Disclaimer: Same as the prologue. I no own, you no sue. Blah, blah, blah, ku, ku, ku.

AN: I hope the prologue wasn't too boring for you all, but if you're reading this, you must be interested in the story, so here it is! A totally revised chapter one! And please remember, read and review!

Nogareru: Break Away

By Otaku-Chan

Chapter One .:.A Miko's Word.:.

It was a another crisp September morning. A light sheen of dew covered all the vegetation as warm beams of sunlight poured through the canopy of forest trees to speckle the damp, cool earth with warmth and reflect off the tiny droplets of water. The sounds of song birds and a trickling stream greeted the ears of the awakening forest creatures, as well as the inhabitants of Kinryoku, the only village where humans, youkai, and hanyou lived together in peace and acceptance of each other. All was peaceful... except for the loud indignant yells coming from one of the many village huts...

"Mou! Souta! How long are you going to sleep? Today is YOUR turn to wash the clothing! Now get your lazy butt up and get to the wash basin while the water's still warm!" an adolescent girl of the age of about sixteen shouted as she practically dumped her younger brother off of his futon. Her deep chocolate eyes glistened with her annoyance as her sibling continued to whine at her request.

"Aww...Come on! At least give me five more minutes to sleep!" Souta groaned as he pulled the hand knit covers over his head. Then before he could even close his eyes again, his sister sat on him, promptly pushing the air from his lungs.

"HEY! Get offa' me! You're heavy!" Souta squealed as he tried to get up, but finding it impossible with the weight of his sister holding him down.

"This is your punishment for being so lazy," she said as she finally got off his back.

"Fine! I'll do it! Sheesh!" he growled as he got up and stretched. Then he left the small room to gather the weekly load of smelly kimonos and hakamas.

'Hah... What am I going to do with that boy...,' she thought as she proceeded to tidy up his bedding.

"Kagome," called a soft voice, "Come eat your breakfast."

"Hai, Mama. I'll be right there," Kagome replied. She opened her brother's window to let the fresh morning air in and she inhaled deeply, letting it fill her lungs. Quickly finishing up with her bed fixing task, she then headed into the dining area of her rather inadequately sized thatched hut home, old wooden boards squeaking as she went. She sat down at the table and said her thanks for the food, then proceeded to dig in. It was a simple breakfast of rice and miso soup with a small side of fish.

"Ooh! The tea stem floated. I'm sure something lucky is going to happen today!" Kagome's mother exclaimed as she sipped the steamy green tea. Kagome knew her mother was a firm believer in signs, so she took this to be reassuring that this day would be a bit more exciting than others. Her idle thoughts went back to the task at hand as she speared a piece of fish on her chopsticks and gleefully scarfed it down.

"Where's Grandpa this morning?" Kagome asked while casually sipping her soup.

"Oh, he was called by Sumiya-San to help out with our newest arrival. I'm sure you heard that Rin had brought back a hanyou from Saizen last night, right? The story spread like wildfire all through the village, not to mention the hanyou himself stirred up quite a commotion. He's a wild spirit," her mother said, a thoughtful look written on her face.

"Honto ni? I did hear about the hanyou but I had no idea it was Rin who rescued him! How in the seven hells did she get out of a taijiya village with a wild hanyou without being caught?" Kagome asked, surprised by this tid-bit of information.

"Apparently, Rin was in the right place at the right time. The hanyou had just been captured and confined in an iron cage. Angry taijiyas wailed for him to be executed as soon as possible. I know Rin is very sensitive about hanyous being put to death, they couldn't help being born into this world as halflings after all."

"So how did she get him out?" Kagome asked, feeling impatient for her mother to get to the meat of the story.

"Well, since she was in disguise as a taijiya no one noticed her presence amongst the crowd of execution fanatics. She supposedly called out for the hanyou to be executed in the morning since it was already late at night. Luckily everyone, weary from a hard days worth of youkai hunting, agreed to her proposition, not even realizing she wasn't one of them and that it was merely a ploy to buy her some time. So once everyone retired to their homes and the town fell silent with sleep, Rin proceeded to stealthily pick the lock and tell the hanyou she was there to help him. However, getting past the barrier guards with the distrustful hanyou was another story."

