No one is left now
My one and only land
I laugh at what I've done
I am the Killing Hand.
Dream Theater "The Killing Hand"


Between Revenge and Justice

"Talking"

'Thinking'

Memories

Stressed

Looking to the rising sun she sighed and closed her eyes in remembrance of the yesterdays night. The words Sango spoke were truths that Kagome didn't wish to hear. Kagome smiled as she watched them wake up. She walked to farthest edge of camp to be alone in her thoughts. Her nature was commanding her to kill something…no, not just kill. Slaughter. Her blood pumped faster through her veins as she imagined the battle that was to come. She looked to the sky and saw that the moon was slowly moving away from the earth.

Blood on the moon means death is near

'Death is only the beginning Sango,' Kagome answered the memory.

Blinking her reserved eyes she let her gaze fall to the little girl that still slept. Tomo was indeed a human child of importance; she just wouldn't offer life to any dying bastard. There was a ki there hidden beneath the flesh that had not been trained or brought out yet. Shippo stretched and handed Tomo a bowl of ramen that Sango had just prepared. Kagome smirked; she didn't realize she brought that much over here to this time. Shippo looked over at Kagome and she shook her head 'no'.

The meal was full of conversation between Tomo and Shippo. Tomo explained that her father was the village leader and her mother had been a healer. Shippo listened to the stories of Tomo's adventures in the forest. Shippo then began to talk about the adventures he had been on with Kagome. Each story he told made Inuyasha seem like a jerk. Tomo had laughed at this and right after the sun had made it to halfway in the sky they left. Kagome had made sure to remain silent not wanting anyone to know her thoughts.

'Oken,' Kagome called.

'Yes,' he asked as he ran beside her in his kitten form.

'I want you to fly ahead and check for them,' Kagome ordered. With a quick nod of his head and transformation to his larger form he was off.

Miroku and Sango both had questioning looks upon their faces, but neither said anything. Inuyasha on the other hand scoffed and jumped into the trees. He knew there was something weird about that cat. It was almost as if he could read Kagome's thoughts and she read his. The very thought that they could hold private conversations set a scowl on his face. Kagome remained silent until the sun had gone from its position of high noon to slight 3am. Oken had returned and in his mouth he dropped the head of a fire youkai in front of Kagome.

"That's just sick," Inuyasha growled.

Kagome picked up the head and sniffed it. She ran her fingers along the blood and noted that it was beginning to cake. The smell of death was becoming more prominent on it. She tossed the head into a tree successfully earning a growl of annoyance from Inuyasha. The head had smacked him in the gut catching him off guard. He growled and tossed it to the forest floor. Sango had a look of distaste on her face and Miroku looked a little wary. Shippo looked confused at the actions and Tomo seemed green.

"What was that about?" Sango asked. Kagome held the bloodied fingers to Sango and then wiped them off on her pants.

"The blood is fresh enough to still be red, but old enough to begin to cake," Kagome stated as if that should have explained it.

"What does it mean?" Miroku asked.

"The fire youkai tribe is not far from here…half hour away," Kagome explained.

"Why'd it take so long for the cat to travel then?" Inuyasha smugly asked.

"It took time to fight and find the proper head," Kagome casually said as she continued to walk.

"That's just sick," Inuyasha growled at her.

"It's survival," Kagome replied before turning to face Tomo. Kagome waived Tomo over and her sit on Oken's back along with Kirara.

About a half hour later there were in the camp of fire youkai. The stopped their drunken celebration and grinned at the women in the group. Kirara bristled and transformed. Sango had her hand holding her Hiraikotsu and poised for attack. Miroku firmly held his Shakujou in front of his chest. Kagome looked over at them bored and walked further into the camp with Tomo and Shippo. Tomo began to whimper and Shippo held her for comfort as he too, began to fear this many dangerous youkai.

"Tomo point out the youkai that ordered the attack on you village," Kagome sternly ordered.

Tomo let her fearful eyes search the group. After a minute she raised her finger and pointed to a single fire youkai. He was six foot with a muscle build. His black hair held orange tints. He raised an eyebrow and laughed at the girl. His red eyes held mirth as his companions began to laugh with him.

"Oken, take Tomo and Shippo to Kaede," Kagome calmly said. Oken growled in disapproval before he complied. Kagome confidently strode toward the male youkai. He fully stood up and grinned at her.

"Who are you human?" He asked spitting the word human. Kagome chuckled before wiped the slight spit off her face.

"Are you Ryozo?" Kagome asked, purposely ignoring his question.

