I do not own Inuyasha (but I wish I did), though I do own Amily, Doushi, Konpaku, and Kotodama.

Chapter 11.

Soul Brothers.

The night wore on, and the village's inhabitance moved around somberly picking up the debris that had been caused by the battle. Kagome sat near a tree that was on the out skirts of the small village, she sat to one side staring out towards the cliff still clutching the feathers. Songo tended to the injured Miroku banging his wounds and making sure he was comfortable and warm while he lay unconscious near a fire that she had going, Inuyasha worked furiously as he helped to clean up the town, trying keeping his mind busy, trying to hold back the wave of guilt that that threatened to drown him for not being able to catch their friend, Shippo sat near the fire keeping warm, staring into the flames as tears ran down his cheeks, he felt responsible for their friends death, if only he had been stronger faster, less afraid he would have been able to dodge the tornado, but he wasn't any of those things, and because of that Amily was dead. As the night became later the villagers stopped by the group to pay their respects before going to their huts and going to sleep.

Morning came slow and solemn, Miroku woke slowly and groaned in pain and rubbed his head slowly wincing as he felt a bump on his head, he sat up slowly ignoring his rolling stomach and he stopped at the sight of everyone else, they all sat there staring into nothing, Kagome's cheeks tear stained as was Shippo's. Inuyasha sat there growling to himself while Songo hugged her knees to her chest and pressed her face against them. Then he noticed something else, Amily was not there, he felt his heart trip.

"Where… where is Amily?"

He asked softly, Kagome lifted vacant eyes to him and he knew… he knew with a saddened and pain filled heart that their friend was gone, never to return again. He looked away as tears filled his eyes. Even though any movement caused him pain he sat up and crossed his legs, he began to prey softly for the spirit of their departed friend.

Several miles down the rapids, three men were racing through the woods faster then any human, but then they weren't human, they were youkai. Fast powerful, and dangerous youkai. Well that was true for the most part, they were fast and they where powerful, and they were most certainly deadly, but they did not kill others just because they could. This was highly strange for youkai. The three men were out hunting wild bore to bring back to their village for a feast. One of them was about six feet tall and had black hair that was normally down to his waist but on this day it was tiered up so it would not get caught in the trees as he ran, he had pure blue eyes that at the moment sparkled with the thrill of the hunt, he had on a green and brown kimono that fight tightly to his well built body, but over his kimono was armor made from demon bones, a katana rested against the side of his left and right hip, he kept a dagger hidden in his left boot. His two companions where also his brothers, the one to his left was shorter by a foot and had short black hair that barely even touched the back of his neck, his had dark violet eyes that were cold and unforgiving as he could be, given the right circumstances, a scar ran down his left cheek. From his temple to his jaw, and a jagged scar ran along his throat from ear to ear. No one knew how he had survived that wound, but if you asked, most would say that it had been a miracle, and the others who did not agree would say that his heart had been so black that even the lowest levels of hell didn't want him, so he had been forced to remain in the world of the living. He had on pure black kimono that fit tightly to him he also had bone armor as well, a double edged ax was strapped to his back, and runes carved into the blade gave off a dark aura. The third brother, the youngest of the trio was some were between his two bothers in height; his eyes were a gentle sea green that would cause any woman to drown in them, his hair like his other two brothers was black, but was down to his shoulders in curly waves. His kimono was dark forest green but unlike his brothers he had no bone armor protecting him, his brothers thought him foolish because he chose not to wear armor. He had throwing stars hidden in his kimono, not that he truly needed them anyway; anything he touched could become a weapon. The three brothers raced along the edge of the forest tracking the wild bore they were hunting, when the violet eyed brother stopped and raised his hand causing his older and younger brother to skid to a halt just behind him. He lifted his head and breathed in the air, his eyes narrowed and a growl rumbled in his chest, the elder brother Doushi looked at his younger brother.

"Is there trouble brother?"

His brother nodded his head, with a low voice he said.

"I smell blood"

Doushi and his youngest brother exchanged looks before they took breathed in the air and sure enough there was the smell of blood, it seemed to be coming from the direction of the river, Doushi and his two brothers looked to each other and in a silent agreement the three of them turned as one and ran to wards the river. They burst out of the forest and stopped as they reached the shore line of the river. On a group of jagged rocks they saw a mass of red hair wings and wet clothing. Something about the red hair tugged at Doushi's memory, but he couldn't place it. Using his youkai strength Doushi's youngest brother Kotodama jumped the distance of the shore to the rock, he knelt down carefully making sure he didn't fall, his finger dig into the mass of tangled and matted red hair and managed to pull it away from the persons face, his breath caught as the face of an angel appeared under the mass. He placed his hand against the side of his neck and felt a very weak heart beet, the strange woman groaned and shuddered in pain, Kotodama looked up at his brothers.

