Hey peoples! A brand new chapter here. I would love to give a shout out to Inu Shojo who has reviewed so many times. Thanks for the support. I hope everyone likes this chapter. I combined two chapters into one because I won't be able to post until Sunday. It's extra long, kinda mushy (but not to much), and a little sad in parts.

Enjoy!

Sakura entered the hut and was hit by the smell of lavender and sage. She breathed it in.

"It is good to be back home."

The young kitsune attached to her hand gave a small tug.

"I have to be going home or else my mom will worry."

"Alright. Thank you...?"

"Hideki."

"Thank you Hideki. I will see you around."

She watched him walk out of the hut. The gang entered and she immediatly noticed Shiro and Kurama holding hands. Her eyebrows raised and they noticed. Both blushed and let go of one another, facing opposite directions. Some coughed behind her and she turned. A man with white hair, brown kitsune ears and tail, and dull silver eyes stood before her.

"Master Kiyano!" she set the chest on the ground and bowed low, showing reverance for the shaman.

"Ahh...Sakura...and Kurama. It has been so long."

He held open his arms and Sakura ran into them.

"Grandfather!" she squealed, causing the gang to look at her awkwardly.

Kurama walked over to them and gazed at his grandfather. He returned the glance, slight disappointment in it.

"Son, come here." he released his grandaughter, his grandson stepping forward. "You turned out exactly like your father, thievery. But you have changed...and I couldn't be more proud." he embraced Kurama with a smile on his face.

Shiro gazed at them, a smile appearing on her own face. Kiyano noticed this and released his grandson.

"And who might you be?" he asked her, stepping towards the angel.

"My name is Tenshi Shiro."

"Might I ask...are you an angel?"

"Yes."

"I sensed a pure heart within you. I also noticed that you watch my grandson with a loving gaze."

She blushed at this remark.

"Ummm...well...you see...umm."

He smiled at her and looked over at Kurama.

"She's beautiful. You make sure you treat her right."

"I know grandfather...I know."

The kitsune looked over at the blushing angel and smiled. Walking over to her, he slid an arm around her waist and held her lovingly. She nestled her head into his arm. Sakura watched them and smiled, happy that they both have each other, but sad because she can't have anyone. She looked at Kiyano.

"Grandfather? Might we stay here for the night? It will only be until tomorrow morning then we will depart."

"Stay as long as you like. The hut you used to live in is still there. I have had the women of the village keep it clean and orderly just in case you decided you wanted to come home."

"Is...d..dad's weapons...still there?" she studdered.

"Yes. Your stepfathers weapons are still there. Now..it is getting late. You still remember where everything is?"

"How could I forget?"

"Very well...Good night everyone. Oh...King Koenma?"

The toddler king looked up at him.

"Yes?"

"May I have a word with you...concerning my grandaughter?"

"If she doesn't mind."

Sakura looked over at her grandfather.

"Don't tell him to much. Goodnight."

She gave her grandfather a peck on the cheek and picked up the chest. Signalling for the others to follow, she led them to her and Kurama's old hut, the place where they grew up. Entering it, the familiar smell of pinecones and apples hit her nostrals. She breathed deeply.

"There are seven bedrooms. Koenma will be staying in my grandfathers hut, respectfully. Kurama's room is the first on the left and mine is the first on the right. The room at the end of the hall is...was my mothers and stepfathers. Shiro, Hiei, I trust one of you to sleep in there or I could and one of you could have my room."

"I'll sleep in your room." Shiro suggested. "I'm sure you would like to sleep in your parent's room."

"Thank you. Well, Yusuke, Kazuma, Hiei, Shuichi, you guys can chose one of the other rooms. I will be heading down to the spring. I feel...dirty, too much dirt."

She entered her room and came out with a towel, change of clothes, and soap.

"Do not follow."

She walked out of the hut. Everyone went to chose a room and go to sleep, except for Hiei. When the others left, he exited the hut and followed Sakura.

Sakura walked down a path towards the hot springs. She felt a vibration as she passed a pole with animal carvings (a totem pole type thing...y).

'The barrier is still intact. That is good. At least we do not have to worry about anyone trying to capture the Chikaras. It also explains why we can not make a portal. Portals can only be formed during the day.'

She passed a tree and paused when she felt a strong Ki near the top of it. In the blink of an eye, she was slammed against another tree and an energy restrainst was placed around her wrist. She gasped as she met familiar grey eyes.

"Zyjion?"

"Did you miss me Sakura?"

"What do you want?"

She started to squirm but it was impossible to break his hold because of the bracelet.

"The Chikaras, of course. I can't let you use them for good."

