The night had come and it was going to be delicious. The leader of the rogue demons laughed in to the darkness that surrounded them. It was too simple the villagers would soon all be asleep with the false sense of security that their Sentient could watch over them. This one little Sentient could not rival the power that he now controlled. Not a mere 90 demon at his command, but over 200 now swelled his ranks. And by the end of tonight he would posses more jewel shards! His demons were well rested, and ready for battle. He was going to hang back and simply watch. No need for him to waste his strength and power on useless little humans, he wanted to make sure he had his full strength when it really mattered.

There was no way that the Sentient could take out so many demons alone. This plan was too easy. Have the lower demons be fodder to tire out the Sentient, then send in stronger ones to capture her. He wanted to see her face when he consumed her jewel shards. He wanted to be the one to deliver the killing blow; with the added strength of the shards he would take from her.

He tipped his head back and watched as the last rays of sunlight kissed the land around him. Soon, so soon he would release his demons on the peaceful village. The humans could enjoy their false security for a few more hours, he would only be too happy to pull the wool from over their eyes, and destroy what they cared for the most. Their guardian, their Sentient. His orders were simple, his demons could kill whoever was in the village, do what they wanted to them. But the Sentient was his.

"So she has known all these years, and she never told Sesshomaru, wow what a sister." Kagome said as she spooned out some soup from the community bowl on the table into her personal one.

"She isn't my sister!" InuYasha growled as he ignored the food in front of him. He was human. A week defenseless little human, who refused to let go of the swords Takira had given him. He didn't know what it was about them, but he liked the feel of them near him. The same way he felt safer knowing Tetsaiga was within reach.

Songo ate heartily from the plate before her, ignoring the squabbling. She was sore from today's work, but it was a good sore. Her muscles had been used, and could use a long soak some hot water. She was sure the village men would sleep soundly tonight after the paces she and Miroku had put them through. Her focus was on getting though the meal, then a steamy bath, and then sleep. Nothing else sounded better.

Miroku rotated his left shoulder, and winced. Kagome shot him a concerned look, he smiled, "It's a good ache, but I could sure use a rub down." He raised one eye at Songo who turned to look at him.

"Not in this life time Monk." Song smiled at the look on his face, before turning back to her meal.

Kagome turned back to InuYasha and found him standing at the door, the hilts of the two swords in each hand. Kagome watched him for several minutes, wondering what he was thinking. She stood to join him, and turned to tell Songo not to wait for her to take the bath, when she turned back to the door InuYasha was gone.

Akima settled herself more comfortably against the tree branch, her staff rested on her lap. It was another moonless night, which meant that Takira was back up the mountain in that clearing she loved so much. Akima had never pressed her teacher to explain the significance of the clearing, nor why her teacher always took off the night of the full moon. Akima preferred to think of it as her little test for the month. Once a month the fate of the villages was in her hands, and it always gave her a slight thrill.

She looked out over the land, and the small action tweaked a muscle in he neck, she winced. Working with the demon slayer and monk had been beneficial to the villagers and herself. Made her realize that maybe Takira was a little too soft on her, or that she needed to be tougher on herself. Smiling she reached a hand back to massage her neck, she would have to ask Haroku, he may be Takira's lover, but he gave the best massage in the village. And Takira had never gotten upset when he had offered to tend to Akima's wounds as well s her own.

There were few sounds coming from the village, Akima giggled to herself, she could just bet that every man in the village was already asleep, exhausted after the exercises. She would have to talk to Takira and maybe have a once a week workout like that with the village men. Or maybe rotate every other week so that Takira could participate. Better yet, maybe Takira would let Akima run the work outs, just another step towards her becoming a full Sentient.

Smiling Akima shifted in the tree again, and kept her eyes on the horizon. These villages were really in the prime location; they were guarded on either side and to the back by the mountain. The only way that anyone could get in or out of the villages were from the main road, and that was quiet. Everything was quite; even the night creatures seemed to be spending the night in their dens. That suited Akima just fine, if everything was silent, she may be able to catch a small nap without anyone knowing.

