Author's Note :Another chapter! Whew, I'm working fast. *sarcasm*

Kaitlyn : Don't worry, that didn't affect me at all. :D

What did, however, was me not being able to figure out how to get to the point. *facepalm*

Also I couldn't find any way to separate the scenes in the last chapter. I'm confused as of why, but I'm guessing it's because I'm not smart enough.

Anyway, on with the chapter!

Chapter Two : Betrayed By Blood

"You know it is the right choice"

"No, this is against traditions!" Gabriel shouted.

"It is for the best, brother" Jolee reassured him.

"I've been waiting for this my whole life! You cannot take away what is rightfully mine!" he kept yelling at the dark robed figures around him.

"Watch us do so" one of the figures whispered.

The council members nodded at Jolee before silently walking away from the campfire. It was already in the late evening, the full moon shining in the sky.

Jolee walked over to his brother, resting his hand on Gabriel's shoulder for a brief period before the other pushed him away.

"Can't you see this is for the good of our people?"

Looking into his impossibly grey eyes, Jolee already knew the answer to his question.

"You cannot possibly understand what you have done today, brother" said Gabriel, his voice barely above a whisper. "You defied the traditions. The leadership is my heritage!"

"Traditions are traditions…" Jolee nodded. "But you surely did not think none of us noticed your behavior lately?"

His face became paler than the moon.

"What are you talking about?" Gabriel's eyes widened.

"You no longer pray to the Dark Gods, nor the Monarchs. Your eyes changed. They show none of the wisdom you possess. They only show greed and hunger."

Gabriel backed away. He wouldn't let his chance pass away a second time. 'Whatever it takes, it must be done.' Jolee cannot walk away from this.

"It is time for you to go before the Council decides you are to be exiled from the clan as well, dear brother." Jolee's light blue orbs turned into a dark blue, his smile into a frown. Blue mist enveloped his body.

"No, dear brother" Gabriel closed his eyes. As he opened them again, the grayness changed into a dark shade of red. A dark red aura danced around him. His smile widened into a maniacal grin as he locked eyes with his counterpart. "It is time for you to go."

Even though almost everyone was asleep from the clan, Yoruichi was still training restlessly. She was very excited to say the least, as her day to pass to adulthood was in less than a month. It was so close… then she could finally do what she wanted.

Yoruichi always hated being told what to do. That's why she was determined to be the next leader after her father. Leaders can do as they wish… or at the very least, none would ever doubt their choices, nor tell them what to do. It was just one of the few traits of leadership that appealed to her. Not that there weren't any downsides, only she did not mind that part.

Jumping to a high tree branch in just one step, her brain worked without a halt. So many things have been happening lately… and the bizarre attitude Jolee had shown when they were talking by the lake a few days ago was rather odd. Yoruichi knew something was wrong, it was rather obvious. But she had no idea what it could have been.

As she was sitting on the branch, she spotted shining lights dancing around out in the distance, in the middle of the Shihouin camp. One was light blue, the other dark red. It was rather unsettling, as it enveloped all of the camp.

Yoruichi's eyes couldn't quite identify the cause of the lights. They kept dancing around each other for a few minutes before the red conquered the blue, and the whole camp was set ablaze.

The violet haired girl's eyes widened for a few seconds before she ran quickly towards the camp. Something was very wrong.

Gabriel's dark red eyes scanned over the camp. Wherever the Council chose to hide, it was of no use. He would find them, and kill them for what they had done. Jolee was their first and last line of defense. Now it was their turn.

His black boots walked over the bodies of his former clan, his betrayal leading to loosing his name. He didn't care about that anymore, however. It was easier this way, he decided. Only his daughters would matter.

His hand reached to his mouth, feeling the dryness of it all of a sudden. His thoughts came to an immediate halt at the thought of his daughters and their long deceased mother. His daughters were in the camp as far as he knew. He was the reason for all the destruction he saw as he looked around himself. Dead, ravaged and ripped bodies lay on the ground, one over the other while the tents burned with a fierce fire. He had done what he always wanted to avoid… he became corrupted by the Whites.

As Yoruichi almost reached the camp, she stopped. Her eyes searched for a sign, any sign that would explain what is happening. Fire everywhere, and corpses… so many of them, some faceless, some still screaming their dying breaths. It was the sight of a brutal massacre that she had witnessed at that moment. His father was standing amongst them, his hand covering his mouth, as if he was shivering. Why was he shivering?

Before her mind could process what was happening, something bumped into her with such a huge force that she fell… at least she thought she would, as that same something caught her and kept speeding into the distance. Whatever was happening, she was still unsure.

She realized it must have been someone from the clan - they were shadowstepping, jumping in and out of the Void.

After a few minutes of speeding off and holding on to that person carrying her, they stopped. Only then did she see that whoever bumped into her wore the traditional black cowl and mask, as well as the black uniform with the clan crest on the back.

"We got away just in time" a familiar voice came from under the cowl.

Yoruichi recognized it immediately to be Jolee's, her uncle and dearest friend.

"What happened there? What was my father doing there?" Yoruichi asked as she was dropped gently onto the grass.

The cowled figure did not answer as he turned around and started walking towards the direction of a high cliff that overlooked the vast forest. From the distance, the flames dancing in the village could be clearly seen.

"Tell me this isn't happening" she pleaded. "Tell me this is all a dream."

Jolee sighed.

"I don't have much time left" he looked at the girl under the cowl. Only his glowing blue orbs could be seen. "I must teach you all I can before I will die. He will soon realize that I am still alive, and he will find me."

"Wait… who are you talking about?" Yoruichi asked, clueless. "What is happening?"

"This the destruction of our people" Jolee silently whispered. "We are all that is left from the Shihouin."

Author's Note: You know this is getting kind of depressing. Only bad things around. :o

I should start trying to write longer chapters, too.

As always, constructive criticism is both welcome and wanted and thank you for reading!