Author's Notes: I won't be updating for at least a month, personal issues have come into play. So I will be able to update most likely at the end of July

Rise and Walk Again
From the Ashes of Angels
Darker Than All Before
From the Ashes of Angels
Colder We Come Forth
Said Sukkarieh,

The Fine Line

"Talking"

'Thinking'

Memories

Stressed Words

It had taken two days to reach to northern borders. Everyone had remained silent during this travel. Kagome had chosen to ride on Oken leaving Inuyasha running alone on the ground. Miroku had been unusually quiet and she could sense that Sango was confused. Kagome had explained in depth what had happened to her, and why Miroku was so tense. Sango amazingly understood; it was hard not to after you saw it first hand. Still that left the monk tense and still a bit wary of Kagome.

She had also noticed that the company running along the ground was also confused. She laughed inside her head before she turned her gaze forward. Stretching her Miko ki further she could sense an aura that was burning with raw youki. Telling Oken in her mind to land, she jumped off his back and watched as Inuyasha came to a silent halt in front of her. Sango and Miroku where still in the air, giving Kagome a moment alone with the hanyou.

"What has happened that makes you unable to look at me?" Kagome softly demanded. He looked up at her and looking into her eyes he saw the same hardened tenor as Kikyo's.

'Am I destined to turn all I care for into lifeless shells?' Inuyasha wondered as he walked passed her.

"I know that my youkai wanted you dead," Kagome calmly stated as she slowly trailed behind him.

"You sound okay with it," Inuyasha whispered.

"Truthfully…I am," Kagome bluntly answered as she continued walking.

"How can you be so cold?" Inuyasha wanted to yell, but chose to whisper.

"Try five minutes in hell and tell me that you wouldn't be cold," Kagome shot back.

"How will my death help you?" Inuyasha asked.

"It was you who caused my death…it's only far that I cause yours," Kagome coolly replied. Inuyasha was about to counter, but remained silent when Kirara landed next to them.

"There is a village ahead and its on fire," Sango informed.

"It's them," Kagome growled as she took off running in that direction.

Oken rushed towards her as he transformed and threw her on his back. Kagome smiled as she grasped onto his mane. Kagome could feel the ki of the group struggling to reach her from behind. She let her blue eyes scan the damage as she slowly came to a halt. Walking a little bit further she noticed that there was nothing but small flames. The main huts, or what appeared to be remnants of them were ashes and charred wood. Oken transformed to his kitten form and rushed forward into the village leaving Kagome to her thoughts.

'Monsters,' Kagome growled as she surveyed the damage.

Taking a step she stopped when her foot came in contact with something soft. Forcing herself to prepare to for the worse she looked down. She wished it were a body part, a bone, but not a doll. This doll with the blackened cloth and missing arm was almost enough to bring tears. Bringing the doll closer to her face she pushed back some of its stringy hair.

'This was a child's doll,' she mused as she bit back the anger.

She placed the doll back on the ground and continued forward. Taking only ten steps she turned around and gazed at the doll.

'Is that what I have become?' She asked herself. 'A monster.'

Turning her attention to the center of the village she heard a cough. Hope was something that Kagome didn't see, but this was a miracle. A cough meant that something was living. Running towards the cough she saw Oken in his humanoid form digging at some ash and pushing away blocks of wood. He pulled out a small body of a child. Kagome kneeled down and took the child into her arms. Wiping the black smoke and ash from her face she listened for a sign of life.

"Her heart is weak," Oken stated. Kagome glared at him for her choice of words.

"Is there anything we can do?" Kagome asked.

"Why would you want to help?" Oken asked.

"I may be of the darkness…but my heart does not take innocents," Kagome whispered as she continued to clean the face.

"Your master would not be pleased," Oken reasoned.

"I fear no one," Kagome hissed.

"Give her your energy," Oken explained.

"What's the catch?" Kagome quickly asked. Everything has a catch no matter how hard or easy.

"The child will live forever in the shadows," Oken answered as he walked away. Kagome looked down at the face and saw that it was clear of the smoke and ash. She traced the outline of the jaw and placed the body on the ground.

'Innocence, it's so easily stripped.'

Kagome placed a hand above the child's heart and hesitated. Closing her eyes and taking a calming breath she opened her eyes.

'Do I have a right to make this choice?'

"Kagome?" She turned her attention towards the hanyou that stood no more than five feet away. She then sighed and looked away from his golden gaze.

"She's dying," Kagome softly said as she looked upon the child.

"What do you plan to do?" Inuyasha cautiously asked as he walked forward.

"Would you rather live in darkness or die?" Kagome seriously asked. His eyes widened for a moment before he opened and closed his mouth.

"I have already died, but I was brought back," he answered.

"That doesn't answer the question," Kagome snapped.

"You live in darkness…how does the choice feel?" Inuyasha asked. Kagome smirked knowing that he didn't mean it to hurt her. Curiosity made people ignorant of things such as feelings.

Kagome then reached over and grabbed his hand and forcefully held it to the girl's heart. Her breaths became shallower as Kagome held both their hands over the heart. She then forced her energy from her body, using it to pull at Inuyasha's. His energy was a calm blue, where Kagome's was a light purple. Kagome released his hand after a few seconds and watched as the girl's body began to glow. Inuyasha's eyes widened when the scent of death left her being.