Kagome finished the last of her soup and began to eat her rice as she asked, "I'm surprised the hanyou even trusted her enough to let her free him without causing a ruckus. I suppose the instinct for survival can create alliances that way" Kagome said as she mulled over the idea. "So how did she manage to bypass the guards without getting caught?"

"Well, I heard that she unleashed a jar of noxious gases she had collected from several beetle youkai. It knocked the guards out cold!" her mother chuckled.

"That figures... Leave it to Rin to use all the dirty tricks in the book!" Kagome chuckled, "I really envy her. Sometimes I wish I had a more exciting occupation around here. Doing laundry and babysitting my little brother just doesn't cut it," Kagome sighed, an almost depressed look creeping up on her face. "I mean... we are descended from mikos right? You certainly live up to that title... Shouldn't I be learning how to use some of that miko power too? Shoot some arrows? Collect some herbs for god's sake? I know I am old enough to do those things now... if only you'd teach me."

Kagome's mother could sense her daughter's contempt for her simple lifestyle, but it was better than having her get killed in such an unstable world. She had hoped Kagome would be happy to live a carefree life and not have to train as a miko. Besides, Kinryoku had many skilled mikos, youkai, and hanyous that could defend the village and keep things running smoothly. She herself had to live up to her duties as a miko each day keeping the spiritual barrier around the village strong to defend them from attacks by human hating youkai. Not to mention helping take care of wounded youkai and hanyous that wandered in from close encounters that nearly cost them their lives. No, she wanted to shield her daughter from the cruel realities of the destruction and war that plagued the country. Her children were the most precious things to her and they deserved to grow up having peaceful lives. But she knew in her heart she couldn't shield them from the real world forever...

"Kagome... you should be grateful that you don't have to risk your life. Being born of miko blood does not mean you absolutely must live up to that title. I just... I want you to be safe and happy... Think about how grandpa, Souta, and I would feel if we lost you. Our family came to this village seeking out peace and stability. Even though the times are tough, my generation and the generation before mine have seen to it that you and your brother and everyone of your generation can grow up in a peaceful village, free from the hatred and corruption that everyone outside Kinryoku holds in their hearts. You are very lucky to be here." She gave her daughter a concerned look and Kagome's facial expression softened.

"Hai mama... I understand. But, I still wish I could do more to help... you know, taking care of new arrivals... acquainting them to the village at least?" Kagome asked, hopeful her mother would approve. Unfortunately, her mothers stern look and nod from side to side said otherwise. Kagome let loose a small sigh of resignation and proceeded to pick up her dirty dishes and wash them.

"Now that you're done, go check on Souta to make sure he's not slacking off, okay?" her mother asked, smiling sweetly as if that alone could erase her daughters yearning for more complicated tasks.

"Hai, I will," and with that said, Kagome headed off to the 'washing area,' which consisted of a long row of large wooden basins full of water all along the edge of a lazy river that snaked through the village. Each basin was equipped with handmade soap and scrubbing boards, and the river supplied all the water needed to get the job done.

Kagome gingerly tapped on her sandals at the doorway and brushed some lint off of her azure kimono sleeve before stepping out into the fresh air to be greeted by the daylight. She then followed a well worn dirt path that would eventually lead her to her destination, making sure to admire the fresh scent of flowers on her way.

After walking a few minutes past a large rice field, she stopped at the first wash basin, noticing her neko youkai friend, Yume. Kagome gave her a warm smile, reflecting that the two of them had become inseparable friends from the time they were young children. They never knew the hatred that youkai and humans were supposedly wired to have for one another, therefore they spent their childhood days frolicking in the fields making jewelry out of flowers and counting clouds on the breeze.