Takira embraced the chill of the night; it gave her something to think about other then her heart breaking again. She had lost him once before and it had nearly killed her. She didn't know if her heart was strong enough to go through that again. Hakoru had saved her life when he had come to the village, he had shown her a new kind of love, she just prayed that he was strong enough to save her again.

Her back pressed harder into the bark of the tree she leaned against, the pain grounding her, taking her mind off of more hurtful topics. She bent her knees, crossed her arms and braced them on her knees and rested her head on them. Winter approached, and her villages were ready. She might suggest to the men a hunting party on the morrow, bring in some fresh meet. That would keep the men busy, and give the rest of the village something to look forward to. And it would keep her thoughts off of her departing brother.

One hand strayed to her shoulder and the empty hilt. She missed her blades, but they would be back with her with the sunrise. Odd how he would accept her blades for protection, but not her. She closed her eyes, and wrapped her free arm around her head, as if to blot out the thoughts.

Takira sat that way for a few moments before she went stiff. Her mind leapt to the one thing that was different. It was nearing winter, but not near enough that the night creatures wouldn't be out getting their dinner. She raised her head and looked out over her villages. What she saw froze her blood in her veins.

Demons.

Lots of demons headed strait for her village. She was on her feet before continues thought of standing. Akima was on guard tonight, but there was no way the young girl could go against so many. Takira was running down the mountain, her mind racing with fear. Akima was not foolish enough to try to fight alone, but the village men had all been worked to the bone today, she would get little help from them. She pumped her legs faster, ignoring the burning of her protesting muscles. Her hand swept across the sheath on her back.

The empty sheath.

InuYasha had both her swords. He at least would be safe. She could not expect a human sword to have the strength of her demon ones, but it was that or nothing. For half a second she toyed with the thought of contacting Sesshomaru, but this was not his fight. These villages were her responsibility. Hers to protect. She just prayed she wasn't too late.

Akima was woken from her nap by the sound of a twig breaking close by. Her eyes snapped open, and she smiled, so the night creatures had slept in a little late, and were now waking up to the night. Too bad they couldn't be more quite when they moved beneath her. She shifted her self a little, and readjusted her grip on her staff. The night was chilly, and there was no breeze, so Akima didn't notice the change in smell until the demons were right below her. She jumped to her feet, balancing on the branch, and stared open mouthed at the circle of demons.

They ranged from snake demons, to toad like creatures, all large mutinous flying insects, and every one of them was staring at her.

"Sentient." A harsh voice growled.

Akima raised her staff at the same instant that a large bear demon smashed the trunk of the tree she had been sleeping in. As the branch fell to the ground, Akima fell in the midst of the demons. She got out one word before they massed over her. "TAKIRA!"

The demon leader looked at his underlings with distain as they approached him. "I was clear in my instructions, destroy the village, leave the Sentient. Why have you returned?"

The lesser demons shuddered at the hatred in his voice, which pleased him greatly, they should be afraid of him. Several of the demons approached him and dropped a figure at his feet. The demon stared at the tied up woman for a few moments before looking at his demons. "Well?"

Several of the demons moved backwards a few paces, one from the group spoke up, "we have done better my lord, we have brought you the Sentient."

The demon looked from the group before him to the woman at his feet, she was the Sentient? This young creature, which had so easily been subdued by his lesser demons? He took a step towards the girl and smiled when she flinched from his hand. His fist closed around the front of her tunic and brought her face to face with himself. Her hands were tied behind her back, but her feet kicked at him in vain, his reach held her far enough away that he was in no danger.

Slowly he took a deep breath, inhaling her fear, and her demon scent. Could this really be the dangerous Sentient that he had heard so much about? "Who are you girl."

She glared at him with her unswollen eye, and said nothing.

He shook her; hard enough to make her bones riddle, and demanded, "Are you the Sentient of these villages?" When she continued her silence he brought her closer to his face, his putrid breath washing over her. "If will not save your life child, if you be the sentient you are dead, if you are not the sentient, you shall still die. You are nothing now but a corpse who doesn't realize she is dead yet."

