~Ameki~

She clung to the cold hand that pulled her through the darkness. True, she was angry at Yun, but in that moment, she couldn't afford to give into those heated emotions. A strange wind swept by her, causing resistance in her steps. Her grip on Yun's hand faltered for only a moment before the strength of her grasp returned. The darkness engulfed them and with each step Ameki took a gamble. She had no way of knowing where her footing would land, and so her pace was slowed. Yun, however, was confident in her movements and continued to guide Ameki through the abyssal darkness. Ameki could feel the wind pick up once more, though now it felt more concentrated, as if they were in a tunnel with straight line winds.

Ameki pushed against the force that targeted her. It felt futile, but the hand that guided her moved forward with Ameki in tow. Ameki's legs felt heavy, as if they were weighted down by some invisible force. Each step was more agonizing than the last, but she somehow endured. Heeding Yun's earlier warning, she refused to fall behind or even dare to let go. Though her body wasn't truly present, she felt the aches and pains as if they were real. Her muscles burned as she fought to keep up with Yun's hastened pace. She followed her blindly into the darkness, trying her best to give Yun the trust that she had asked for. The longer they tread through the darkness though, the harder it was for Ameki to uphold that trust. Yun was her guide in this dark place, and Ameki was blind to it. She had no choice but to trust the woman that had forced her into it. She needed her in that moment.

Something began to register in Ameki's vision. Though everything was still dark, it was as if the night sky sprung to life above them. Each individual star came into view as the surface beneath them began to shake. Ameki's vision darted to a bright red streak that illuminated the sky. A falling star maybe? Her senses began to register a few other objects that shimmered into focus. Trees…and…

A forest sprawled beneath them as their bodies materialized on the edge of a cliff overlooking a vast valley. The night sky sprang forth in all of its celestial glory. The constellations above illuminated the deepest recesses of the sky, giving the night a natural light. It was breathtaking. Ameki's slack jawed stare was soon interrupted as Yun spoke.

"This is the land of Musashi." Ameki blinked a few times before the name of the region registered. InuYasha's village resided within the land of Musashi.

"Though, the timeline here has been altered by one decision." Yun turned to look at Ameki. A solemn expression settled her features.

"Ameki… I brought you here to this world to prove a point, but before I do I want to explain some things. I need you to have a better understanding of why I am here with you." Ameki's brow furrowed as Yun spoke.

"The comet that can be seen from here…" she pointed toward the area of the sky where Ameki had spotted what she thought to be a falling star.

"That is known as the grim comet." Her eyes narrowed as she followed the object with her own eyes.

"Once every 500 years, the grim comet makes its way through the beyond, passing between earth and the moon. Many see this as a bad omen, and more often than not war and famine follow in its wake. This is because of two reasons. An object as large as that fragment that broke off from the grim comet colliding with our earth can cause great calamity in itself. The other being because of what usually resides inside of the fragment." Yun's lips pursed as she turned to glance back at Ameki. Ameki returned her glance before her attention was drawn back to the illuminated object that hurled toward the earth in a fiery glow.

"Many people of faith believe the netherworld to be located in a plane of existence within our own world. Truth be told, it exists within its own realm neither within or outside of this world. It just merely exists, much like how you are witnessing your world, but not your world. You do not, and will not exist here." Ameki's eyes widened at her words. Comprehending something so complex should have been more difficult. She felt the heavy meaning, and confusion surface, but for some reason it made sense without much explanation.

"Within that fragment, a black dragon lays dormant. He is returning from the netherworld, and was unable to complete all ten trials of succession." Ameki's eyes widened at Yun's words. The familiar events were unfolding. The vision she had experienced with Nimka came forth. She could remember the hatred she had felt looking through Yakunan's eyes in the netherworld. She had never felt such an emotion toward anyone. The longer she had stared at Sesshomaru's figure through Yakunan's eyes, the hotter the hatred burned, almost searing the blood in his veins. So this had been how he was able to get back from the netherworld…

"However, in this world, he will not be let live much longer for Sesshomaru and InuYasha will destroy him before he is even allowed to feel the earth's surface again." Ameki's breath caught at her words.

"What?" A world without Yakunan? Ameki could hardly believe what she was hearing. If it had been that simple, why was her world plagued by his destruction?

"How? I don't understand." Ameki's confusion won, causing her mind to jumble her thoughts further.

"Like I said, this world differs because of one decision. One decision that was made by Sesshomaru." Ameki swallowed as she brought her focus back to the fragment that continued it's descent.

"He chose to remain in Rin's life." The vision around them shimmered, much like the darkness that Ameki had been pulled through. Ameki quickly grabbed onto Yun's hand once more, afraid that the darkness would take her. Ameki tried to imagine what that would mean, if Sesshomaru had remained in her mother's life. A few images flitted before her eyes, giving her no chance to fully comprehend their meaning.

They appeared in a field, beside the all too familiar village. A field Ameki recognized almost immediately. In her world, she had picked crops alongside Yuuto in that field. She had made friends there, and earned her keep. She had finally felt like she had been making a difference. She had felt useful. It was InuYasha's village. She could faintly make out the sound of a baby's cry… no… two babies. Their small cries carried to their ears so easily, as if the wind had wished for the sound to find them. Ameki felt drawn to the sound. She moved slowly, halting when Yun's grasp on her hand tightened, keeping her anchored firmly to their position in the field.