"Ohayou, Kagome-Chan!" Yume said as she straightened to greet her friend, twirling a long lock of her lustrous orange hair around her forefinger. Her eyes were a deep emerald green and she had a red stripe on each cheek, a long swishing cat tail, and distinctive furry cat ears on top of her head, twitching gleefully at Kagome's arrival. "Looking for your brother, I presume?" she asked with a sweet toothy smile.

"You know me too well. Did he wash the clothes like he was supposed to, or did he go off to play somewhere?" Kagome asked.

"Believe it or not, he did wash them... Did YOU have anything to do with his sudden unusual show of diligence?" Yume asked with a sly grin.

"Does sitting on him count?" Kagome laughed.

"I guess so! You should've seen the little squirt! Anyway, he went to hang the clothes to dry. He's probably still there." Kagome knew exactly of where 'there' was. It is an area of trees that has low hanging branches that is perfect for hanging clothes on to dry. "Either that, or he's chasing Buyo around somewhere," Yume finished.

"Arigatou, Yume-Chan. I'll see you later!" The two waved good bye and Kagome hurried off to supervise her little brother. 'What a life!' she thought wistfully as her sandals shuffled on the soft dirt and grass as she made her way to the trees.

---------------------

Souta was busy hanging up the clothes he had just finished washing, grumbling to himself about his lack of sleep and how the stupid clothes were sopping wet and getting his sleeves wet to boot. However, he was soon snapped out of his disgruntled thought process by the sound of snapping branches coming from a tree somewhere nearby. He tried to ignore the rustling sound of leaves, but curiosity and fear spurred him onward, so he quickly put down the clothes, fought to get up some courage, and decided to check it out. He swallowed the lump in his throat and slowly walked over towards the tree where the sound emanated from, hands growing sweaty from his nervousness. "W-Whoever you are, you better come out! If you're a spy from one of the taijiya villages, I won't hesitate to... to... uh..." Souta began in a shaky voice before he was cut off by a shrill shout from his older sister.

"Souta! Aren't you supposed to be hanging the clothing?" Kagome yelled as she shot him an annoyed glance, suddenly noticing that the said clothing was in a heap on the grass. "Mou! Look at that! You just dropped them onto the ground to get dirty all over again! You really are useless at times!" Kagome sighed, exasperated.

"Shhh! There's someone up in this tree! It could be dangerous..." Souta whispered as motioned a pointing finger up towards the ginkgo tree and turned back to face the direction of the rustling noise. Within the fan shaped leaves he could only see darkness as well as some specks of sunlight that filtered through... and even a bit of... red?

"Don't even try to make up lame excuses to ditch your duties! Now get back there and hang up the clothes, or are you just going to stand there crying over an imaginary person in a tree all day? You know we're going to have to have a sit down later to..." she shouted while pointing a finger towards the laundry that Souta neglected to hang but was abruptly cut off as a huge red blur seemed to fly out of the tree and smash into the ground right at Kagome's feet. Kagome jumped back on reflex, gasping at what she saw sprawled out before her.

"Keh! Why the hell did you have to complete the seal on this damned rosary necklace!" grumbled the 'red blur,' which appeared to be an adolescent boy with long, silvery hair, and piercing golden eyes. However, Kagome wasn't nearly as fascinated with the boy as she was with his cute, irresistibly fuzzy ears...

-Kui Kui Kui-

"What do you think you're doing, miko wench!" the boy shouted as he stood up and brashly pushed the grope-happy girl away. He wiped some specks of dirt from his bright red haori and hakama and shot Kagome a glare that was as sharp as any knife, and almost equally as lethal.

"Eh? How do you know I have miko blood in me?" Kagome asked, looking slightly incredulous, as she looked up at the disgruntled twitchy eared boy. Souta stared at the scene, a bit dumbfounded by the situation. 'Who is this guy?' the siblings thought simultaneously.