"She's still alive"

'She?'

Thought Doushi. He watched on as Kotodama gently picked up the woman, and jumped back to the shore, and laid her down on the sand, when he stood Kotodama noticed the front of his kimono was covered in the girl's blood. Konpaku looked over at his young brother Kotodama with distain, and in a gruff voice he said.

"You should have left her over there, she will die anyways. Come let's leave her for the wolves"

Doushi did not listen to his young brother, he knelt down to look at the woman, his eyes opened when his blue eyes gazed upon the woman on the ground, she was the same woman he had met in the meadow a short week ago, he ran his hand over her face lightly making sure to be careful of his claws.

"By the Gods, what happened to you?"

He whispered softly to her, both his brothers looked down at him. Konpaku scowled.

"You know this woman Doushi?"

Doushi nodded his head.

"A week ago when I went hunting on my own I came across her in a meadow very far from here."

Doushi looked her over and noticed how her wings lay at unnatural angles. He felt sorry for her, what ever happened she had been hurt badly. He felt a hand placed on his shoulder and he looked up at Konpaku.

"Come brother leave her, she will not survive"

Doushi glared at Konpaku.

"I will not leave this woman here for the wolves to eat; we shall take her to the village, to our healer and see what he can do for her.

"I do not like this idea brother"

Warned Konpaku, while he glared at Doushi. Kotodama looked at his older brother Konpaku.

"I have to agree with Doushi brother, it would not be right to just leave her here."

glared at his brothers, his violet eyes flashing.

"She will cause trouble for us, heed my words brothers. If we take her with us she will bring death"

Kotodama glared at his older brother.

"If we do not bring her with us, she will be the one who dies"

The two young brothers began to fight amongst themselves and Doushi shook his head, he knelt down and gently picked the woman up, he held her close to his chest, he looked back at his brothers.

"You two can stay here and fight if you like, but I am bringing her to the village.

The two young brothers stopped and looked at Doushi. One nodding in agreement, the other shaking his head in anger.

Holding the injured girl in his arms Doushi used his youkai speed as he raced through the woods back towards his village, he heard running behind him and knew it was his brothers fallowing him. The woods rushed by him in a blur of brown and green and the wind howled in his ears, he looked down when he felt the woman stir in his eyes, and his breath caught when her emerald eyes looked at him for a second before closing again. He shook his head and held the woman all the tighter against him. Doushi and his two brothers ran until night feel and could no longer keep going, they quickly found a place to camp. Placing the girl down on the ground, they set up camp quickly making sure a fire was burning brightly, Doushi looked down at the girl and sighed deeply.

"Here brother I brought you some water and my shirt, so that you may clean her wounds"

Turning to look at his youngest brother, Doushi smiled slightly at Kotodama, he took the bowl of water but he didn't take his brothers shirt.

"It's alright brother, keep your shirt I will use mine, it is only fare"

Kotodama smiled and nodded at his brother.

"Alright, I will go make sure we have enough fire wood"

Doushi nodded and knelt down beside the girl, he removed his top shirt so he could remove his undershirt. Taking his undershirt he tore it into strips and taking one he dipped it into the cool water and began to gently clean the girls face. As he washed her face he saw dark bruises come out from under the mud and blood , he could help but feel rage for who ever did this to her, he hoped that who ever had hurt this woman was either dead or near death, as this girl was. When her face was clean he muttered an apology before he began to undo the girl's kimono, he freed the girl from her clothing, and though he blushed brightly he washed the girls body, with each inch of dirt he removed from the girls body, the more wounds appeared, by the time he was done his eyes were almost blood red with rage. Taking a deep breath Doushi did his best to stay calm, after he was done he carefully bandaged her wounds before placing her gently back into her clothing. Doushi knew what came next, her wings, he knew that setting them would cause the girl more pain even though she was unconscious, and he did not want to cause her more pain. Hearing a noise behind him, Doushi looked over his shoulder and saw Konpaku standing there with his arms crossed over his chest.

"Her wings have to be set"

Doushi lifted an eye brow, and sat back.

"I know brother, but I do not wish to cause her more pain then she is already in"

Konpaku rolled his eyes and walked up to his brother.