"Yes, but who are you to come into my domain?" He growled as he took a menacing step toward her. The others tensed as they watched the interaction.

"So smith asked me to use his newest creations to kill you," Kagome calmly said. The youkai snarled at her and the temperature rose. "I was going to end you quick and spare your companions but…"

"Ha! You're the one that will need mercy," he laughed at her.

"But I decide to kill you slow and slaughter all your companions for what you did to that girl's village," Kagome explained.

"Who gives you the right to seek revenge and try to play the role of justice?" Ryozo mocked.

"I give myself the right," Kagome growled as she unsheathed her claws and swiped the youkai's face, leaving a set of four deep gashes.

"Bitch!" He growled as he lounged at her. The other youkai attacked and that's when the moon began to bath in blood.

Kagome's eyes sparkled at the sight of the blood she saw. The red liquid called to her, singing to her endless lullabies. The youkai began to choke her as he raised her off the ground. She continued to smile as she squeezed harder. Pulling Hakai from her sash she brought the weapon down so fast and clean that the fire youkai didn't have time to release his hold. A scream tore through the dusk of the sky as everyone turned to it. Ryoko desperately held his hand over his stump. Her slice made it just below the shoulder joint.

Kagome reached up and pulled the severed arm from her neck. Growling in a rage he formed a fireball and sent it at her. It slowly began to engulf her and he smirked in pain. Sango dropped her weapon in shock and Inuyasha couldn't move. Miroku took the opportunity to knock his staff through a head. A dark laughter erupted through the air as the sky darkened around the. The fire was quickly extinguished and a dark ball was visible. Kagome stepped out from the ball and her eyes were softly glowing a dark violet. Ryozo visibly tensed.

"What the hell are you?" He growled out as he fired another attack.

"Pathetic youkai…I am the shadows," Kagome answered as she rushed ahead and tore her hand through his gut. His scream was nothing more than a gurgle as he coughed up blood.

"This will be slow…like I promised," Kagome whispered as he fell to his knees.

Removing her hand she slowly broke the arm that came to strike her. Smirking when she couldn't hear anymore bones crack she dropped it. Growing tired of his pathetic whimpers she brought Hakai across his neck. His head fell to the ground. Summoning her bow to her she shot an arrow of pure energy towards the group of Youkai that Miroku fought. All ten immediately vanished. Looking over at Inuyasha she left him to the five that was left.

His eyes widened in fear as she rushed toward Sango. Quickly bringing Hakai across the youkai she checked Sango. Her arm hung limp at her side with a purple gash. Kagome winced and could smell the poison. Leading Sango to an area that was cleaner she mad her sit and lean against Kirara. Miroku rushed over and looked very upset.

"Sorry…I'm so weak," Sango whispered with a wince. Kagome growled and made Sango look at her.

"Sango. You are not weak, if anything you are the strongest woman I know," Kagome assured.

"The poison is spreading," Sango whispered.

"Sango," Kagome called.

"Yes Kagome?" Sango dizzily whispered.

"Do you completely trust me?" Kagome seriously asked. Miroku looked at the two suspiciously. Sango's head began to sway to the side.

"Of course," Sango coughed as she began to blink in and out of reality.

Kagome placed Hakai back into her sash and withdrew Soushi. Miroku looked about ready to attack when Kagome halted him with a glare. Kagome closed her eyes and prayed to whatever Kami there was to help her. The blade blazed with pink and violet energy as she prepared to bring it down. Quickly slashing the blade across Sango the girl gasped from the impact. The sensation of someone reaching within her and taking the pain quickly passed. Inuyasha rushed forward and knocked Soushi to the ground.

"She could have been saved! How could you kill her?" Inuyasha growled as he clenched again.

"Look again hanyou," Kagome spat as she kneeled next to Sango. Kagome showed the area the wound once was. Miroku's eyes widened in amazement as he quickly embraced Kagome and then picked up Sango. He placed her on Kirara and Inuyasha looked away in shame.

"Kagome…I," Inuyasha began.

"You may apologize…but that doesn't mean I forgive you," Kagome said as she jumped into the air.

"What about the bodies?" Miroku asked as he held Sango on Kirara's back.

"Leave them for the scavengers," Kagome spat. Looking back one last time he closed his eyes and without a silent prayer he was on his way. Inuyasha silently followed behind them. He berated himself for not trusting her, but how do you trust someone who says they want revenge on you? Kagome let out a chuckle, she could read Inuyasha's emotions and she wished she still didn't need his pathetic ass to fight Naraku.

Author's Note: