Partition of the Heart

8:88:888:88:8

Taji grunted as her mother landed a good kick to her stomach, sending her daughter sprawling back into the grass, only to retaliate with a great swing of Tetsuyugo. Taji took her Twin Blade swords and parried the attack, catching her mother off guard as she retreated a couple of steps, trying to catch her breath. Her mother, whose tail was wagging happily, had a burst of energy Taji hadn't seen for years, and this was one of the many times she failed her goal of defeating her mother. Kagome swung her weapon in her hand and lunged at Taji with the dull side of her blade, meaning to end this here and now.

Oh no she doesn't .

Taji waited until she was prepared to swing before she crossed the two swords over her chest. Kagome stopped midstride, smiling to herself as Taji's sword glowed with a pink aura. Sweat poured down her face as a bright light erupted from her blade before a beam shot out with a sharp sound, making Kagome press her ears to her head as a barrier formed around her and deflected the attack, just as Taji fell to one knees, dropping her swords as she fought to catch her breath. "You did good." Kagome praised. "Just work on that beam I taught you a little more and you'll master it."

"Why---does---it---take---so---much---energy---?" Taji sputtered as she bent over and began a fit of coughing.

"Because," Kagome said as she patted her back with concern. "It's a technique that takes concentration and skill. For you to use it after being knocked from one end of the backyard to the other . . . you truly are your father's daughter."

Taji smiled as she rose to her feet, wobbling a little but picked up her weapons and followed Kagome into the house. "Mama, where's Daddy?"

Kagome shrugged. "He was supposed to be over your grandmother's house, but she said he left about twenty minutes ago."She sighed. "Knowing that baka he may very well be arrested."

Taji giggled. "Daddy does have a temper."

Kagome sighed as she dropped her sword into the scabbard and set it high over the fire place, before reaching for Taji's and doing the same thing. "Yea . . . same as when we were younger. Hasn't changed a bit." She stared sadly at Tetsusaiga, the great sword that had protected both of them.

Taji sighed as she laid her head on her mother's shoulders, her gaze dropping to her brother's swords that hung above theirs, but under her father's. Teijoshuto, the sword that was forged from Inuakamori's own fang when he had first turned 16, gleamed brightly under his brother's. Seijishuto, Inukuromori's sword, seemed dull because of the period of time it was last used. Taji sighed and ran her finger along the scabbard.

"Mama, when you and daddy were fighting . . . did you ever fear you were going to lose him?"

Kagome smiled. "Yes of course. I didn't like him fighting, but I knew that it was something he had to do. I never stopped worrying that he would some home, so I had him promise to come back home."

"Why?"

"Your father is never one to break a promise Taji. Always remember that."

Taji watched as her mother muttered she was going to take a shower before she walked out of the room. Taji continued to stare at the weapons. They had a strong, proud feeling that battled her youki, and at the same time soothed it as she ran her claw along each one. "Oi! What are you doing touching my sword?"

Taji snatched her hand back and scowled at Kuro. "Oi! I thought I told you not to sneak up on me like that!"

Kuro grinned. "You're a hanyou remember? There's no such thing as sneaking. If you weren't touching my stuff then you would have heard me enter the room."

Taji bit back her retort and watched as Kuro pulled down his sword, unsheating it and swinging it in a couple of wide arcs. "It's been a while."

"What?"

"It's . . . It's been a while since I've used this."

"You don't have to."

"I know . . . ever since Aka's taking the hunter solo . . . holding it just doesn't feel the same anymore."

Taji shook her head sadly as she pulled down her twin swords. "Well . . . let's go and practice."

"Now? You're exhausted."

"I'll be fine." She smirked. "I'm a hanyou remember?"

8:88:888:88:8

Detective Hiroyima stared at Sora for a few moments as the strange boy swallowed some cookies and milk. Sora, who blushed and grinned in apology, passed him back the once overflowing plate, now with one pitiful cookie sitting in the middle. "How has your father been?" Detective Hiroyima asked, chucking the cookie into his mouth.

"He's been . . . good."

"Still a drinker?"

"You . . . you can say that."

Silence. It was something expected from all children whose case had been examined by Tokyo's Social Security of Child Affairs. But this young boy, he was different. He could have not said nothing for a couple of days straight and when it was over wouldn't complain not once. Detective Hiroyima remembered when Sora's mother had died. He had pulled the young boy to the side for a couple of questions.

Sora dashed his hands repeatedly as he watched the ambulance carry his deceased mother out of the house. Biting back the desire to scream as a emptiness settled in his soul, it was soon replaced by fear as he stared at his father, whose expression held no emotion, no mourning, no grief. Detective Hiroyima kneeled in front of the boy. "How are you?"

"I . . . I want my mommy." Sora had wailed.

The detective nearly cried. "I'm . . . I'm sorry about your mother. Do you know how this happened?"

Sora had said no. He shook his head very eagerly, his gaze dashing from the detective to his father every couple of seconds. The detective realized this. "Did he do it?"

"What?"

