Sesshoumaru was not pleased. His grip on the child was weakening. There was a force out there that he had yet to have reckoned with: a mother's love. InuYami had said that she wouldn't be able to see him for a few days. It had been five days since he had seen her last. The youkai spirit was beginning to get angry. Who or what was keeping her away from him? He could feel her emotions through his tie to her, and all of his mind-poison was wearing off fast. She was becoming more light-hearted and calm. She no longer hated her parents. He had to do something before his pawn was lost to him completely. If he lost InuYami, he lost all hope of getting revenge on his brother.

;-:-;-:-;

InuYami was happier than she had been in a long time. Nearly a week had passed since her talk with her mother. True to her word, she had not gone out to see Sesshoumaru. The atrocities he had made her believe were starting to leave her; her mother and father were no longer murderers, and Tsugaru was a playmate rather than a stupid half-breed. She became more comfortable around them, and in turn, they trusted her more. They had left that night with Shippou as a babysitter.

The youkai child chose that night to pay Sesshoumaru a quick visit before Shippou arrived. She spotted him in the field, waiting for her. "Sorry I haven't been seeing you lately, Uncle Sesshoumaru," she apologized. "I've just been really busy. But I'm glad I can see you again."

And I, you, child. What has been going on?

"Mom and Dad left me and Tsugaru with Shippou tonight. We're gonna have a lot of fun!"

Shippou did seem to be a fun-lover. I shan't hold you away from him. InuYami gave him a quick squeeze and started to leave. Sesshoumaru called her back. Before you go, just remember what I've told you. A youkai is better than a hanyou. Try to keep away from Tsugaru tonight. I wouldn't want you to have to mingle with half-breeds.

InuYami nodded uncertainly. She felt all of her uncle's hatred for half-demons rise up within her, and felt the old shame that her brother was one of them. She sighed and nodded. Sesshoumaru smiled as she left, knowing that he had once again triumphed.

;-:-;-:-;

"Hey, Yami!" Shippou called. "Come on! You're not having any fun just sitting all by yourself."

InuYami shrugged. "I just...don't think I should...be playing with...him, that's all," she said tersely. She pointed a claw to Tsugaru.

"He's your brother," the fox demon said. "I wish I had been lucky enough to have a sibling. But sadly, I wasn't, and it's not a gift you should take lightly."

InuYami stood up and walked towards Shippou. Ignoring Tsugaru's protests as she nudged him away with a foot, she said, "Listen, Shippou. You and I have something special. We're both youkai."

"Yeah..."

"And as youkai, we have pure demon blood, untouched by human blood."

"Yeah..." Shippou was clearly getting nervous.

"Why don't the two of us just play together? Without the half-breed?"

Shippou took a step away from the child. His eyes were wide. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but...C-come out of her, Sesshoumaru!" He pointed a finger at her. "Stop trying to take over InuYami! It's not going to work! I know it's you; only you would say half-breed!"

InuYami laughed. "He's dead, Shippou," she said. "He can't take over me. I'm just saying that we shouldn't be playing with hanyou."

Tsugaru had started to edge away. InuYami spotted him and took out her treasure. She lobbed the top at her brother. It sprang to giant size and started to spin him into the ground. Above the boy's cries for help, Shippou could be heard shouting at InuYami. The fox demon jumped up and batted the top to its normal size. He held Tsugaru in his arms, trying to soothe the frightened hanyou.

"Yami! Why did you do that? You could have hurt your brother!" Shippou scolded.

"But you always tel me that fox magic is just illusion!" InuYami protested.

"I know. And it is. But that doesn't change the fact that you used it against your brother! Your own family!" Shippou took a deep breath to try and steady himself. "InuYami...go to your room."

InuYami whimpered softly. Go to her room? She was never sent to her room. She was InuYami, the youkai, the model big sister. Shippou couldn't be serious. Tsugaru's wails drove her to the point of madness. "Blue Steel Claws!" she howled, slashing out. The blue disks of energy spun out, barely missing Shippou and Tsugaru. The fox demon put Tsugaru down gently.

"InuYami..."

"NO!" InuYami shouted, and bolted. She ran to the field, to Sesshoumaru, to her only comfort in the world. The youkai was waiting for her.

What seems to be the problem? he asked, for InuYami was in tears when she reached him.

"Uncle Sesshoumaru...Shippou hates me now." The girl did not go to her usual place, his lap, but stood in front of him, head down. "I tried to tell him that Tsugaru was just a half-breed and that we youkai should be playing by ourselves, but he went off on how Tsugaru is my brother and everything."

While he is your brother, perhaps Shippou was wrong. You know what is right, InuYami. And what is right is for the youkai to be together, and the hanyou to live alone. They are not worthy of our presence.

