A New Beginning

Chapter 5

Black ears shot up hearing a frantic rustling inside, Shadow growled lowly, fur standing on end. Suddenly a strong barrier pushed Shippo, Sango, and Kirara away. Mika shot up, Shadow close behind her. The old hag of a miko hurridly pushed the mat over the opening aside, arrow set and ready.

Mika tried to move, but whatever pushed the others pack had pinned her in place. The arrow blazed foward, eyes narrowing and was able to move enough to where it went threw her shoulder. The miko energy shot threw her hard, driving her to her knees. The old miko holding a hand over her making her cry out in pain. "What are ye wretch?! What did you do to my sister?!"

Mika's skin started to turn pale, black and purple veins darkening, "I did nothing to that whore!" she snarled, "Stop this, or I will not be responsible for what happens.."

"Ye are working with Naraku! Two darkened hearts for one goal, I will not let you continue!" Kaede cried

Shadow snarled, "Stop this you old fool! We are not working with Naraku!"

Suddenly the wind seemed to freeze, "I warned you..."

A sharp blast and the old woman was blown back, the wind came back howling. Sango hid herself behind Kirara, Shippo holding onto her for dear life. When the wind died down, Sango looked up, eyes widening at the fearsome sight. Mika was standing now, skin much paler then it already was, two black hawk like wings flared, two blades attached to each wrist, eyes a deep venonious purple. Thin white lined trailing along the veins, "That's miko energy..." she thought, then saw Kaede on the ground, gasping for air.

"Mika stop! You're gonna kill her!" Sango yelled

Shadow snorted, "A shadow demon's defense against miko's. She warned her."

Mika shook a little, stopping the veins from absorbing the powers. The old hag started coughing once she did. Mika stepped foward, wings folding in against her back, "Listen, hag, I warned you. And I'm telling you, we do NOT work for that filtch! We are not working for him, nor him for us!" she snapped the arrow from her shoulder, eyes still deadly, "He has taken more from me then you even know. I would rather be dead then help him, keep that in mind, you old witch."

Mika stepped back, still glaring daggers. Kaede managed to push herself up, still glaring at the hanyou. "If ye speak truth, then ye will allow me to seach ye mind."

Mika snorted, "No I won't. Memoires are all I have that I keep hidden and sacred to me. I will not let you see that. Either way you'll think the same, witch."

Kagome ran out, eyes widening seeing the hanyous change in apperance. Shocked by the sheer power. But Mika's aura was laced with pain, it made Kagome shutter from the sheer force of it all. "Kaede, please you have to listen. Mika's a friend, she isn't here to hurt us." Kagome pleaded, "She could have easily killed us several time already and hasn't."

"She won't listen, just like so many others she's stuck on the idea as all other have of kumroi hanyous." Mika spat, eyes narrowed, "Go ahead, witch, tell them what you think I am."

"I know what ye are! Ye are disgusting foul mistakes that walk this earth that should have been whipped out years ago! Ye feed on pain, war, loss, greif, thats what gives ye power. Ye are worse then any demon, fouler then even Naraku himself!" Kaede yelled

Shadow snarled, jumping next to her friend hissing dangoursly, "Choose your words carefully, hag." Shadow hissed, "In this you have no damned idea!"

Mika pulled her back, Shadow was still growling lowly. Kagome looked shocked, never had Kaede ever reacted so viloently with hanyous. To compare her with Naraku, that was disgusting, "Legends are meant to be false, witch." she spat, "I'm sure you've never directly asked a kumroi on anything of this matter, so your words have nothing backing it up."

With a sharp wind, Mika was back to normal. The wings slowly dissolved, the blades gone as well. Her skin back to the naturally pale color, her eyes back to the same purple blue color, "Come on Shadow..."

Kagome looked worried now, "Mika, where are you going..."

Shadow changed into her smaller form and jumped up onto Mika's shoulder, she just looked back, "Taking a run... I'll be back before sunfall."

Shippo looked scared out of his mind, the others more confused then anything. Kagome helping Kaede stand back up, still looking terribly confused. Kirara even seemed to be glaring at the old miko somewhat. Almost reluctently going inside, the tension now clear. Inuyasha was still out cold, but he wasn't moving as much now.

The hours went by at a snails pace, Kagome staying close to Inuyasha's side, Shippo and Kirara running around outside. Miroku seemed to be meditating, Sango was outside, making her her weapons were up to par. The wind shifted as the sun started to set, "Something doesn't seem right..." Sango thought

As the sun set a firmilar aura crept into the area, Kirara stopped and looked up. A black figuer landed, Shadow though, was alone. Not to long after another shadowed figuer joined her. Mika was looked a bit paler, the cloack clasped around her neck, hiding the rest of her.

"So the old hag ready to listen or not?" Mika growled lowly, eyes seeming darker then before. Sango swore she saw blood on her fangs for a moment.

When Shadow suddenly hissed, paw hitting the side of her shoulder. Seeing a very small speck like form float down. "My apologizes.." a voice squeaked

"Myoga, it's you." Sango said, almost sounding happy.

