A/N: You amazing guys, thanks to you Barks won the Feudal Connection's award for 2nd quarter 2019 Best Serial Fic. Thank you so very much! You don't even know how many happy Nazgul noises I made when I found out!
To fans of Steampunk AU story New Work, which you can find in between other Barks - we're reaching the mid-hundred mark, which means I will be posting the next oneshot story to this AU. I still don't get it why you like this AU so much, since I really suck at Steampunk, but you'll get what some of you asked for.

Yin and Yang

Two headed dragon and two tailed nekomata played together in the dying down circle of fire and ashes that had been the camp fire.

A boy and a girl sat nearby, under an old willow tree, watching the sunrise through a gap in the lush veil of sleek branches and leaves. They knew they should be going back soon, but wanted to just spend a while longer together, holding hands and leaning into each other.

Both of them had been mistreated in their early youth, as fragile children. She had witnessed the cruelty of humans when bandits had killed her family. He had witnessed the cruelty of youkai when a vile hanyou used him to wipe out his family and friends.

Both lost their homes. Temporarily, she lost her will to communicate while he, also for a period of time, his will to live.

Her memories had plagued her nightmares. His memories he'd locked away.

But, as the time had passed, both found new light in their lives. She, by a youkai lord that knew little of affection and kindness, but somehow managed to warm her lonely heart and teach her how to be strong and never again depending on others. He, thanks to the courage and loyalty of his sister and her friends, learned how to trust in others and never again be afraid of forming bonds of friendship, how to never give up on himself and his past again, even if there were dark spots on his past.

They were older now. She was wiser and stronger, so was he.

And, as they watched the sun rise over the fields, cuddled together, they knew that their paths were going to forever entwine and go forward, towards this bright light that was the promise of future.

(Bonus, because I had to)

"Ah, so here you are!" Sango chuckled at the started pair hurriedly putting some distance between each other and (in Kohaku's case) untangling their arms from around each other. "You better don't do anything Miroku would definitely do, Kohaku! And Rin, you know, if you need some training of the fine art of teaching a boy the meaning of personal space, I can give you a few combat lessons," she chuckled at Rin and Kohaku's priceless looks of terror, despite the fact that they probably weren't reacting to her words, but the presence to her left.

"This one presumes that this human boy has an explanation to why he is spending time with this one's ward with no supervision of this one or his pack members. This one also waits for an explanation to why Rin decided to steal this one's steed."

A/N 2: I dunno why, but SessPapa terrifying Rin love-interests is just too hilarious.