Kioshi looked to her and nodded a bit. It sounded like a good deal. Besides she wanted to gain the trust of the village so they can come to her when they needed to. "What about Amaya? Where are her parents?" The woman shook her head. "She is an orphan she had been alone in that hut for years. She only comes out at night when everyone is asleep." Kioshi smiled a bit. "I bet I could get her out during the day." The woman laughed at this and began to harvest vegetables. "Your welcome to try but she is very scared of the outside world." Kioshi sighed deeply.
Soon without further discussion from Gin Kioshi walked back to the hut. When she entered she found Amaya was not in there. "Amaya!?!" Kioshi yelled. "Yes?" the young girl said from behind which made Kioshi jumped. "I thought you didn't come outside Amaya?" The girl gave a smile and began. "I don't usually during the day but Alu wanted to play so I thought it be nice if I came out with her today." Kioshi gave a thoughtful smile as she watched the two of them play together.

.6 months.

Amaya and Kioshi walked by a near river. "Today's my birthday." Amaya said suddenly. "Really Amaya? Why didn't you tell me so I could get you something nice before I leave tomorrow?" Amaya shrugged and began. "Can you stay for another week?" Amaya questioned. Kioshi gave a sigh and bent down to be the child's size. "I am very sorry Amaya but I can't. I have to go find Inu yasha and Sesshomaru." The girl gave a sigh she knew her friend was on a mission to find the ones she missed so but she really wanted Kioshi to stay with her. Kioshi was like a mother to her. "But you know what Amaya?" The girl looked to her and shook her head no. "You are my hero." The girl gave a confused look then began. "How? I never saved you from anything." Kioshi laughed and began "But you have. You have saved me from the darkness and loneliness of my heart. You have saved me from sadness. To me you are my savior." The girl gave a bright smile and hugged her friend. "I love you Kioshi." Kioshi hugged her back as a tear ran down her cheek. "I love you too. Amaya."

. 1 year later .

"Kioshi!" Cried a young female human. The older female Youki then quickly picked up the pace and ran to the young girl and took her in her arms. "Amaya." Kioshi whispered then put her down. To Kioshi Amaya was an angel sent from a great place. Amaya was a sweet child and Kioshi often called her "her savior." Without Amaya Kioshi would not have a family or a bond that she shared with that child. "Kioshi!" yelled the child. "Any luck finding the tree!?!" Kioshi shook her head no as the child gave a sad face. "Kioshi!" Yelled one of the men villagers. "Gin needs to speak with you immediately!" Kioshi looked to Amaya who gave a sad face. "I am sorry Amaya ill be right back promise." Amaya looked up to her and whispered. "I love you Kioshi." The female youki's heart melted. No one had ever told her that since Sesshomaru. "I love you too." Kioshi whispered back. "But now I need to go." Kioshi then turned her back on the child and walked through the village finding Gin's hut.
"Gin!?!" Called out Kioshi as she entered the woman's home. "Kioshi." She said happily. "I am so happy you came." Kioshi looked to Gin worried. Gin was only really happy to see her was when she was gone for a long time or that a youki had attacked the village. "What happened Gin?" Kioshi questioned. "A man came to look for you in the village." Kioshi shook her head she knew who it was and made her blood boil. "It was Naraku wasn't it?" The woman nodded then began again. "He says if he doesn't find you he will start to kill villagers." Kioshi growled a bit annoyed. "He won't while I am here." Kioshi replied but then heard a blood curling scream that made kioshi's blood turn into ice.
Kioshi then quickly ran outside to see a woman screaming. "What's wrong?" Kioshi questioned the woman who wore a purple kimono. The woman only pointed while shacking. Slowly kioshi's head followed the figure and there she saw her. "AMAYA!" Kioshi screamed and ran towards the bloody battered body of young child. "Amaya!" she screamed once more with tears falling from her eyes. "Amaya!" Kioshi quickly shacked the child had saw her neck was broken. "NO!" She yelled falling to her knee's hugging the dead body of the girl "No." she whispered. "Amaya."

The following day there was a proper burial made for the young girl. "Ill kill you Naraku!" Kioshi promised to herself. He had killed the last person she really cared about. The last person who made her feel whole again. "I am so sorry Kioshi." Gin said apologetically. "He killed my child." Kioshi growled. "He will pay dearly." Kioshi then put down flowers on her grave with a stone face and walked into the woods.

. present time.

Kioshi quickly jolted up beads of sweat dripping down her face. "Amaya." Kioshi said silently and got up. There she slowly made her way out into the darken village. She slowly made her way towards the graves then found Amaya's. Kioshi had tears falling from her eyes. Her little savior was dead. 'After Amaya was killed my heart closed again. My heart became black and cold again. I have been alone all along for the last ten years.' She was scared of being alone. But now that she had met Rin another orphan she was afraid for her. What if Naraku tried to kill her too? What if he tried to hurt this young child? "Not this time" Kioshi said a bit more determined to make sure nothing would happen to the child. "You will be safe. I promise Rin." Kioshi said silently as she sat by Amaya's grave. "I will protect you till the bitter end. Even though Amaya's gone I know she would like you to be safe to." Kioshi stopped a moment and closed her eyes preventing tears from escaping. "Happy birthday Amaya." Kioshi said silently. "I love you." Kioshi gave a light sigh. The child Rin might give her a life back. She might be able to feel again. Pain, love, hurt, and even a chance to be scared to die. This child might save her. There she quietly whispered as she closed her eyes. "A life for a life."

(A/N: I would like to personally apologize for this chapter being very short! I am so sorry! I am not sure about you all but I almost cried while rereading this chapter! LMAO! Phew I am ok. One more thing if there are question marks instead of the correct puncuation (sp?) please inform me in my profile! Thank you! One more thing sry! But if you don't get what she means when she says a life for a life she means she had saved Rin's life. So Rin might be able to save her life. Get it? Ok remember 5 reviews b4 i update!)