"Did he? Did he do this to your mother?"

"I . . . yea . . . no . . ." Sora began to cry again. Detective Hiroyima had taken him out for the rest of the day, taken him shopping and letting him have a good time.

And now, almost twelve years later, the same lost little boy was now sitting in front of him, his once burning icy blue eyes now dull with the weight of the world on his shoulders. His spiky hair was now drooping sadly. His whole demeanor held a sadness to it that kept Hiroyima from prying answers out of the boy right then and there. Sora shifted uncomfortably as he raised his eyes to stare at Hiroyima.

"How long has it been since you've seen your mother?"

"A long time." Sora answered quickly.

Hiroyima sighed and shook his head. "Is there anything you specifically need?"

Sora narrowed his eyes. "What? You don't have time for your cases anymore?"

"Did I say that?" Nakabashi rubbed a tired hand over his face. "It seems you don't need my help."

"I do."

"Then what is it?"

"Do you have any experience with women?"

The detective coughed. "Come again?"

Sora blushed. "Do you have any experience with women?"

Detective Hiroyima could have died. Holding back his laughter as Sora played with his fingers nervously, he steadied his voice before talking. "What do you mean 'experience'?"

"You know . . . "Sora said, making a sweeping gesture with his hands.

"Kami! Kitohoshi you're not thinking about what I think you're thinking about---"

"NO!" Sora bellowed, his face turning a burgandy color as he tried to keep his expression calm. Detective thought his face was priceless, and began to laugh hysterically. "I knew you were no help. "

Hrioyima held his hand out to stop Sora, though his laughing didn't falter. "No . . . wait. I'm sorry. What did you mean?"

"Well, there's this girl. And she's . . . I dunno. This is stupid."

"No, it's not. Now finish the story."

"Well, she's different. Special . . . But she's basically engaged."

"Got a ring?"

"No . . . but---"

"Then she's not engaged."

Sora sighed and raked his fingers through his hair. Wincing as the picture flashed into his mind again, he gritted his teeth together. "It was a promise between them two a long time ago, and apparently the guy wants her to live up to it."

"Does she want to?"

"How would I know?"

"Did you even give her a chance?"

Sora fell silent as his shoulders slumped a little bit. Shaking his head as he stared out a nearby window, he frowned at the setting sun. "That's not the problem. The problem is that even though she's basically with him . . . she sort of messed around with me."

"And you're not happy about this?"

"It's not that, it's just that . . . I dunno. I wouldn't want her to do that to me, and she's far too beautiful to stay with one person. Whose to say she won't cheat on me?"

The detective wrinkled his nose. "Listen. If she doesn't want to be with the guy, she's not cheating. A promise, isn't a commitment. Never let anyone tell you that."

"But---"

"Talk to her about it."

"He makes her happy. He gives her everything that I can't. How am I supposed to let someone as angelic as her have the poor conditions that I have to give to her? I couldn't do that . . . she's too perfect; it's not right."

"Angelic? Perfect? Me thinks you're in love with this girl."

Sora shrugged. He stopped staring out the window and glanced at the clock behind Detective Hiroyima. Gasping and standing up abruptly, he muttered an apology and a farewell and whisked out of the door.

8:88:888:88:8

Detective Nakabashi Hiroyima watched as the young human stormed out of his office, and immediately, with a flick of his wrist, he closed the door and locked it. Shutting the windows and closing the blinds, with a big sigh, he ran his hand over his face, putting down the concealment that hid his youkai.

Sitting down on the ground with a thump, he tapped his claws on the floor as he began calculating what he's heard from the boy, new information that may seem useful to him. Detective Hiroyima is a young man, about the age of 21 with long black hair and stunning ruby eyes. He is the strictly snoopy type, always butting in and out of people's business, which led him to the police department career. After a while, with the aid of his youkai instincts, he had been able to solve different cases by the time he was 19, thus making him a very famous detective at such a young age, with the benefit of being known all over Japan.

Now stationed in Tokyo, where he planned to stay for the rest of his life, he soon found himself suspiciously interested with the case of Yuki Kitohishi. He didn't know why his curiosity was spiked by this murder, but he kept in touch with the son of the murder victim ever since that day, and there has been no leads so far about solving the case. He dug under his desk and pulled out his black mokomoko-sama, dusting it off before throwing it over his shoulder. Frowning, he walked over to the closet and pulled out an old dusted shoe box that he had been saving for over 7 years.

Opening the box, he looked at the old tattered book that he had been holding for what seemed like ages, and crouching to the floor, he carefully opened the book after he set the box down on the ground.

Dear The Chosen,

I am Yuki Kitohoshi. I understand that you have found this special book, that has been written by me ever since the birth of my son. You must understand, that what has happened was planned by Kami himself, and that the wheels of fate has begun to turn. You must read the diary entrees, and when you finally understand what your life mission is, then you shall be given a gift like no other, a reward that will last until the rest of your life.

Do you accept to allow Kami to give you a decision whether you excel in life? Or would you rather the sacrifice of something you held dear to you be a waste; the promise you made a simple thought that you never given the heart to?