"No...they're not," InuYami whispered. She still stared at her feet, remembering her mother tickling them. The world had seemed so pure, so good...where had it all gone? Now life was dark and terrible. There were hanyou everywhere, they were all around her. She couldn't play with the hanyou. She couldn't speak with the hanyou. Only youkai...only youkai.

You seem distraught, child. Come, sit up here with me. Something is troubling you.

InuYami crawled up into Sesshoumaru's lap. He laid his hand on her head, right between her ears. She closed her eyes, worn out from using her attack to try and hurt Shippou. "It's just...Shippou was the only youkai I knew. And now he's my enemy...I can't be with anyone."

I am a youkai. You can still be with me, can't you?

"Well, I meant youkai in the world. Living, breathing youkai. No offense, Uncle Sesshoumaru, but you're a spirit. And besides, we've never played before."

I can only project my image in so many ways, InuYami.

InuYami looked up suddenly. "Hey! I got it! You said that someday you'd be strong enough to come back form the spirit world, didn't you? And that I could help you? Why don't we do it now?"

You may have a point, child. I had forgotten that. He really hadn't. The clever youkai had been waiting for her to remember it so she would still trust him. Yes...we shall do it now. However, I forgot to mention that I needed something from you, not just your help. You have life stored in your body. If you were to give me some of that life—just a small bit—I could rise back to life. Will you do it?

Without thinking, InuYami nodded. Sesshoumaru stood up, and InuYami followed his lead. Place your hands palm-up, the older demon ordered. The younger obeyed. He laid his hands on top of her own, palms-down. Now focus your life energy. Think about bringing it to your hands. Think about giving it to me...

The child closed her eyes and focused hard. She could feel herself brush at it gently, but before she could grab it, it ducked out of range. Taking a deep breath, she tried again. It was the same result. Again and again, she tried and failed. Sesshoumaru began to get impatient. He was so close, and this runt was holding him back. Ever the quick thinker and smooth talker, he tried again.

Do not strain yourself, Yami. I can do it. I will reach in and take that small bit of life energy that I need. I promise, I will not leave you drained.

InuYami nodded, placing all of her trust in him. Sesshoumaru reached out with his mind, seeking the trace of her life. He found it and snatched, capturing the end of it. He began to drain her, to pull all of the life from her small body. InuYami began to feel the effects almost immediately.

"Unc...Uncle Sess...Sesshou...shoumaru?" she gasped. "I...I think we...we should...should stop now...I'm feeling...really...t...tired and weak..."

Do not worry, child. I am almost finished. His body was rapidly becoming more and more defined. He was losing the translucence he once had.

"Do you ha...have enough...yet...?" the girl panted.

Almost...Yes...YES!..."YES!"

Sesshoumaru wrapped his long fingers tightly around InuYami's wrists. He lowered his face to look her eye to eye. In her daze, the youkai child realized with a thrill of terror that she had done the ultimate: brought her father's brother and sworn enemy back from the dead. Now it all became clear. She had been used. Used! She only had to take one sniff of his scent to know he was no good. His spirit form had had no scent, and his spike-band did not carry the darker overtones of evil-scent...she hadn't known.

The reborn youkai gazed evenly back at his drained pawn. "You fool...You poor little fool," he growled. "I almost feel sorry for you. You fell into my trap and ate all the bait. Now you're left starving in the hole, hoping that someone will come and get you out." He thrust upwards, catching her on the chin. InuYami went flying. Sesshoumaru laughed, raising his hand to the sky.

;-:-;-:-;

"InuYasha! Look!" Kagome cried. The hanyou looked upwards. His eyes widened.

"But the sky was perfectly clear just a moment ago!" he breathed. And it had been. But now the night sky was cloudy and dark...and it was concentrated mostly on one place. InuYasha knelt down. Kagome hopped on his back, and the half-demon leapt into the air. "There's something about those clouds," he murmured. "Something I don't like. We need to get back home."

"Those clouds are right above our home!"

"No. You can't see it as well as I can, Kagome. Those clouds are right above the field behind our house..." He paused, sensing Kagome's disbelief. "Demons have better depth perception and eyesight," he said simply.

InuYasha touched down at the back door of the house. Shippou was standing there, doing a little worried dance. He kept pacing back and forth, occasionally leaping into the air and biting his nails. "Shippou, what's wrong?"

"Aah! Aah!" the fox demon cried. "I can't...find...Yami! She ran away! I tried to follow her, but then the stormclouds came and I took Tsugaru back in the house and put him in bed! When I finally got back, I lost the scent! Aaaaah!" He ran in a circle. InuYasha growled and slammed his fist down on Shippou's head. Shippou stopped spazzing out long enough to whimper softly.

"Calm down, fox boy," the hanyou growled. "Which way did she run?"

Shippou's response was exactly what the worried father feared. The youkai reached out with a trembling hand and pointed towards the field.