"Keh. Don't act like you don't know. You said a sealing word that activates this stupid rosary spell that that bitch put on me when I was captured," he said matter-of-factly, tugging at the large maroon beads that hung around his neck.

'Captured?' Kagome thought when it suddenly struck her. 'Ah! He must be a new arrival from Saizen! Maybe he's he one that Rin rescued...' her thoughts were cut short as her little brother began to speak.

"Ano... Who are you? Er... and also... WHAT are you? Some kind of neko youkai? And can I touch your ears...?" Souta asked as he walked up to the mysterious boy, pointing at those ears that just screamed to be fondled.

"Baka! It's none of your damn business who, or what I am! ...And what is with you people and touching my ears!" he snarled.

"Souta, I think he's the hanyou mother told me about earlier... the one that Rin rescued from Saizen last night. Yeah... that must be him," Kagome said as she pulled her little sibling away from the hanyou. "Why aren't you with Rin? She did risk her life to bring you here to Kinryoku, did she not?" Kagome asked him. She felt it was safe to assume he was the said hanyou, since he appeared to be of the inu type, at least in personality if not looks alone.

"Keh! You mean that crazy wench who screamed for me to be killed by morning then wound up freeing me? I got better things to do than stay with a wretched human," snarled the hanyou, " I simply snuck away from her early this morning when she finally stopped blabbing on and on about nonsense and fell asleep. And just when I finally think I'm free from you disgusting humans, YOU had to go and say THAT damned word!" he shouted as he pointed an accusing finger at Kagome, who was growing seemingly more angry at how he came off with regard to being rescued from certain death, and also his insulting remarks on humans.

"You know," Kagome began, rubbing her temple with her left hand trying to fight off an oncoming headache, "for being half human yourself you really should lay off the nasty remarks towards humans. Not to mention that neither Rin nor I are 'wenches.' And where do you get off ditching a person who saved your life? Do you have ANY idea of what Rin went through to get you out of that village without being impaled with spears and used for youkai bait?" Inuyasha just 'hmphed' as Kagome continued. "I guess not. Fine, just sit there in that tree hating humans all you want!" she yelled when suddenly...

-Thud!-

The hanyou crashed to the ground... again, groaning loudly as he got a face full of dirt.

"Oi! Do that again and I swear I'll kill you!" He yelled as he struggled to get up and regain his composure.

Kagome looked stunned. What did she say that triggered the rosary to smash the hanyou into the ground? She reviewed that last sentence in her head, thinking a word to subdue this ornery hanyou would be useful. Just... sit ... there... in... hmmmm. Sit... yes that sounds like a word that could be used for a inu hanyou. A smile crept up on her face as her lips parted, "Osuwari!"

-Thud!-

'Bingo' she beamed, proud of her intuitive senses.

"Arrgh! That's IT! As soon as I get up you're gonna die!" he growled, digging his claws into the dirt and lifting himself off the ground once more.

"Nee-chan, maybe we should go before he hurts you..." Souta squeaked in a slightly frightened voice. Kagome merely brushed a strand of her long ebony hair behind her ear and walked right up to the hanyou as he stood, a good foot taller than her, glaring at her menacingly as he cracked his blood thirsty fingers.

"Ne, hanyou, what is your name?" She asked, looking him straight in the eyes. He was taken aback by her question, surprised how she was brave enough to face him when he had claws and fangs and she was a helpless human... or perhaps she wasn't so helpless since she obviously had a strong miko aura... He shrugged it off. Either way she was a weak human female compared to him.

"None of your business, wench," and with that said he dusted himself off, turned on his heels, and swiftly began to walk away. "Keh! I'm going back to the forest, and as far away from you disgusting smelly humans as possible." Kagome balled her hands into fists at that last 'smelly' remark, but before she could 'sit' him again for his rudeness a female voice broke through her shroud of anger.