Ameki glanced back, confusion setting in. She wanted to see that from which the wails came from. She had been immersed into a world that was not her own, and for a moment, she felt like the intruder. A world without Yakunan beckoned to her though. She felt that she could move more freely, like a weight had been lifted from her. However, Yun placed the restraints of observation alone on her. It was almost ironic.

Yun's eyes darted toward the sky, Ameki's attention followed. The cries had ceased, but something else demanded their attention. Sesshomaru. He rose to the sky, cradling something to his chest as he lifted toward the clouds. His face, it was almost a haunting expression. Uncertainty? Fear? It was most troubling for Ameki to see such an emotion paint his familiar features.

Ameki gasped as she caught sight of the heads of black and white hair that protruded from the swaddled bundles he held in his arms. They were… infants. Newborns. He carried them from the village with urgency. Ameki felt her pulse rise, her body began to sway as her knees threatened to buckle. What did it all mean? What had he intended to do with the children? Ameki caught sight of Yun's face. Yun stared at her through the corner of her eye.

"Don't let go, things are about to become turbulent." Ameki tightened her grip on Yun's hand as the world around them shimmered and changed once more.

Images of Sesshomaru laying the infants at the base of a tree appeared before them. Ameki watched as the babies grew and morphed before her eyes as time passed at a hastened pace. Two young girls frolicked and played in the meadows of the forest, and climbed the trees to explore their home. Two sisters with an unshakable bond survived through their hardships with each other. Two sleeping children were awoken by a forest fire. An image of Sesshomaru appeared as he watched the flames of the forest below. He stood in company with a few other figures, their faces were blurred to Ameki's sight. She couldn't make out their features. He watched as the flames claimed the area where the sisters lived and grew up, and in an instant turned his back on the raging flames and departed from the scene.

Ameki's breath froze in her lungs. She couldn't inhale the deep breath her lungs longed for. The absolute terror and disbelief at what she had just witnessed shook her to the core. He had left those children to be consumed by the flames. He had left those innocent children to die. Sesshomaru… her mind pleaded.

"There is no use. These are all just memories of a world that is not your own. It has all come to pass my dear." Yun's voice queued the tears that had welled in Ameki's eyes to escape. She felt the moisture soak her cheeks as the disbelief sat in. How could Sesshomaru just turn his back on them? Yun's grip on Ameki's hand tightened once more.

"Please. I've seen enough, please no more." Ameki pleaded.

"Ameki. I have one more thing to show you. I must make you understand how easily he can turn on you." Ameki's eyes burned from the tears that welled once more. The sting of salt on her cheeks was very real. Her pain was real.

Ameki was hesitant to return the grip on Yun's hand. Could she bear to see this side of Sesshomaru? Yes, it was a different world, but it had been a world where Yakunan was gone, and he had chosen to remain in Rin's life. Those had all seemed like good things hadn't they?

Ameki's vision danced with a luminous glow. A glittering powder danced around the area where her vision focused. It was a dim lit area. As the worldspace around them came into focus, Ameki felt the pressure of Yun's hand dissipate. Yun stepped forward, following the fluttering sound. At first Ameki was hesitant, but she soon followed down an earthen hall. The tunnel was made of dirt and roots. Ancient gnarled roots that contained layer upon layer of age. They entered a spacious corridor, or rather a cavern of sorts. In the middle, was a large cluster of roots, illuminated by a soft pale glow. In the mist a figure could be seen. A female's figure came into focus. A beautiful butterfly approached the roots at a slow and graceful pace, as if time in the cavern had slowed down immensely. Ameki stepped forward, Yun followed. Ameki was curious as to who the young female was. Her frame was slightly smaller than Ameki's and her hair was disheveled in suspended animation, as was her body. Ameki's steps slowed as she neared the girl. Her features come into view. Ameki froze as the realization hit her. It was her mother. It was a young Rin, maybe even younger than Ameki currently was.

Ameki's hand found her mouth as she muffled a surprised gasp. The image of her mother before her was painstakingly bittersweet. To see her again, after losing her. It hurt just as much as it soothed her wounded soul. What had Yun's intentions been? Why show this to her? A different world and a different time. A mother that would never birth her, but was still her mother nonetheless. What did any of this mean?

"If you forsake her, she may never awaken again." A serene voice chimed over Ameki's thoughts. The emotions that swelled in her chest were reaching a climax. She turned to see the faint image of a beautiful woman. The woman spoke to a figure shrouded in shadows. A glint of light caught an amber eye that focused on the image of Rin in the center of the room. The shadows concealed him well, but Ameki was well aware of who occupied the darkness. She watched as Sesshomaru ignored the woman's words, turning on his heel, leaving her mother, forsaking Rin.

Ameki's legs gave way. Yun rushed to her side grabbing her hand as the illusion shattered around them.

Ameki awoke in a cold sweat. Her body felt mostly numb. The chill that had crept into her bones felt more emotional than physical. The room itself was warm, but her body was rigid with the scenes that Yun had splayed before her. Sesshomaru had turned his back on Rin. The one mortal she thought that he held above all others. He had so easily turned his back on her. What had caused such an outcome? In a world without Yakunan, things should have at least been easier, yes? The two children, they had seemed, somewhat otherworldly as well. The haunted look on Sesshomaru's face seared itself into her mind as he had cradled the young babes to his chest. That was not the Sesshomaru she knew. It couldn't be. He had held a look of indifference as the flames had threatened to consume the forest where the two children resided.