Mika growled, her fathers advisor no doubt. The flee looked up, bug eyes already widening, "I-it can't be..." he stuttered, "Mistress Mika! It is you!"

A glare shut him up, he was the few that knew her story, and she did not want it shared with them. Shadow growled, "Find another demon to suck dry next time pest."

"Where's Master Inuyasha?" Myoga asked, "Surely he is excited by such news!"

"He was injuries fighting Kikyo." Sango said, "She has been changed by Naraku..."

"Oh my..." the flee sqreaked

When Kaede stepped out, glaring as the kumori hanyou. "Inuyasha is soon to awaken." she said, "You, foul beast, are not welcome."

Shadow snarled again, "Oh no, please Kaede you have no idea of the true story of Mika's rich heritage!" he sqeaked, "Please you must listen. There is no darkness within her hearts, she only wishes to help I assure you."

The old hag looked at the insect, "And why should I beleive either of ye?"

"It's the only chance you have." Mika stated, "I have no reason to lie, I have nothing to loose nor gain from a lie."

Sango watched tensely, "Fine, come inside."

Shadow changed into her smaller form and jumped up onto her shoulder, Myoga was on her other shoulder, "You touch me, flee, and I will permantly squish ya." she growled

Myoga laughed nervously, "Of course Mistress..."

They all went inside, Mika already not liking the closed in space. Picking the only open spot which was across the fire from Keade with Sango on one side and Kagome on the other. Inuyasha looked better but still was pretty pale. Kaede still have a very angry look on her face, "Alright, shadow demon, ye may go on with yer story." Kaede said

"A story would mean fiction, miko, this is no fairytale." Mika growled lowly, "Sango, do you know any of the history?"

"Very little." Sango said, "All the scrolls talking of shadow demons had been sealed or destoried. We were forbidden to read them."

Mika snorted at that, "Figuers, hide the truth then.."

When a rustle was heard behind Kagome. The miko spun around, seeing the amber eyes crack open. "Well at least I don't gotta say it twice." she muttered

The inu hanou looked up, body thobbing a bit, "Crap. What the fuck happened?" he growled

Kagome squeaked and almost tackled him back over, "Oww! What the hell wench!" he yelled

"I thought you were gonna die you big jerk!" she yelled back, though wouldn't look up at him.

Sango stole a look at Mika, the kumroi hanyou had a sharp flash of pain in her eyes but it was quickly covered up. "What the hells going on?"

"Mistress Mika is going to explain the rich tapestary that is the Kumroi heritage." Myoga said happily, Kaede gave a cold chuckle at that one.

Inuyasha shot a look at Keade, something was wrong with the old hag. He hadn't ever seen her glare at a hanyou unless you counted Naraku. Even then the deep set hate never seemed to burrow so deep as with Naraku.

Kagome had changed her position a bit to sit next to Inuyasha, who was using a wall to prop himself up, "Go on." Miroku encrouraged. Sure he had heard many a legend of the kumroi demons, but all were vague if anything.

"First off, when it comes to kumroi's, we are never completely demon, nor human. Even in a transfromation, our human soul is consious of what's going on. When the first humans and demons walked this earth, we had yet to exist. Kumroi's have evovled into demons over time, at first is was a singal spirit created by human black magic. It was a combination of a human soul and several demons. The first spirits dyed off quickly. When they learned combining the essence of shadows with a human and demon, it would live. The first spirit was under human control. For defence against demons, bandits, healing. The spirit could do virtually everything from harvesting in mass amounts or speaking to the dead. But the humans kept it under lock and key, punished it with wards when it messed up. Over years it grew stronger. It relized that the pain and fear in peoples hearts fed it, and yes, it used it. Soon it broke the leash and destroied the human village that locked it away. But it was not human nor demon, it was unsure how to survive alone. It split itself into four parts, going to the north, west, south, and east. Taking over a wolf, hawk, tiger, and dragon demon. Slowly, but surely as the generations let on, it was enfused into blood lines."

"But the blood was, picky. It was become part of random pick, a hanyou child it found worthy. And over time the kumroi's created a jewel of sorts, like your Shikon no tama. It contained our history, our central power. But it was lost centuries ago. That's the legend."

The others already looked entranced, "Despite where we might have come from, we were once a great nation. We ruled the western lands at one point..." she trailed off, "Which led to one of the many wars. Humans hated our being, they called use leeches, worse then demons. Demons didn't like us because not only were we tainted blood, but we could overpower them. The other demon lords, they wanted the clan gone, whipped out. My very own father led the first of many wars against us."

"They would like you to think the west is rightly inherited from the inu clans. It was kumroi grounds long before they came along. True, a powerful nation, but with power comes the need for more of it. They fought amoungest themself more then anything and that resulted in a weakened army when it came to bonds. When the inu troops marched onto our land, led by my father, they tried and fight alone. That was one of the reasons we lost, they over powered us in groups. Only the ones that worked together managed to escape with their lives. About 200 or so, if that even. They where the generals, the tops ranks."