"So you chose to place her in the dark?" Inuyasha growled.

"I gave her your energy as well as mines…she has her choice," Kagome evenly said as she watched the child's eyes open.

Tired green eyes opened and scanned her surroundings before the shut again. Kagome ran her fingers through the child's black hair. She handed the child over to Inuyasha and turned around. Inuyasha watched as she began to walk away.

"Where are you going?" Inuyasha demanded as he kept from waking the child.

"To clean this mess up. I don't want Shippo to see this," Kagome tossed back.

'Giving life only to take another's,' Inuyasha thought as he looked down at the child.

"Not another village," came a soft whisper from behind him. Her turned around to be greeted with the sight of an upset Taijiya. Miroku slid of Kirara and walked over to Inuyasha. He then looked over at the burnt village. Shippo jumped onto Inuyasha's shoulder and looked at the girl before he glanced at the ruins.

"You better go help Kagome," Inuyasha said as he motioned towards the direction she went. Miroku hesitated before he walked off into the smoke.

"Who is she?" Shippo asked as he studied the girl.

"Don't know," Inuyasha gruffly answered.

Sango walked over and laid a blanket on the ground. Inuyasha gently set the girl down and then looked up into the sky. It was dusk and the night would soon be upon them. Inuyasha left into the forest to retrieve wood for a fire.

"Are you here to lay their souls to rest?" Kagome asked as she looked at the body of a dead warrior. Miroku tensed, as he did not even announce his presence. He walked next to her and began to pray. Kagome opened up a shadow underneath the nearest bodies and let them sink into the ground. Miroku eyed her suspiciously as he watched her easily dispose of the bodies.

"Are they going to the earth?" Miroku asked. She stiffened and finished putting the last body in the ground.

"Yes," Kagome growled. "I am not that heartless."

"I didn't mean…"

"Don't lie. You know you thought me letting the bodies drift in an endless void," Kagome stated as she kept her anger in check.

"I am sorry Kagome-sama," Miroku apologized.

"It's Kagome, I'd like to think we're still friends," Kagome said as she left in search of more bodies.

Miroku sighed and began to purify area as he felt the guilt hit him. When he reached the campground he satagainst a dead tree. Inuyasha frowned when he smelt the guilt. The monk was practically swimming in it.

"What happened?" Inuyasha asked.

"I vaguely accused Kagome of not properly burying the bodies," Miroku said with a grimace.

"What did she do?" Sango asked as she looked up from polishing Hiraikotsu.

"She accused me of thinking her heartless," Miroku answered.

"Kagome may have changed, but she is still the same Kagome that cares for us," Sango replied with confidence.

"She would not be that heartless towards innocents," Shippo piped up from drawing.

'Even the kit appears smarter than me,' Miroku groaned.

"I know that…it's just that her change is very deceiving," Miroku said.

"My change is not deceiving. I am of the shadows…but I do have a heart and I try to justify things," Kagome said as her and Oken walked into the firelight.

Shippo launched himself into an inviting hug as she sat down on the ground. Oken was in his kitten form since he appeared bored. Kagome scooted closer to the girl and placed her hand above the child's head.

"Awake," Kagome ordered. The child's eyes snapped open. She lightly groaned as with a wince.

"Where am I?" She hoarsely whispered.

"You're in our camp. Now who are who?" Kagome asked as she watched the girl.

"My name is Tomo. Who are you?" She softly asked.

"I am Kagome, the monk is Miroku, the Taijiya is Sango, and the hanyou and Inuyasha," Kagome introduced.

"I'm Shippo!" Shippo shouted as he jumped into her lap. She gasped then giggled when he smiled at her.

"Tomo, do you remember what happened here?" Kagome asked.

The girl went silent before her eyes closed and a set of tears escaped. She silently shook and they left her to cry knowing that words could not change her feelings. She wiped her eyes and looked at Kagome.

"Ryozo came and demanded that my father pay a fee for him farming the rice. My father refused and he went into a rage," Tomo explained.

"It was just Ryozo?" Kagome asked.

"No, it was the entire fire clan. My mother hide me before one of the youkai took pleasure in killing her," Tomo harshly said as she wiped her eyes.

"They will pay," Kagome assured as she stood up.

"I remember the hut falling on me…how am I alive?" Tomo asked.

"A miracle," Inuyasha spoke for the first time.

"Everyone sleep, we leave early," Kagome said before she went to leave.

"There was also a man in a baboon pelt there, watching the destruction," Tomo whispered. Everyone froze and Kagome nodded before disappearing into the shadows of a tree.

'Naraku,' Kagome growled.

'That nasty hanyou?' Oken asked as he lay next to Kagome.

'Yes, that foul hanyou,' Kagome answered as she closed her eyes.

It will only take the right push and you will become as tainted as your incarnation

'I control my darkness,' Kagome thought as she remembered his words.

Join me and you won't have to face another betrayal

'Never…for the sake of Sango, Miroku, and Shippo.'

Forget them and you will have all you want

'Nothing could banish them from my memory. I will always owe them more than anything.'

Remember my words when I tell you that you will never find peace alive

'That's the only thing he was right about.'