A part of her wished for more clarity on the events she had witnessed, but deep down she was terrified to know. She brought her shaking hands to her face. Her palms searched her features, grounding her back into her own world. This was real. What Yun showed her could have been fabricated so easily. Yun held a distaste for Sesshomaru, and what better way to convince Ameki to turn her back on him than create the confusing scenarios she had witnessed in her dreams. Could Yun truly hold the power to be able to show her such things? The same world, but different, merely affected by one decision? Who was Yun really, and why did Yakunan hold such distaste for her? Why did Yun hold such distaste for Sesshomaru?

The warm stone against her chest pulsed. Or rather, maybe her heart had skipped, causing her to jolt with surprise. Her hand found the stone against her skin, pulling it into her view above her clothing. In the dim room she stared down at the smooth surface of the deep purple pendant. She focused on the stone for a moment, her eyes taking in each detail that the dim lit room would provide. Ameki's eyes caught a glimmer along the surface, light passing across from one side to the other. It was faint, but she had seen it. The small illumination was enough in the dark room to be noticeable.

She clasped her hand around the pendant, bowing her head as she brought it to her forehead.

"Lord Sesshomaru… What can I do?" She whispered into the stone. Her uncertainty was suffocating. She could trust Yun, or trust the man that had done everything in his power to protect her. He still was, she realized. The doubt remained though. If Yun had been right, Sesshomaru only fought to prove that he was better than Yakunan, and Ameki would merely be just a pawn. What then? If Sesshomaru did find a way to remove the mark, would he turn his back on her? Completing what he had sat out to do meant that she would no longer have a place in his life right? Would she return to the village?

Ameki painfully realized she had developed a dependency. One that consisted of Sesshomaru being a constant in her life. Maybe he would make her return to a normal life, and that would be alright with any other mortal maybe, but she… Something in her didn't want to let him go. Even if he were capable of such indifference toward her mother, toward the lives of those children… he was a demon after all. She had no doubt that he was capable, however, she…

She opened her palm, the pendant once again coming into her view. The tear that fell from her chin collided with the stone. The atmosphere of the room changed. A new heat seeped into her bones as she held the pendant. She could almost feel Sesshomaru standing there. His warmth was unmatched, but the images of his cold and dissociated gaze continued to replay in her mind. He wasn't the same demon Yun had shown her. By logic alone she could prove it. Sesshomaru had made a decision in the other world, one that had altered the path to the demon he would become.

Surely fate wouldn't be so cruel. Fate couldn't do that to her, not after everything else. She couldn't harbor such feelings for the indifferent monster she had witnessed. His cold eyes were not the warm ones that Ameki adored gazing into. In this world, Sesshomaru had chosen to protect Rin from afar, opening a whole new world of opportunities. This world was not bound by the events in the other one. She couldn't possibly…

Her tears came forth in urgency now as she clenched her eyes shut, attempting to drown the pain that filled her chest. It was as if her already wounded heart was being torn from its nesting spot within her flesh and blood chest. She felt the pulse again, only this time it had not just come from within her. She had felt her heart skip, but the pendant thrummed with energy in unison. The skip of her heart told her everything she needed to know. It came so easily to her, even though he was a demon. Years of denying to feel such emotions for anyone else unfolded before her. She loved this demon. This beautiful and terrible demon. She loved him. It wasn't just the security he could provide for her, though it began with the safety she felt around him. He had proved time after time that he was capable of the emotions needed to fester such feelings. His eyes were his voice to her, even when he did not speak out loud. Surely, fate would not be so cruel as to let her fall in love with a monster.

She needed air. She released the pendant from her grasp. The stone landed against her chest as she pulled herself up from her sheets. She made her way to the door of her room. Quietly, she slid the door open peering out into the open room beyond. Hotaru's sleeping form propped against the wall. His tired shoulders slumped, mimicking the motion of his downcast head. He had fallen asleep tending the fire for the evening. The cold outside had deepened as the night hours ensued. The icy chill seeped through the slatted windows of the room. The small straw curtain wafted as the gusts forced themselves inward from outside. A storm was brewing, one that had already salted the earth with it's heavy clouds. Ameki made her way to the door and looked outside. The ground was covered with snow, snow that continued to fall and remain, building on the surface of everything it touched. The wood stacked beside the door had accumulated a good bit of snow. The lanterns that lined the streets were gathering precipitation as well. The flames of a few had been snuffed by the cold and wet environment, despite the oil that fueled their flame. The road through the center of the village was spotted with light, but illuminated by the white substance that coated the ground.

Her chest felt as heavy as the deep and dark clouds that blocked her view of the cosmos. The feelings that roiled and raged war against her mind begged for the cold air. She wanted the numbness of her limbs to feel again. It was an all consuming pain, feeling numb. She stepped outside, listening to Jaken's loud snores from the room within. The sound faded the farther she walked from the warm house. She made her way along the deserted road, unsure of where her body would take her. Her mind wandered to Sesshomaru. Her Sesshomaru, not the images that Yun had displayed for her. That was not the Sesshomaru she knew. He was not that demon. He wasn't capable of such disinterest. She had seen desperation in his eyes. The night he had pulled her from the river in Musashi, his eyes had been wild with the emotion. Fear, guilt, all of it. Though she had seen a hint of that fear as well, in the image of Sesshomaru carrying the two newborns. He was capable, but what had caused him to become the emotionless demon she had witnessed?

Ameki made her way to the edge of the village. Her thoughts fought to forget what Yun had shown her, but in the process she struggled with her own reality. She loved him. She could admit that to herself. It was something she would never muster the courage to openly say though. With the doubts in her mind, images of Sesshomaru turned away from such admissions. He didn't see her in that way, but somehow her warped mind had developed these emotions. She had felt great sympathy for the demon, the wounded demon that she had tried to nurse in her actions. He was a wounded bird, and she could not deny her nature to try and soothe his pain. Whether he showed it or not, she felt the deep sadness his eyes tried to hide. Somehow though, through all his effort for her in return she had fallen for Sesshomaru. It scared her. The love she felt would never be realized or returned, and Yun would continue to make things that much harder. Making her doubt her Lord.

She scanned the white fields as images of Sesshomaru flooded her mind. Her chest tightened as she realized it would be an unrequited love. Someone such as Sesshomaru could never harbor such feelings for her in return, and she would not expect him too. It was not in his or her best interest. Ameki sat there, groveling in her own self pity and doubt, letting the emotions engulf her like the chilled wind. She could feel the icy touch of the wind on her body. The numbness had subsided, but was quickly replaced by the uncomfortable cold. A new natural numbing sensation enveloped her fingers. One that was only natural for a warm bodied creature on such a cold night. Her eyes drifted, watching the wind kick up the snow, swirling it around in an area nearby. The low light played tricks on her eyes, causing shadows to move where nothing occupied. Her hands found her shoulders, her own arms embracing her frame as the chill settled in. It was nice to feel reality once more. It brought her from the brink of fear and doubt she felt within her own heart.

The wind around her shifted, the sounds that registered to her hearing were no longer merely the howls of the wind. She could hear the crackling sound that ice often made. A creeping cold slithered up her spine as the sound approached from every direction, drawing near to her. She could make out the faint sound of a bell, or rather bells. Bells that blended so well with the growing sound around her. Was she hallucinating?

A Faint glow appeared from behind her, she turned to catch a glimpse of something that almost stopped her heart. Her mother. Rin. Encased in the otherworldly glow, was the familiar eyes staring back at her with a questioning look. A look of curiosity that she had seen many times. She floated weightless above the snow, dressed in a white robe that curled at the bottom, revealing the pale feet that sat suspended above the ground. Ameki sat frozen and wide eyed as she stared at the apparition behind her. Her body refused to move even though she wished to fully turn her gaze at the beautiful sight before her. The icy chill grew in intensity around her. She could see the wispy tendrils of light reach out to grasp her. Her frozen body sprung into action, pulling herself away from the icy needles that threatened to grab her. She shook herself from the shock that she had felt prior. Her mother's face turned from questioning, to something a little darker. Her brow furrowed as she floated forward on the wind. Ameki turned to brace herself, backing away to try and keep her distance.

She felt the cold wood press against her back. The snow that had accumulated on the fence post fell as she came into contact with it. She pressed herself against the fence and fumbled with her clothes. She reached for the tanto she kept hidden away attached to her thigh. Nothing. There was nothing there. Her panic level rose as she realized she had neglected to grab her weapon from under her pillow. Her mind had been on other things when she had decided to leave. Protecting herself from the potentially dangerous apparition lurking near the village had been the furthest thing from her mind, and now she regretted leaving so hastefully. Her eyes glanced back up at the vision of her mother that reared her head, ready to swing an arm. Grasping in the air in front of her was a claw made of ice. Ameki pushed herself back against the fence, the claw narrowly missing her head. Her weight now unbalanced, caused her body to teeter over the fence.

The apparition before her reached out again charging her. Ameki brought her leg up making contact with the demon's chest. The creature let out a shrieking wail as the force sent Ameki tumbling over the edge of the fence. She landed on the other side, where the inclined hill led down to the fields below. Her body rolled upon hitting the ground. She was ready to get on her feet but the apparition followed. She pushed away sending her body down the hill toward the field. She felt the cold snow pack against her body as she rolled. Surely someone must have heard the terrible shriek the beast had released. The sound had been enough to disorient her momentarily. Such a shrill sound to her sense of hearing had been painful.

Her body came to a rest at the foot of the hill. She was now further away from the village, which was a bad thing. The apparition had intentionally placed itself between Ameki and the village. It must have known she would flee, and so it had limited her options. Ameki rose to her feet, ignoring the extra exertion she exhibited with her shaky knees. She would need to make some noise to get someone's attention. She glanced back toward the village on the hill. There was no sign of movement, other than the wind that shook the branches of the trees.

"Someone…" Her voice came out as a whisper. A whisper that was soon lost to the howling gusts of wind across the flat fields. A hand came up to touch her throat as she watched the apparition approach her once more. The demon's face had changed again. This time, she did not recognize the woman. She tried again, but to no avail. She couldn't scream, so instead, she chose to run.

She didn't have a plan of action. Sesshomaru and Kohaku had taken Ah-Un with them, so there weren't a backup set of eyes watching from the forest. Something had happened to her voice, rendering her words nothing but a whisper. In her fleeting moment of weakness she had neglected her tanto beneath her pillow. No one would save her, and at that moment her only options were to run, or fight the beast unarmed. She would exhaust her option to run if she had to, and then she would face the last option. She wouldn't go down without a fight. Ameki picked the hem of her robe up, and took off. She fought to keep her balance against the building snow and uneven surface of the harvested ground below her. When she would stumble, she would pick herself back up. No matter how hard she pushed herself though, the apparition gained on her. The demon didn't have to worry about it's footing when it could glide through the air.