"Inuyasha! There you are! I was looking everywhere for you!" cried a girl of about eighteen with long black hair, which was tied up in a ponytail on the upper right corner of her head, giving her a cute childlike appearance despite her age. Inuyasha glanced at her looking less than enthusiastic that she found him. He also took note that she looked very different from last night. She was wearing a orange and yellow checker patterned kimono with little golden loops dispersed randomly across the fabric and a deep green obi around her waist, not quite as sophisticated looking as her mock taijiya uniform. "Thought you could escape me, did you? You should've at least thanked me for saving your life back there," the girl pouted as she put her hands on her hips to gesture her disappointment. "So, Kagome, you sat the puppy, eh? Tee hee! That was so funny! I almost blew my cover laughing," she said with a broad smile, her honey brown eyes glistening with amusement.

"Rin! I'm so glad you're here! I was about to sit this jerk into oblivion!"

-Thud!-

"ARRRGGGHHH!" Inuyasha howled as he was once again bashed into the earth, it seemed there would forever be an impression of him worn into this spot...

"I think you just did!" Rin laughed as Kagome ran to greet her. "It looks like Inuyasha is bound to you now...," Rin said as she pointed to the rather annoyed looking 'puppy' who glared up at her from his cozy hanyou-shaped hole in the ground.

"W-What do you mean, bound to me?" Kagome asked with an incredulous look on her face, not knowing much about binding spells since her mother's lessons on the subject had long been forgotten.

"Keh. That won't be the case if I simply slice your head off," snorted Inuyasha as he cracked his knuckles, once more getting up from his pancake position.

Souta cringed. This is not good! "Sis! I think the dog guy means business! Even if he is only a hanyou, just look at those sharp claws! I'm going to... get help!" then Souta ran off to get 'help,' which really meant he ran off to hide somewhere. Well, little brothers were not meant to be chivalrous anyway.

"Souta! Grrr... that kid!" Kagome exclaimed while waving her fist. "Get back here! This laundry still has to be hung and I am not the one who's going to do it!"

"Prepare to die, wench!" Inuyasha boomed as he lunged for Kagome, causing small clumps of dirt to go flying up off of the ground due to the force of his leap.

"Kagome, say the word!" Rin cried out.

Then, just before Inuyasha's claws could dig into her flesh, Kagome glared daggers at him and belted out another "Osuwari!"

-Thud!-

"Damn bitch! You'll pay for this!" sounded the muffled voice of Inuyasha, face plastered to the dirt once more.

"Well, I'll leave him to you, Kagome. I think he likes you more than me anyway hehe," Rin smirked as she stepped over Inuyasha's flattened form. "Maybe this is the boost you needed to start training as a miko, ne? You can practice some spells on him when he misbehaves," she chuckled as she started walking back towards her home at the other end of the village.

"Gee, thanks," was Kagome's haughty reply.

-Sigh- 'What did I ever do to deserve this? I don't want this mean jerk who just tried to kill me hanging around...' Kagome thought to herself, 'even if his ears are cute! Hmph!'

"You're a miko, so you better get this damned rosary offa' me if you value your life!" Inuyasha spat as he got right up in her face again.

"Listen! I didn't even put it on you! I have NOTHING to do with you or your stupidity! If you want it off so badly, then why don't you go back to Saizen and ask the miko who put it on you to take it off?" Kagome yelled, really annoyed now and feeling that headache creeping up again. "And I'm sick of you threatening my life! How many times do I have to say that word before you get it through your thick skull that I am not to be messed with? I obviously have the upper hand here!"

"Keh! I can tell you're a weakling, your friend just pointed out that you aren't even a trained miko. And perhaps I didn't think to go back to Saizen to have this rosary taken off because the people in that taijiya village ARE TRYING TO KILL ME! BAKA!" he barked.

"Hmph. Good riddance," Kagome huffed as she turned around and started walking towards the laundry to commence hanging it up, since Souta obviously wasn't coming back anytime soon.

"Keh. Who needs YOU anyway?" and with that, Inuyasha leapt up into the trees and left without another word.