"Well she must be held as her wings are being set, so you hold her and I will set and bandage them"

Doushi nodded after thinking for a second, he scooted closer to the girl, he gently wrapped his arms around her as he lifted her up, even though he knew she wouldn't hear him he whispered soothing words in her ear as he watched Konpaku walk up behind her and kneel down. Doushi felt his heart clench as his younger brother gently picked up one of the girls wings and ran his fingers over it trying to find all the breaks. When he was done Konpaku moves his hand back to the top while his other hand held the wing, and in a quick move he slid his hand down snapping all bone back into its place. Doushi winced and he felt the girl in his arm stiffen for a few seconds before going limp in his arms again. Konpaku lifted up the other wing and winced and how badly it was mangled. Having been trained by the village healer he knew how to set breaks, but this would be one of the most difficult ones he ever had the misfortune of setting. Sliding his dingers lightly over the wing he found all the breaks in the bone, when he came across a particularly bad break near the bottom he hesitated and looked up at his brother who was holding the girl.

"You may need to held her a little tighter"

At his brother nod, Konpaku saw Doushi tighten his arms around the girl. Rising his hand back to the top, he slid it down quickly placing the bone, when he got the bad break he heard the bone snap into place and winced.

Doushi watching as his younger brother set the last wing, cringing when he herd the last snap. He did not expect the girl to move, so when her eyes shot open, and arched her back, he nearly dropped her, quickly tightening his arms around her, and watched as her eyes closed once again. He looked up at his older younger brother.

"We need to get her to the village soon"

It was hot were she was, and dark, with even darker shadows moving around. She was also trapped but she could not see by what. Laughing, there was someone laughing at her, making fun of her.

"Freak!"

A voice whispered in her ear, she tried to look around but could see no one.

"Who's there?"

She called out but got not response.

"You're a freak, a no body!"

Another voice taunted in her other ear. She turned her heard quickly hoping to catch a glimpse of the person but only caught the shadow.

"Please, is someone there?"

Suddenly the shadows lifted and she was in a room, one she felt she should remember but could not, she could here people talking, a man and a woman, but they were too far away to hear. The woman began crying and the girl heard someone walking to wards her, she tried to back up but bumped into something turning around she saw tall wooden bars, her eyes opened wide. Hearing the foot steps stopping she turned back around, and saw someone towering over her, there was something familiar about the person and she knew it was a man, but she couldn't see his face. He bent down and reached his hands out to her. The man opened his mouth to say something, but the girl couldn't understand what he was saying, almost as if his words had been mixed up, then something happened, the bars disappeared and as the man's hands reached for her he disappeared replaced by another man, this one she could see his face but could not recall his name, and the out stretched hands balled up into fists, one raising above the new mans head and then lowered as if he were going to hit her with it while he screamed at her.

"You filthy dirty freak! you good for nothing abomination!"

Amily covered her face with her arms and she twisted her upper body away so she wouldn't get hit in the face. The blows rain down on her, hitting her over and over while she knew that the woman that had been talking before was there standing in the shadows hugging her self and crying. The girl tried to get away but couldn't and began crying and screaming at the blows became harder and faster.

"Stop, please stop!"

But the new man wouldn't stop and he kept hitting her.

"STOP!"

The girl shop up from a futon on the floor and she looked around, and found her self to be in a strange type of hut, it had been a dream, a horrible dream. Then when that realization hit her, so did the pain and she fell back down on to her side with a cry of agony. Her cry of pain must have alerted someone because next she knew the door to the hut open quickly and in stepped three men, the girl didn't knew who they were, though the one with the one with the bright blue eyes seemed familiar too her, but she couldn't remember. Something told her that these three men were powerful and could harm her if they chose too but then something else told her that they wouldn't, but she still couldn't help the quickening of her heart as the blue eyes man walked up to her and knelt down beside her. She looked him over before speaking hoarsely.

"Who… who are you?"

Blue eyes smiled at her warmly and answered.

"I am Doushi, the one over there with the expressionless face is my younger brother Konpaku, and the one standing beside him, with the silly grin on his face is my youngest brother Kotodama. We are the Soul Brothers"

The man named Doushi said with a grin, the girl looked over at the other two men and looked them over, she could see the resemblance in their faces, she kept looking at them until Doushi's voice made her look back at him.

"Well now that you know are names. What's yours?"

The girl opened her mouth to reply and them stopped, her mouth closeing slowly and her eyes opening wide, her heart began to race and her hands clutched at the futon, she began to gasp for air.

"Miss?"

She looked back at Doushi, her eyes filling with tears.

"I… I don't know…"

Translation.

The reason I chose the names for the three Soul Brothers is because of there meaning, which is…

Doushi kindred soul.

Konpaku ghost or soul.

Kotodama soul of language.

They have those names for a reason, but you'll find out what later on in the story. And if anyone gets confused with the order of the brothers, it goes from Doushi as the eldest too Kotodama as the youngest, with Konpaku in the middle. Enjoy. Please R&R.