Ameki racked her brain with her options. Her body began to tire from the pursuit. She was doing all that she could to just stay ahead of the demon. However, her best was not enough. At the edge of the field Ameki's footing gave way. She positioned her tired body to look back at the beast that had been pursuing her. It had vanished. The cold crept into her bones once more as she searched the direction she had come from. Nothing. The snow had begun a heavy downcast falling to the earth in a thick curtain that prevented her from seeing the shimmering lights of the village. Where had it gone? She looked around, a bit disoriented as her body struggled to replace the oxygen it had lost during her sprint for her life. The bells… she could hear the bells approaching her once more. An eerie sound that terrified her. It was somewhere near.

The pendant around her neck sent a ripple of energy across Ameki's skin. Had she not seen it herself, she would have passed the sensation off as a shudder. Her hand found the necklace once more. His presence, she could feel it. Sesshomaru...but. He wasn't there, and he couldn't save her. No matter how much the pendant willed to comfort her, it just wasn't enough. This wasn't a dream, but it did give her the strength to rise to her feet once more. Sesshomaru wouldn't be scared in the face of his enemy, and Ameki would need to muster all of her courage to face down the beast that would soon be upon her.

The wisps of light struck out from the darkness. Ameki raised her arms absorbing the icy burn that lashed through her sleeves. The beast came into her view once more, threatening to engulf her in the cloud of ice and snow that now encircled it. Ameki opened her mouth to scream as the pain gave way to her senses, but nothing came out. The apparition before her chuckled.

"Isolated and all alone… that's your biggest fear isn't it?" The voice held a new chill, much colder than the wind itself. A woman's voice cut through the icy wind, registering to Ameki's hearing.

Ameki clasped her arms in front of her once again, afraid that any moment the apparition would strike her once more. Her arms trembled with the pain the first blow had sent across her skin. The contact had been worse than cold, it had burned. She braced herself, ignoring the hissed words.

"You can't call for help, and no one is close enough to witness our encounter. Whatever will you do? Keep running?" Ameki's brow furrowed as the beast taunted her. The apparitions features became warped, and less human as it spoke. Did it intend on talking her ear off, or was it going to finish what it had started?

"Oh no. Someone help me please!" The demon taunted, with an all too familiar voice. Her voice. The demon had stolen her voice. Ameki's breathing picked up as she mustered what courage she had left. Surprisingly, her body found strength. With one quick movement she darted past the apparition, heading back toward the village. Her calves burned, and her breathing was ragged, but the apparition had been correct. She was afraid to die out in the field, alone. No one would ever know what had happened to her. She would just disappear if she gave into the fear. It wasn't an option. She couldn't succumb to the cold or exhaustion.

In an instant Ameki found herself face down in the snow. She landed with a hard thud, sending pain throughout her body. The stinging pain that engulfed her ankle had tripped her. She quickly rolled to her side and glanced down where a wispy tendril held onto her. She tried to pull herself up and kicked wildly at the pressure around her ankle, but the presence of the apparition engulfed her. A terrible shriek sounded in her ear, disorienting her once more. She flailed her limbs wildly, but the freezing cold air that engulfed her quickly subdued her. Just merely taking a breath was painful, and soon became impossible. Her lungs refused to breath in the icy air.

Her vision faded as the cold crept into every inch of her body. The illumination around her descended into darkness as her mind drifted toward the unknown.

"Let me protect you." Yun's voice greeted her from the darkness. Her crystal eyes appeared from within the dark recesses of Ameki's mind. She couldn't move, only watch as Yun stepped out of the shadows. Her hand motioned for Ameki to grab hold, but no matter how hard Ameki tried, she was unable to move.

"All it takes is one word Ameki." Yun inched closer with her palm facing forward.

"Just say yes, and-…" Yun's eyes became unfocused as her words drifted. A frown etched her features as the illusion broke. Ameki gasped as her eyes opened. She felt the hot liquid coat her icy skin, causing her body to jolt from the shock. She was free of the gusting wind that threatened to devour her. She watched as the Yuki-Onna demon fled from her position. The high pitched shriek of the wind faded as the demon disappeared into the curtain of snow, the soft sound of bells faded as well. Ameki didn't waste time, though her body ached from the cold, she forced herself to move.

"What in the hell were you thinking?!" Hotaru's voice boomed from beside her as he knelt down. She heard the thud of the bucket handle against the rim as he dropped the pale he had been carrying. She looked down at the front of her robe. He had thrown hot water over her. She quickly looked around, scanning the area around them. Hotaru's torch fought against the cold snow that threatened to dampen the cloth that fueled it's flame.

"Is it gone?" She whispered. Her hand instinctively clutched at her throat. Her voice was still too quiet. She couldn't muster the strength in her throat to produce enough sound. The words that did escape were carried on air, truly just a whisper.

"Dammit!" Hotaru stood up swiftly from his kneeling position. He grabbed her arm and helped her to her feet.

"It's gone for now, but she'll be back." Ameki glanced back toward the darkness where the apparition had fled.

"What was with the water?" Hotaru strained to hear her words over the gale winds. His eyes watched her lips as she attempted to speak.

"Huh? You mean the water?" He pointed toward the bucket beside them. Ameki's irritation surfaced as she fought against the emptiness in her throat. Her words should have come out clearly, but they did not. Why? She settled for a nod.

"Anything warm is a deterrent for Yuki-Onna. Scalding water and fire is deadly." He waved his torch for dramatics. Ameki nodded again, but this time she motioned toward her throat.

"Yeah, so the only way to get your voice back is to kill it." Ameki blinked, her frown deepening.

"The Yuki-Onna have a strange obsession with collecting voices. It's said that their howling shriek is the collective of their victim's screams. The louder the shriek, the more people they have devoured and the stronger they are." Ameki's clenched jaw went slack as she listened to his explanation.