"What was with that guy? You think he'd be HAPPY to be in a village that will accept him for what he is. Honestly... what a baka," Kagome exclaimed to herself, biting her lower lip as she picked up the wet clothing. "And he has the nerve to continually insult me! Rin should have left him in Saizen. It'd serve him right."

Later that evening...

"Mama, I'm back with the daikan radishes you wan... HEY! What is HE doing here!" Kagome roared, dropping the radishes onto the floor as she noticed a certain stubborn hanyou sitting at her dining room table, in her home, playing with her cat Buyo.

"Calm down dear, he only came here because he wants to speak to you about something important... although he didn't tell me what, but I'm sure he has good intentions. Why don't you have some tea with us, dear?" Mrs. Higurashi said in her usual pleasant tone. The golden eyed boy nodded and received a cup of steaming green tea, sniffing it curiously. She smiled, knowing full and well that her guest was the hanyou arrival from Saizen. She mildly wondered how Kagome got in contact with this charming young fellow.

Not wanting to embarrass herself, Kagome picked up the radishes and sat down at the table, glaring daggers at Inuyasha.

"Thank you for the radishes, Kagome. I'll leave you two to talk while I prepare dinner. Oh, Inuyasha, was it? You're welcome to stay for dinner if you'd like. I'm making beef teriyaki with a side of soba and of course pickled daikan radishes."

Inuyasha looked at Kagome, then to her mother as if to say 'Are you sure it's all right?' Kagome noted that his eyes showed a tinge of sadness, as if nobody had ever shown him kindness like this before in his entire life. She was sure he never fit in anywhere, not with humans or youkai, because he was both, and yet neither. Her glare died down and was replaced with a look of pity.

"If it's okay... I would be honored," he said in as respectful of a tone he could muster, trying to hide the nervousness in his voice.

"I'm glad, you look like you could use a good meal," Mrs. Higurashi said smiling as she took the radishes and headed into the kitchen area of the hut.

Kagome turned to Inuyasha once more. "Okay so tell me, what are you doing here? I thought you said you didn't need me, but from the look on your face, I can guess why you're here. My answer is NO," Kagome said, before the hanyou could even open his mouth to speak.

"Keh. I'm not going anywhere until you take this thing offa me, then I'll leave and you won't have to see me ever again. It's your choice," Inuyasha replied crossing his arms and giving her his trademark death glare.

"Ooh, now I'm really scared," Kagome remarked in a sarcastic tone, leaning her chin on her hands as she propped her elbows firmly on the table.

The two sat there exchanging various glares and looks of contempt for the next five minutes before Kagome huffed and walked to her room, not wanting to see his face for a minute more.

"Keh," he grumbled and proceeded to play with Buyo, amused by how the fat cat jiggled when he made him dance.

After dinner...

"Mmmmm! Your mother sure knows how to cook! I guess humans can be good for something, heh heh!" Inuyasha said as he wiped his mouth with a cloth provided by Kagome's mother.

"Mama that was great!" Souta said gleefully, sitting next to Inuyasha. He had grown aware of his visit an hour before dinner was ready. His initial fear and surprise melted away as he saw the hanyou play with Buyo, so he then decided this guy wasn't so bad after all. He even got to grope his ears and didn't get killed for it!

"Well, I'm going to go to bed, so good night. And as for you, Inuyasha, good bye," Kagome said as she got up and trudged back to her room.

"Please excuse her rude behavior. I think it's that time of the month, if you know what I mean," Mrs. Higurashi said as she began to clear the dinner dishes. Inuyasha gave her a confused look. What time of the month?

"Well, whatever's wrong with her I don't know, but I should be leaving now. Mark my words: I will be back. Until that girl takes this cursed rosary off my neck, I'll keep coming back." Then with a second thought, he remembered his manners. " Ano... thanks for the meal...," Inuyasha said as he exited the hut, waving good bye to Souta, Buyo, and Mrs. Higurashi.