Myoga decided to cut in, "The marks of the claw determines rank. One slash is low level, two is average, an X shaped is a noble, the three slash mark is the highest of markings." he explained

Kaede was still glaring at her, "Not what I wanted to hear from ye." she crocked out

"Yes, kumroi's feed off the darker side of people hearts. That doesn't mean that we don't have feelings as well." Mika shot harshly, "Our kind don't fight without reason. The few bad seeds have changed that to a lie. We are the yang to the yin, and just like that we have light in us just as a miko has darkness in her."

Myoga hopped over to the old hag, "Listen m'lady, this young girl, you have nothing to fear. I, myself, have watched her over the years. And never has she harmed human nor demon without proper cause." he squeaked, "Even if she is very much justified to be as ruthless as Sesshomaru, she has yet to take out any villages."

Mika pushed herself up quickly, fists clenched, "What happened to you, lady Mika?" Miroku asked, "Please tell us."

She looked slightly over her shoulder, "I lost my pack..." she said lowly

Mika pushed the mat aside and walked out, the others sitting looked sad and slightly dazed.

She just ran. Away from them. Away from the memories. Away from the blood on her hands. Shadow fought to keep up, "Mika stop!"

She didn't listen, she pushed herself off a rock and away from the cat demon. Her muscles burned with the speed and exertion, cloack whipping angerily behind her. Finally she came to a harsh stop in front of a small river. Dropping her knees she hurridly found her dagger, carving a symbol into the damp earth with several smaller symbols around it. Chanting something under her breath as she pulled up her left sleeve reveling several scars from repeated cuts. Bringing the cool blade across her scarred skin, letting several drops fall onto the symbol, pinching the skin around thw cut to get as much as possible out. Then almost gently took some water out of the river and put several hanfuls over the mark. Eyes narrowing, hands shaking over the mark.

"Work, please work...." she thought

The symbol on the ground started glowing lightly, but then it stopped, the water whipping away the mark. Mika fell onto her hands, shaking, it never worked, "Why? Why can't I contact them!" she growled

"Mi..."

Shadow stood back, ears flat. Silently she padded over to her friend, lightly nudging her shoulder, "I'm sorry baby girl..." she said lowly

The shadow hanyou clutched the wound on her arm, holding back the howl biting at the back of her throat and the tears stinging the back of her eyes. Why did she have to tell them, they didn't need to know! It only caused all of this!

"I can't take this much more..."

After the emotional tale, the others had gone off to do something or rather. Kaede still muttering under her breath about dark arts as she walked out of the hut to help a young woman on the other side of the village. Kagome was worried abou the other hanyou, she was sure Inuyasha was too, even though he didn't really show it all that much. The silver haired inu hanyou had fallen back into a light sleep, and Kagome had yet to leave his side.

Kagome nervously fiddled with the end of her shirt, she couldn't even imagin how hard it must be to lose everything. It scared her enough just seeing them get hurt, but getting killed, she wasn't sure how'd she'd handle it.

"Mistress Kagome? Are you alright?" Myoga squeaked

"Did you see what happened to Mika? I mean her pack?"

The flee yelped, "Yes...all I can say without her being angry with me is that it was...bloody. To say the least." he said, "That's all I can say. And that she was very close to them all, it was very sad."

"Sounds like it." Kagome muttered, "Thanks Myoga."

The little flee hoped off, leaving the young miko to think again. The clouds where getting darker outside, a storm was probably rolling in. "What's wrong wench?"

Kagome jumped a bit in surprise, "Inuyasha don't do that, you scared me!" she yelled, hand balled up over her heart, glaring at the injuried hanyou.

"Oh shut it wench, you where day dreaming again." he growled, then lightly pushed himself up, "Where's the other girl?"

"You mean Mika?" Kagome asked, sitting back down next to him, "She ran off, remember?"

"Not surprising."Inuyasha snorted, "Its hard talking about your pack if their gone, let alone dead. You lucky she said anything."

Inuyasha reached over and pulled on the red outter jacket, Kagome still looking a bit confused. Did he literally mean like a wolf pack or something? "Inuyasha, when you say pack, do you mean like a wolf pack?"

"Feh, kinda, theirs two alphas and it's basically a family. Demons usually form them with their own kind. Then you got hanyous. They don't normally form them at all, if they do they have to really trust the people that are in it, like siblings or a mate. But yea it's a powerful bond, usually if two or more in the pack get killed, they all do." Inuyasha said, "I'm not sure how or why she's still alive, alpha's usually die to protect at all costs. Its the ultimate shame if you fail."

"How do you know she's an alpha?" Kagome asked a bit skeptically

"You can tell just by power." he shrugged, "Just like we're the alpha's, no one questions it, it just happens."

Kagome blushed at that, she also knew alpha's tended to be the couple as well. She shook her head quickly she had been hanging around Miroku way to much. She jumped a bit again when she felt a hand grab onto hers, "Don't worry, wench, that won't happen to us."

"Right..." she said, hand gladly tightening around his own. Without really thinking about it laying her head down against his chest, making a light blush come over the hanyou, "Thanks Inu..."