"For now we should head back to the village before you collapse of exposure. I know of a few people that would have my head if anything happened to you." Hotaru grabbed her arm and led her through the fields back toward the village.

Ameki's adrenaline spiked once more as the lantern lights from the village came into view. The eerie sound of bells could be heard once more, but soon faded as they made their way into the village.

"She can't follow us here. We've placed wards along the roads and near the buildings." He stated as he slid the door open. Inside was a bright eyed Jaken.

"Where in the world have you been?!" He screeched as the two stepped inside.

"No more shrieking, please." Ameki mouthed.

"If you have something to say, then speak up!" Jaken retorted with narrowed eyes.

"Demon took her voice." Hotaru spoke as he passed the imp and knelt down by a bag of his supplies.

"Gah, what?!" Jaken squealed, looking from Hotaru and back to Ameki.

"Yeah so, she's at a loss for words at the moment, give her a break." He ruffled through his belongings, pulling out two small pouches. Hotaru juggled the bags in his right hand as he stood.

"This will make things interesting." He smirked.

"What do you have there?" Jaken eyed the bags in his hand.

"We need to boil some water, and keep it close to the fire for when we are ready." His smirk only grew.

"This is how we are going to fight the Yuki-Onna ." He stated.

"Genji root is used to treat exposure due to hypothermia in the northern regions. It can be dangerous to someone with a normal body temperature because it elevates the body's core temperature. The volcanic ash we harvested from a demon we killed a while back. It's not your run of the mill ash, when the ash comes into contact with fire, it ignites." He waved to the other side of the room where they had discarded the buckets they used to pack water from the well.

"In small doses, the Genji root should be able to give us some defense against the Yuki-Onna. Or at the very least, a few more moments to act before we're frozen to death. We figured if we stuck around long enough, the Yuki-Onna would show it's true nature. Time to put this stuff to the test." He finished.

Jaken's curious gaze turned into a wide eyed dawning expression.

"By we you mean…" Hotaru nodded.

"Me and you toad. We'll need to use your staff." Jaken gulped.

"And… and what about the hot water?" Jaken's eyes scanned the buckets.

"Best to have a backup plan in case we have to douse ourselves. I have a few containers we can carry the water in, but they won't hold heat very long, so we have to make quick work of the demon. I'll also need to make a drink with a bit of the Genji. It has a bitter taste, but should dilute nicely once we boil it.." Hotaru explained.

"Wait!" Ameki waved her arms to get Hotaru's attention. His eyes met hers and he watched her lips as she mouthed her question.

"If anything warm hurts the demon, then how are they able to devour and touch people?" Hotaru's brow creased as he seemingly struggled to understand.

"Well, they produce a cloak of ice and cold wind that lowers their prey's body temperature and slows their movement. That's what happened with you, and why I doused you. You were caught in the demon's gusting gale. It was trying to freeze you." Ameki's brow knit as he spoke. She had been cold, so very cold but her body had bounced back almost immediately, even though she had already been exposed to the elements for a prolonged amount of time before the demon had accosted her. She felt fine now, a few aching muscles from her encounter, but the chill was already leaving.

"How did you know where I was?" Hotaru moved closer to hear the breath pass Ameki's teeth. It was the only way for her to communicate without her voice.

"The power of observation Ameki. You're not a hard nut to crack. The wood on the fire settled as it burned. When the wood collapsed it woke me up. I was getting ready to put some more wood in the fire when I realized your door was open." He shrugged.

"I just figured you had one of your bad dreams, and went out for some air. I saw your tanto sticking out from under your mat, so I went to look for you just in case. I just followed the footsteps in the snow, and found the scene of a struggle out by the fence and down the hill. I've been carrying warm water with me at all times if I'm outside at night." Hotaru finished with a smile.

"Wow, you plan ahead!" Jaken added.

"Of course I do. You have to always be prepared. Which reminds me." Hotaru turned his attention back to Ameki.

"Stop being such a fool and putting yourself in danger. It's not good for anyone's health if we're always having to save you. Plan ahead for once." Hotaru gave her a forced glare.

Ameki felt embarrassed. She had been hasty when leaving the house, but she wasn't completely to blame. Her dreams had taken a wild turn, one she had not anticipated. In all honesty she had just needed the cold air to wake her up. She hadn't planned on going very far, and the demon had completely slipped her mind.

"I'm sorry…" She mouthed.

"You insulate brat!" Jaken yelled, Ameki brought her gaze up to meet Jaken's eyes, but the imp's attention was on Hotaru. She had expected him to be talking to her, but that wasn't the case.

"You'd better never let Lord Sesshomaru hear you talk to her that way! He'll have your head boy!" The imp screeched.

"Yea, well I'm pretty sure it would be much worse for me if he came back and she was dead. Don't you think?" Hotaru cocked his brow as he talked down to the irate imp.

"Uh...well… I suppose it would. For the both of us." Jaken's eyes widened as he pictured the make believe scenario in his head.

"We're already going to feel his wrath over her voice I bet." Jaken whimpered.

"No worries, that's why I need your help toad. We kill the demon and her voice should return." His confidence was written all over his face.

"How can I help?" Ameki's whisper drifted through the room.

"Get to boiling the water." Hotaru stated matter of factly.