"Never, you sadistic bastard. You can kill me, I know you want to, but I will come back and kick your ass so hard you will beg for death."

"Such high and might words for someone who can't even fight back now. I can't get through that barrier but I will get them. Farewell Sakura...for now."

He pulled out a dagger and, before she can do anything, he made cuts on her wrists, stomach, cheek, and, with a devilish grin, her throat. He didn't cut to deep, just enough to draw blood and make her gasp for breath. He disappeared. Stumbling, she made her way to the spring, threw her belongings to the side, and fell into the water. Blood spread throughout the liquid crystal. Hiei followed her to the spring. He didn't see the encounter she had with Zyjion. Landing in a tree, he looked at her, an unwanted gasp escaping his lips when he saw the blood. He lept down and landed in the water next to her. Picking her up, he saw the cuts. A moan of pain escaped her lips. She blinked her eyes open.

"Hiei? Let me go."

She struggled out of his arms and he noticed the bracelet. Following his gaze to it, she smirked.

"An energy restraint. I ran into Zyjion. That is how I got these cuts. I cannot heal because of the bracelet."

"How do you get it off?"

"I believe you mean...how do you get it off? I cannot because my powers are bound."

"Tell me how."

"Gather energy into one of your hands and push it into the bracelet. It will overload it and cause it to shadder, restoring the energy to my body."

He did what she said. Blackish-purple energy circled around his hand and he set it on the bracelet. It glowed, responding to more energy, but started to crack from the amount. It broke in half and fell into the water. Sakura could feel her energy swirl back into her body. She sighed as her wounds started to heal. Before long, the only evidence of her encounter was the blood on her shirt and shorts.

"Thank you Hiei-san. May I wash up?"

"You may but i'm keeping an eye on you."

She blushed and his eyes went big.

"Not like that. I mean make sure you don't get hurt again."

"Oh..ok. Just do not enjoy yourself to much."

She began removing her shirt. Hiei turned around and climbed out of the spring. Squeezing his clothes to get the water out, he jumped onto the lower branch and sat. Sakura stripped off all of her clothes, throwing them onto the shore, and walked deeper into the water in order to hide her body from a certain fire/ice youkai. Using telekinesis, she made her soap come to her, immediatly washing her body. Hiei watched around him. He didn't like suprise attacks. His eyes wandered over to Sakura and he was drawn in. Her body was perfectly proportioned. There wasn't a flaw on her body. It glittered in the winter moonlight. He shook his head.

'No. You must not look at her that way nor think of her like that. I cannot have her. What happened between us was an accident and a mistake...yet why does my heart ache when I say that. I can't have feelings for her. It is illogical. I cannot love nor can someone love me. I am a forbidden child. When I made love with her, I was in a heat of sorts, the urge to mate was strong. I went to Mukuro, but she didn't cause me to tremble the way Hina, or should I say Sakura, did. Could I really be...no Jaganshi, get a hold of yourself. You don't and will not.'

He was pulled out of his thoughts by a soft voice that resounded through out the forest. He recognized it as the voice he heard in his dream over a year ago (see chapter 4 for reference). Looking at the spring, he noticed it was Sakura who was singing, singing a rather haunted and sad song. (The following song is 'Concrete Angel' by Martina McBride. I absolutely love this song, but it is such a tear-jerker.)

She walks to school with the lunch she packed

Nobody knows what she's holdin' back

Wearin' the same dress she wore yesterday

She hides the bruises with linen and lace

The teacher wonders but she doesn't ask

It's hard to see the pain behind the mask

Bearing the burden of a secret storm

Sometimes she wishes she was never born

Through the wind and the rain

She stands hard as a stone

In a world that she can't rise above

But her dreams give her wings

And she flies to a place where she's loved

Concrete angel

Somebody cries in the middle of the night

The neighbors hear, but they turn out the lights

A fragile soul caught in the hands of fate

When morning comes it'll be too late

Through the wind and the rain

She stands hard as a stone

In a world that she can't rise above

But her dreams give her wings

And she flies to a place where she's loved

Concrete angel

A statue stands in a shaded place

An angel girl with an upturned face

A name is written on a polished rock

A broken heart that the world forgot

Through the wind and the rain

She stands hard as a stone

In a world that she can't rise above

But her dreams give her wings

And she flies to a place where she's loved

Concrete angel

Sakura finished the song on a sad note. A tear escapes her eye as she dunks underwater, washing the soap off of her body. Hiei was captivated by her voice. It was unwavering, solid as a rock yet as soft as a feather. She emerged from the water and began putting her clothes back on. Respecting her privacy, he turns around. she smiles at this.