I've been taught that steering your life is a hard thing to do. But we have the priviledge of allowing kami to take care of that for us. Choosing your path in life is an important thing to do, because if you are human, you only have one chance to do so. You, as a mythical being, have more than one chance to do so, therefore you have more than one chance to choose the path you would want your life to take.

Anyhow, Kami has decided you shall be the one to protect the sky, to make sure harm does not befall the light of the world. You are like the moon, you give the stars extra energy when they are too weak to go on. My untimely death was also necesarry, and even though his heart was dark before he was born, which led to my death, I ask that you watch over my husband. Do not touch him, do not let harm befall him from my brothers.

Protect my family, and in return, you shall be eternally happy.

Sincerely,

Yuki Kitohoshi.

P.S

Protect the Sky and Watch over the Light of the World.

Detective Kitohoshi turned the first page, a marked frown on his face as he began reading the entry.

I had a dream. A dream like no other. I saw a young girl. A young girl that will follow the tragic past of her mother. A young girl, who is different from the humans of this world, yet the same of them as far as damntion. Kami has given me an option. He asked me to save the young girl. But, how do I save her? How do I save a young girl whom I do not know?

His answer was simple. 'Give birth unto the Sky'

He closed the book with a frown and set it next to the box. It was all starting to piece together. Was his reward about to unfold? He hopped on his feet, making sure the office door was locked, hopped out of the window, and quickly to the security of the rooftops of Tokyo, where he began to follow a certain scent he had watched all it's life.

8:88:888:88:8

Taji snarled as Aka and Kuro walked her to her class, commenting on her unusually short skirt. "Shuddup." She warned.

"Careful baby girl." Aka cooed. "A stick might go up your---"

"Don't finish that."

"Or a bird might get stuck."

"I'm telling mama---"

"You have no proof."

The twins laughed erractically as her face turned a deep red and she walked into her class without a word. Ignoring the surprised glances of the students around her, she sat down in her seat, tugging on her skirt that she now realized was entirely too short.

She didn't so laundry last night. All her skirts were dirty, and her uncle had fallen ill, which had taken her mother to her grandmother's house. Her father had long forgotten how to use the washer machine, so she had to wear a skirt that was two years old--- and entirely too short.

She snarled angrily as Akemi smiled as her, and then frowned at her skirt. Akemi ignored the threat and focused on the teacher. Sora, who's head was bent down, didn't even seem to notice that she had walked in the classroom, and biting back the desire to turn around and say something to him, she pulled on her v-neck t-shirt, trying to pull it over her knees, which didn't work. So, with a sigh, she sat there, hoping it wasn't rising, and tried to focus on her classwork.

About an hour into class, she felt a strange new youki just above her. Naturally, a barrier invisible to humans rose around her, and the teachers and youkai turned to pin her with a stare as the class stopped for a moment. The teacher, who was a leapord youkai, muttered to the youkai and hanyou that he needs to see them after class, and aloud told the class to stop staring and finish their work, staring at Taji the whole time. But, Taji began to feel uneasy, threatened, and as the youki began to near, her barrier grew stronger, and once her miko's energy flared threateningly, causing a stir with some of the youkai and hanyous that were already staring at her.

Now, Sora raised his head to look at her, and he almost seemed confused, as if he could see the barrier. With a raise of his eyebrow, he looked out the window, frowned, and resumed his work without a word, completely missing as Taji bit her tongue to fight a retort. Who is that?

She raised her hand and asked to be excused from the class, which the teacher willingly agreed, and as she passed, muttered for her to meet with the other children after class. Taji hurried out of the room, and hopped onto a roof out a nearby window, with her hands on her hips, the wind blowing her skirt, which made her uncomfortable. "Who's there?"

The figure seemed to growl as it came from hiding behind the Central Air conductors. She scowled as her eyes raked over the figure. "Who are you?" She questioned.

The man didn't say anything as he regarded her for a moment. Leaning to the side a bit, he cocked his head and made a show of sniffing her. Mumbling something she couldn't hear, he scowled with disgust as he stared at her. "It's you then I guess. Who'd have thought?"

"What are you talking about?" Taji asked as she lunged at him without thinking, swinging as fast and hard as she could, and he parried them all, striking her without hurting her, but with enough force to be able to make room for him to counter the next move with ease. "You're a . . . "

"That's right. An inu-youkai."

"But . . . your crests." She stared at him again. "Are different."

He shrugged. "I have no time to talk about my bloodline. I think your teacher is growing suspicious. Shouldn't you get back to class Taisho?"

"Man---Wait. How did you know my name?"

"Never mind that. Do me a favor. Don't tell him I was here. Don't tell anybody I was here."

She opened her mouth to say something, but he already dived off the building.

8:88:888:88:8

A/N

Well, sorry it took so long, but somebody just moved into my house, and we had to move the computer,again. Once we plugged back up the computer, we couldn't go to any site other than yahoo. How ironic. I had the freedom to check my email, but nothing else.