Akima opened he mouth as if to speak, and spit in his face. He stared at her for a moment longer, debating about killing her himself, then dropped her and smiled when he heard her leg break from the fall. He spun and took a few steps from her, whipping the spit from his face. When next he looked at the girl on the ground he smiled, and commanded, "bring her."

Takira ran blind to her surroundings, she had to make it to Akima, had to save her young friend. She was in the village now running down the main path completely ignorant to the fact that the village men were now moving about, poking their heads out of their huts and yelling questions to one another. She just kept running, Akima would be in her favorite spot to watch, a tree that shaded the road up to the village. It was a comfortable spots that both of them enjoyed using as a watch post. Her leg muscles screamed in protest, and her lungs burned from the run, but she kept the pace not allowing herself to slow until she reached what was left of the tree.

What had once been a healthy fully mature tree was now splinters in the road. Takira dropped to her knees, not noticing the pain as the wood cut her. Akima was gone. Not even a whisper of her scent on the air. The only thing Takira could smell was unwashed demon flesh. They had Akima. Takira pushed away the tears that threatened her vision, and focused on the pain in her legs and chest. Pain was useful, sorrow wasn't.

Her eyes roved the wreckage, searching for any sign that Akima was all right. What she found made her breath stop; Akima's staff was in the bushes that had once been under the tree.

"Your swords, where are they?" Akima asked, eyeing her instructor wearily.

"I won't need them tonight, you're guarding the village."

Akima had swallowed nervously, "but you need them when you fight, you know a human sword won't do you any good, you need the demonic power in those swords."

"They are with someone who needs them more then I do."

Akima had known she would be captured and made sure that her staff would be here for me, Takira thought as her hands closed around the simple weapon. She had trained with the staff, her father had made sure that she knew her way around any weapon he could get his hands on. The staff in her hands was well kept; Akima took pride in polishing the wood every weak, and oiling the leather that made up the handle. The younger demon had made the staff with Takira's help. It held power from both of them. Takira could feel the recognizing tingle of that magic, and it scared her. If the staff so willingly allowed another to hold it, did that mean that its owner was already dead?

She heard footsteps behind her and spun, staff in hand to face whoever approached, when she saw Hakoru a sob burst from her chest and her knees failed.

The next thing she felt was the warmth of Hakoru's chest, and his arms wrapped around her. The strong masculine scent of him washed through her nose, erasing the decaying scent from the demons. Takira clung to him for a moment, needing the memory of his strength for the battle that was ahead.

"Takira, what happened?" one of the villagers voiced pierced her peace.

Slowly so to keep contact with him as long as possible, Takira pushed herself up and took a step to place some distance between the two of them, Akima's staff was still held in a bone tight grip. "Demons approach, gather the men."

The villager paled before running back up the road to the village to pass on the message.

"You don't know she is lost." He said.

Takira looked at Haroku for a long moment. He always knew what she was thinking, and it warmed her heart. "And you don't know she isn't. Stay with the villagers, they will need your guidance."

He closed the distance between them with the length of his arm, grabbing hers. "Your not the only one here who knows how to fight, you don't have to do this alone. For peace sake, your not the only demon here right now!"

Takira took comfort from the feel of his hand on her arm, and was warmed by the notion that she wasn't alone, but it was her duty to protect this village. "You cannot fight, they will need you to help the rebuild, or to heal them. This is not Sesshomaru's fight, and InuYasha is in no condition to fight tonight."

"Takira." He drew her into his arms, holding her tight enough to leave bruises. She didn't care, couldn't even think once his mouth closed over hers. He held her in a tight embrace memorizing the feel of her body against his, savoring the light scent of her hair, and the way she tasted.

"Sentient!" a voice boomed out from up the road.

Takira pulled back, but Haroku didn't let go, he held her close.

"Sentient! I have a trade to make with you." The voice didn't sound closer, but Takira shivered.

"Don't do this alone." Haroku begged, his palm cupping her face.

She looked up at him and smiled. "I have to, it's my duty. I am the Sentient."