Meanwhile, Kagome was on her comfy futon buried in her covers, thinking about the mysterious, albeit annoying, hanyou she had met that day. What would she do with him following her around all the time begging to have her take the rosary off? 'Bah! I shouldn't waste my thoughts on that wierdo,' she thought, trying to clear him from her mind and let sleep take control. 'He's such a baka... with really nice eyes... and cute ears... and silver hair...' Her brows furrowed at this thought, sure, she'd at least admit to herself he was somewhat handsome, but he was still a jerk. 'Baka baka baka!' her mind screamed, not so much at Inuyasha, but at herself for continually thinking of him. Eventually, however, her restless mind gave up, allowing her to fall into a deep dreamless sleep.

---------------------

"Nee-chan! Neee-chaaan! Please wake up! We gotta get out of here, the hut's on fire!" a choked and terrified voice of her brother Souta called through the haze of her subconscious. He was shaking her desperately with his tiny trembling hands. Kagome slowly opened her eyes, only to feel them sting and tear up from the intense smoke, and her chest heaved as she inhaled a lung full of the foul air, causing a painful burning sensation in her chest and wracking her with violent coughs. This had to have been a nightmare.

"Souta! What's happening?" she stammered as she coughed even harder, snapping out of her sleepy daze into a reality she wished she had never awoken to. The walls of her room quickly blazed to life with leaping flames and she knew their lives were in danger. Instinct took over and Kagome grabbed her brother's hand and helped him climb out of the window, quickly following behind. Her heart nearly stopped when she saw that the village was nearly as bright as the day due to the soaring flames which were enveloping it. Souta hugged her legs and sobbed.

"The taijiya from Saizen must have found out Inuyasha is here... They planned a sneak attack..." Souta wept as he watched the only home he ever knew burn to ashes. The light of the burning embers reflected in his tears. Kagome's heart raced as she tried to comfort her brother and squelch her urge to run as far away as possible.

"Where's mama and grandpa? Are they okay?" Kagome asked in a trembling voice. Her mind was a jumbled mix of panicked thoughts.

"Hai, grandpa got some burns and mama had to help him get to the shelter at Goshinboku. She yelled at me to wake you up and we're supposed to meet them there as soon as possible!" Souta replied sniffling and choking on his tears, taking his sister's hand in his smaller one. They began to run as fast as they could. All around them was chaos. The village mikos were shooting arrow after arrow at taijiya warriors, youkai and hanyous on their side fought valiantly with their powers and strength to keep the invaders at bay long enough for the weaker civilians and children to get to the shelter. Many of the huts were on fire from a barrage of flaming arrows let loose by mikos on the side of the taijiya. It was as though hell had broken loose upon the earth. Heaps of bodies lay sprawled and mangled on the ground from both sides, thick crimson blood soaking into the earth of this once peaceful village.

Kagome felt hot tears form in her eyes and begin to fall, blurring her vision as she ran with her brother in tow. Her throat tightened as she watched the chaos unfold. Innocent villagers were running frantically to the shelter, screaming for their lives or shouting curses at the twisted circumstances they were thrown into. Mothers were carrying their babies close to their chests, trying to shelter them from the gruesome sights of death and destruction. Children screamed and cried in terror as they watched helplessly as some of their friends and family were slain by clashing swords and arrows or stabbed through the gut with spears.

It seemed the warriors and mikos of Kinryoku were ill prepared for such a large battle so late at night. No one saw the first stealthy taijiya breech the tall wooden walls of the village and set loose flaming arrows. No one knew the Saizen mikos had dissolved the barrier that kept the village hidden. It was all too late.

Kagome breathed hard as her leg muscles strained to keep up her fast pace. By now she was carrying Souta on her back because he had fallen, too exhausted to run alongside her. Their only hope now was to reach the ancient tree Goshinboku. For beneath that tree was an intricate underground labyrinth built for such an occasion as this. In there everyone would be safe... at least, she hoped so...

'Mama, grandpa, please be alright! I'm coming!'

To Be Continued...