"Such a gentleman." she says out loud, pulling a black shirt over her head.

"Hn."

She sighs as she pulls on her sweatpants.

"Come on. Let us be getting back. Have the others gone to bed?"

"Yes."

"Well we should too. It is a little after 10 now."

Picking up her belongings, she headed down the path towards the village. Hiei walked behind her with his hands in his pockets. Wanting to hurry up, he rushes up to Sakura, picks her up bridal style, and runs to her hut. When he got to the door, he set her down, signaling for her to enter. Kurama and Shiro sat on one of the futons in the family room, his arm wrapped around her waist, both sleeping. She gestured for Hiei to be quiet. Leading him down the hall of doors, she showed him the room he would be sleeping in, to the right of her parent's old room.

"Good night Hiei. Sleep well."

He watched as she went into her room, leaving the door open so she could here everything that went on in the hut. She curled up in bed and fell asleep. Hiei smirked at this and went to bed himself.

The next morning, Sakura was the first to wake up. Stretching, she jumped out of bed and went over to her mothers old closet. She chose one of the kimonos with a slit up to the thigh on both sides, purple with white cherry blossoms, and a deep purple and white obi. Changing quickly, she stared at her reflection in the mirror. she looked so much like her mother, everyone used to say that. However, she had her fathers amethyst eyes and slim jawline.

"Mother...father."

Turning away from the mirror, she left the room, noting that everyone was still asleep...well except for Hiei. He was already gone. She left the hut and went to the fire ring in the center of the village. The sun's rays lit the sky some what. It was still rather early. The women of the village were cooking breakfast. Everyone was like one giant family. All the kitsunes, and some not, looked after each other. She found Hiei sitting on one of the logs by the fire, sharpening and cleaning his katana. She took a seat next to him. He looked up at her and smiled a genuine smile.

'She looks so beautiful. Why does she make my heart flutter like this?'

"Good morning Hiei."

"Hn." 'Her lips are so perfect. Oh, how I want to taste them.'

"How are you this fine morning?"

"Ehh...alright." 'Because you have arrived. What has come over me? Why...how is she doing this? She's...cracked my shell.'

"That is good."

She smiled at him, her own heart fluttering.

"Sakura?"

Looking behind her, she saw Koenma (teenage form) and Kiyano running towards her.

"What is it?" she asked, standing up.

"It's Ashi. Something has happened." her grandfather exclaimed.

"What do you mean?"

She was scared right now. Her sister was in danger.

"There has been an increase of energy at her house. She's under attack."

Fear ran across Sakura's face. Turning around, she ran back to her hut, grabbed her sword, a few throwing knives, and ran back out. Her commotion caused the others to wake up. They followed her, sensing the rush in her actions. She reached her grandfather and drew her sword, slashing it in thin air, causing a portal to open. She jumped in. Kiyano was about to follow but Hiei beat him it, so he followed after him. The others went after them.

Demon corpses layed about the lawn in front of a Japanese style house. The paper-panel off was off it's track. Sakura wiped her blade and returned it to it's sheath. She went into the house, the others following behind. A demon stood above a woman with long silver-blue hair and amethyst eyes. She had a blade sticking out of her chest...where her heart was located. Sakura's eyes widened and she ran to her aid. Drawing a dagger, she slammed it into the demon's neck. It died automaticly and fell to the floor with a thud. Sakura fell to her knees next to the woman, pulling her into her arms. She could feel her sister's body growing cold.

"Ashi. I am here."

"Sakura."

"I will heal you."

She placed her hand on the blade but Ashi stopped her.

"No. It is too late for me. Stay strong Sakura and protect Zuki."

"Ashi...no..no.."

"I love you sister."

Her lids fell and Sakura knew she was gone. A tear rolled down her face. Laying her sister's body on the floor, she stood up and walked towards the back of the house, entering a room. Pushing a chest out of a corner, she pulled up the fake floorboards. Kurama, Shiro, Kiyano, and Hiei followed her. She picked two small bundles. One she revealed as a foot long staff with a crystal on the top and wings sprouting from the base of it. It was the Sora-bou (see chapter 2). The second bundle was a child with black hair that had silver streaks and crimson eyes rimmed with amethyst. She faced her friends.

"This is Zuki, Ashi's daughter. Her father was a fire demon, hence the deep red eyes." she smiled sadly and handed the Sora-bou to Shiro.

Leaving the room, she found Shuichi with Ashi in his arms, her body wrapped in a sheet. They exited the house and Sakura drew her sword forming another portal, but was careful not to disturb Zuki who had fallen asleep, not knowing her mothers dead body was a few feet away. They entered the portal and were transported back to the village.