~Sesshomaru~

"Are you still with me?" Kohaku's voice broke through Sesshomaru's troubled thoughts. Lately, he was easily distracted by his thoughts. As of recent it had been his own senses. For a moment he could have sworn he had smelled the familiar scent of tears. Not just anyone's tears. Ameki's tears. He had instinctively looked around to search for her before realizing that he was only in the company of Kohaku and Ah-Un. It had perplexed him, much like the heat he had felt on his cheek. Almost as if someone had caressed his skin, but no one had been there. He had to be imagining it. Was this some kind of premature denial? Was his mind slowly slipping into a madness before his time? Sesshomaru was never one to fathom such curiosities, however his mind had been playing tricks on him in recent times.

Sesshomaru didn't answer. He gave a quick nod before continuing. The snow had picked up in the region. The skies were once again too cold for a mortal to endure for too long. They had descended to the ground continuing on foot. Kohaku had refused to rest for the night. He had wanted to make up for lost time considering he was the reason they were not able to continue in the sky. A part of Sesshomaru was grateful that they would continue. Another part of him was concerned that Kohaku would not be at his best if he did not obtain a restful night's sleep.

Kohaku kept his pace quick, staying ahead of Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru held Ah-Un's reign in his right hand as he walked. It was a slow pace compared to the open skies, but progress nonetheless. Dawn would break soon, though the heavy skies would block out the first rays of sunlight, meaning it would take a bit longer for the skies to lighten up. A few hours passed with them traveling like that. Most had been filled with silence, but Sesshomaru's mind was anything but quiet.

"There it is, the original palace." Kohaku spoke as they rounded a ridge. From their position there was a great canyon below, and straight across the canyon, was a palace that occupied the flat area of the sprawling mountainside. Sesshomaru focused his vision, making out the few figures that ascended and descended the great steps to the canyon below. His nose picked up the strong scent of metal ore. It was no wonder though. From the canyon depths he could see the many figures toiling away. It was a mining camp, and they were no doubt enlisted by the Lord of the region. The castle itself looked to be in great shape, but the rumors had been right. An eerie aura surrounded the castle that Sesshomaru detected right away. An ominous cloud formation hung low in the sky, blending with the natural clouds, but not well enough.

"Something is there for sure." Kohaku stated. Sesshomaru's agreement was the leap it took him to cross the canyon. Landing on the other side, he looked around. The people stayed to the west side of the palace walls, thankfully his presence would be undetected by them. He made his way over the garrison wall, bypassing the gate that had been locked tight. No one was present in the courtyard, and he surmised that he would run into very little interference if he were to go inside. By the looks of the place, it had been stripped of valuables. Some items still lingered. The young lord had definitely fled this place in a hurry, leaving his servants to move his belongings. They had probably moved the items over time, or at least that would have been the wisest thing to do. A caravan too large would draw attention. Bandits from all over the region would form to raid a noble caravan packed with riches. However, in smaller parties, the items could be moved without too much attention.

Sesshomaru heard Ah-Un land beside him.

"Guess the young lord was in a hurry to leave? The other castle must be far enough along in the construction process to house him." He frowned, remembering something.

"The merchants must have packed up as well and followed him. To the east, the trade hub is deserted. The only signs of life in this place is the mining camp, and the small settlement to the west. They still toil away in this place while their lord has fled to safety." Kohaku's brows knit above his eyes, displaying his obvious disapproval.

"There's also this strange presence. What do you make of it Sesshomaru?" Kohaku asked as he hopped down from Ah-Un.

What did Sesshomaru make of it? The aura around the castle was strong, but all scent left behind was almost too weak to even detect. Come to think of it, he no longer smelled the strong odor of raw metals anymore either. He narrowed his eyes as he stepped forward, making his way toward the palace.

"Sesshomaru?" Kohaku called out. He heard the footsteps follow him. For now, Sesshomaru would make his way inside. He would know more by then.

Sesshomaru slid the door open. Upon entering the palace, he noticed a fine layer of dust that coated the floorboards, along with a few other items that had been left behind. He stopped in the doorway taking the view in. Once again, he realized, he was not able to smell the dust, even though it was clearly present. His eyes scoured the dark interior, looking for anything. He found it. His attention peaked as his gaze fell to the area of the room where the dust had recently been disturbed. A mortal would have never spotted the difference, but Sesshomaru's sharp eyesight picked up on the lack of dust, compared to the surrounding floor. It was very recent as well. The faint footprints led down the hall directly in front of them. Sesshomaru stepped inside.

"Someone's been burning sage." Kohaku spoke as he sniffed the air. That was why Sesshomaru was unable to smell anything. Sage was used to purify, or rather drive dark spirits or entities away. Sesshomaru was no exception, although, all it had done to him was take his sense of smell away. It was annoying though, Sesshomaru admitted. His sense of smell aided him greatly, and would do wonders right about now. If he could catch the scent of something, he might have been able to detect what kind of demon they would be up against. He would have to rely on his other senses and clues it would seem. Kohaku slid each door open, hearing inside of the rooms they passed. Sesshomaru continued on, following the footsteps.

He was approaching the end of the hall when he saw a figure dart through the hall that joined it. His step faltered for a moment, but he continued as he assessed that it would be too late to sneak up on whatever had fled. Sesshomaru wasn't one to rush into a fight, but he didn't want to wait around for it to come back to him. He turned down the hall, staring into the darkness where the figure had disappeared. If only he had his sense of smell, he thought to himself. He would be able to detect any traps that he couldn't physically see. His eyesight was good, but sometimes a wandering gaze could miss one small detail that could give away any hidden surprises, especially in the dark.

He could hear the scuffle of feet further down, and around another corner. Someone or something was definitely there. Kohaku was now aware of Sesshomaru's interest. He had caught up after sweeping the rooms behind them. Sesshomaru sat where the two halls met, contemplating his next move.

"Catch wind of something?" Kohaku asked.

"Footsteps. Someone knows we are here." Kohaku nodded as Sesshomaru answered.

"Hello! Anyone there?" Kohaku blurted down the darkened hallway. Sesshomaru cut his eyes to give Kohaku an annoyed glance. That was one way to approach it he supposed. He waited. There was no reply. He began walking down the hall, Kohaku followed cautiously behind him. The air felt strange the further they progressed. Sesshomaru could feel his very skin crawl the closer he came to the end of the hall. He halted.

"Do you feel it?" Sesshomaru asked.

"Feel what?" Kohaku seemed oblivious to the change in the atmosphere. It seemed that it was something only Sesshomaru could sense. Kohaku shrugged, stepping ahead. Sesshomaru followed, but with more caution. They ventured a bit farther down the hall. Sesshomaru's hearing had picked up the sound of a sliding door. He picked up his pace for only a moment, before stepping into an open room. Kohaku stopped to take in his surroundings. The windows let in a considerable amount of light compared to the dark halls.

Sesshomaru heard the creak of metal hinges come from the room to his left. He turned, eyeing the floor where the dirt had been disturbed. Dust particles still hung in the air, giving Sesshomaru all he needed to investigate. He slid the door open, stepping inside. Upon entering he spotted the disturbed rug, and the trap door against the furthest wall. They were so close.

Sesshomaru made his way to the door with a little more haste. His step faltered, only this time it was not his doing. He watched as the sparks ignited across his skin and clothes. For an instant he was unsure if he was able to move. His body refused to comply with even the simplest motion. Finally, after a few moments he was able to twitch his finger, which broke whatever hold was kept over him.

Kohaku rushed past Sesshomaru, yanking the trap door open. Sesshomaru regained his composure, shaking the crawling feeling from his limbs. He had stepped into a demon ward. Not a very powerful one but it had been an inconvenience nonetheless, and had served to irritate him even further. That had been the strange sensation he felt in the air, and by the way it still felt, he surmised there would be more. He would have to tread carefully. The next time, he might not be so lucky.

Demon wards could vary in intensity, depending on the location, and how long the creator had meditated to create the ward. Demon wards were usually used by priests and monks as a way to capture lesser Yokai, or immobilize stronger demons. Their spiritual power would lay dormant in an area until it was awakened by demonic energy.

"Tomoko is that you?! It's Kohaku!" Kohaku descended the ladder as he shouted. Sesshomaru's skin crawled, but he would have to fight the urge. He waited until he heard Kohaku's boot make contact with the floor below. Sesshomaru dropped down, ignoring the ladder. He landed with ease in another hall, only this one was illuminated by candle light. Kohaku was already in a sprint, but Sesshomaru would need to take things slow. He was sure that whomever had made the ward was well practiced, but their spiritual powers were lacking. The sparks of power he had seen true, but he had felt very little beyond that. Surely, the person they chased after couldn't be the priest Kagome had spoken of.

Kohaku disappeared through yet another door, only this time Sesshomaru could hear the sounds of a scuffle.

"Wait, wait!" Kohaku yelled.

"Get out of here demon!" A young man's yell followed.

"I'm not a demon! Just hold on a minute!" Kohaku exclaimed. Sesshomaru heard the sound of ceramic shattering.

Sesshomaru made it to the door. He peered inside. Kohaku knelt down behind a stone slab, and beside him lay the busted vase that had visibly been thrown at him. From the other side of the room Sesshomaru spotted a bald head peeking over a few larger ceramic pots.

"You're with that demon! Have you come to lift the seal?" Kohaku glanced back toward Sesshomaru in the doorway. Kohaku shook his head and shrugged.

"No, we are looking for Tomoko. Do you know who or where Tomoko is?" Silence followed Kohaku's question.

"How are you still moving demon?" The young man shouted. He had caught sight of Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru watched from his position at the door as Kohaku stepped around the slab of stone he had been hiding behind. Sesshomaru caught a glimpse of the carving on the stone's surface. This was an entrance to a tomb, and not just any tomb. A demon tomb.

"Look! I'm a demon slayer, and this demon is with me. He doesn't mean any harm." Kohaku tried to reason.

"Then he shouldn't be here. He needs to leave!" The man called out from his concealment.

"If he leaves, will you talk to me?" Kohaku asked, trying his best attempt to reason with the young man.

"First, why would a slayer travel with a demon?" The man's voice carried. Kohaku didn't miss a beat as he answered.

"Not all demons are bad." He retorted.

"Yet, they have the potential to be, as does the beast you have aligned yourself with." Sesshomaru huffed at the man's response. Who was he to make such judgments? Though, he wasn't wrong. It still irritated something inside of Sesshomaru, hearing the man's words. He had fought with his inner demon for so long. Not just the demon, but with the way he had been brought up. He had watched his complacent mother, and had been denied the ability to observe his father. His only role model's had been those who had served his family. Some had been cold hearted towards humans and demon's alike, but most had just felt distaste for anything mortal. Sure Sesshomaru was capable of evil, but didn't it mean something that he had chosen not to indulge in it? Of course the frightened man would see him as just a demon. He didn't know him.

Sesshomaru turned, and began walking away. He would let Kohaku handle this for now. His presence was merely a hindrance, and it wasn't the first time he had felt so as of late. His mind flashed back to the cold side of Ameki he had felt. Was she tired of being in his presence? Was she finally beginning to see him as most mortals did? The notion pained him.