A/N: I got bored with the third person because it doesn't seem as personal. I guess I like seeing them through the eyes of the main character. Don't worry, it won't always just be through Yumiko's eyes, it will switch on occasion. And maybe I'll go third person every so often. Yes, I like to change style to keep things interesting but I'll make sure you aren't confused and label.

Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha or any of the characters from the InuYasha series.

Yumiko, Kotsuroki, Yoru, and Taiyou are my creation.

~~Spoiler Alert~~

This fanfiction is based after the Manga and will refer to what happens in the mango on occasion. This also means that any characters that were anime only characters will not appear within this fanfiction.

Yumiko POV

It was an overwhelming darkness that pressed against my eyes while I kept my lids closed. I was afraid to open them and see what was around me. Nightmares had plagued my dreams of my brother being torn piece by piece with the claws of the Ryu. The murders of my parents and kinsmen playing through my mind over and over but I could not wake up. I wanted to believe that everything that I had experienced was nothing but a dream. That I was waking to the morning within my den and that all would be well. I would hear Kotsuroki jump into my furs with me and try and get me to play. But the scents around me were not of the familiar scents of my home and family. No, they were strange but there was the strong scent of my brother. I feel a soft stir in my lap and let my crimson eyes open, lids fluttering against the darkness to adjust to it. But I look to where the moon is in the sky and I wait silently. The song should be overwhelming the skies any second now. Waiting for the deep booming voice of Father as he sings of victory and the accompanying voice of my mother but I am met by the silence of the night. The only sounds being that of the birds as they settle down and the crickets chirping. My heart is pounding furiously within my chest as I feel it tear and rip to pieces. My hands ball into fists, claws digging into my palms, tearing at the skin. Blood trickles over my fingers, the scent becoming strong in the air. My teeth clench together and I can feel the pressure of my fangs against the skin of my lip but not piercing it because of placement. I was clutched by fear, the utter fear of it all. If they weren't singing, even the song of battle, not even a single Ookami had made a call, they always made a call, no matter what but there was nothing.
There is a stirring on my lap and my crimson gaze is on my baby brother as he quickly pushes himself away from me, the scent of fear coming off of him in waves. It was then that he lost control of his youki without realizing it. His green eyes bleeding into gold for moments as he unconsciously radiated dominance and power. Tears were streaming down his face and I cannot utter a word, not a single one to comfort him. His eyes dart all over me and his eyes look to my bleeding hands. Realizing what I am doing I release my grip and the blood flows freely now from my palms. His little body crawls over to me and he rocks himself into my lap. His small hands looking mine over as the healing process begins.
"Yu-Yu... where... where is Mommy and Daddy? Why are we here?" he asks, his questions ringing in my ears. I didn't know how to answer him. How do you tell him that you think they are dead? "I don't hear singing."
But that was all it took for him to take it in. Those words uttered from his lips was what broke me down. I wrap my arms around him, shuddering all the while. Tears streaming down my face as a fresh flow starts from him. We would cry together and whimpers would be emitted from our throats. We were missing our mother and father. We were mourning for our clan. The war had made us orphans and that was that. Kotsuroki clings to my shirt and I cling to him. We had to be there for one another because that's all we had. We were family and we would, together, make it work. But I was the one who had to take charge, after all, I was the big sister. I had an idea of what I had to because they were training me to take over just in case something were to happen to father and mother before Kotsu was of age. The scent of the white and black wolves that were my guardians came over me and I was calming down. Kotsu sniffled down into just silence. There was also the scent of blood but it was the type that makes your stomach rumble. Between the two of them they were carrying a fawn which they laid before us. I take a breath, sniffling a little and I wipe the tears from Kotsu's eyes. A pained smile crosses my features as I tilt his chin up so I can look at him and he looks at me.
"Let's eat. We have to be strong alright? Now, eat up baby," I encourage softly.
In the back of my mind I was pleading for him to eat. But he didn't argue with me as he began to tear into the flesh and eat his fill. I would nibble at the food while he went to fill his stomach. I could survive without food longer than him since I am full grown. But my thoughts are elsewhere. I wanted revenge and it made my blood boil. They would pay for taking my parents from me and I would make sure of it. Not to mention the territory that they were going to be ruling over was still not their's since my brother and I are still alive. However, they are stupid enough to think that we were killed. Actually, my parents would make sure of it. But our ally, Sesshoumaru, he would know better. He would most likely seek us out and see how safe we are. I would be glad the day that Sesshoumaru arrived because that meant that things can begin to rebuild and that would be my concern until Kotsu was grown. I would continue south to the Southern Tribe. It was where our parents wanted us to go and I would feel better being amount my own kind.
Once I was sure they were finished eating I got to my feet and stretch my body. I was terrified about what was going to happen but I had to go forward.
"Come on, we have to make it to the Southern Tribe," I announce.
Kotsuroki looks at me curious but he lets a grin spread out on his face. There was his courage. He was a strong boy and I knew it. If anything, I knew he'd cooperate because he knew that I was the dominant one right now. I would prefer if we were equals but he wasn't old enough to make decisions yet. I look towards Kotsu to see that he was antsy but he didn't look like he could walk since his belly was full. He'd end up throwing up or complaining about moving. Yoru looks at me with a sigh before lowering his body and with a grunt he looks at Kotsu. His face lights up at this as he clambers onto the black wolf's back and I hold back a laugh at my Guardian's pained look at his fur being pulled. Taiyou looked about the same but she hid it a little better. Once we were sure that Kotsu was settled we began moving.
We had already covered a distance the night and earlier that day. It was dark now and it would hide us very well. We would be able to arrive at Southern Tribe territory if we kept going quickly at least by midday tomorrow. I could do without the sleep and I would carry Kotsu so we could keep moving. While he was awake Kotsu would run around us playing games and I would indulge him so that he didn't have to think about the depressing things. He was young and he should live. When he got tired he would ride along one of the two wolves backs or I would piggy back him. Before day break he was asleep on my back. He slept most of the morning much to our relief. But he was awake near early afternoon and remained quiet as he clung to my back.I didn't mind, it was nice for things to be quiet. I could only wonder what he was thinking. After an hour of silence he was walking again and kept at my side or he would run ahead to see what he could find.
Finally, we reached the territory and I take a deep breath of the musk of the Alpha. Standing within the borders I look to Yoru who was at my side. Taiyou was the one who had Kotsu at the moment. He gives me a reassuring look and I keep moving forward. I was alert now, taking deep breathes to take in the scent of the wolves that owned the forest beneath this mountain. I had heard that the Birds of Paradise were gone and it was actually odd to know they were or at least they were low in numbers. Then there was a scent getting stronger as we got closer to the mountain, but not because we were getting closer, because whoever it was, was getting closer. I come to a stop and opt to wait. I've already trespassed enough. There were three scents that were getting stronger but one was coming at a much faster pace than the other two.
Finally, another was standing in front of me before my brain could register that he was there. I clench my jaw so that I don't look ridiculous as I take in the man before me. It was obvious he was the Alpha of the Tribe by his youki. Dominance was radiating off of him and I could feel the youki of my brother behind me as his unconsciously tried to contest this Alpha's. The Alpha let his eyes over look me and to study the boy. I took this moment to take in his appearance.
He wasn't a bad looking man. He was tanned by the sun but nothing dark and undesirable for his natural skin tone. His arms and legs were bare which showed me the amount of muscle that he had in both but along his right arm there was a terrible scar. He wore the traditional brown furs of his tribe. He also wore a breast plate that was a polished silver along the top and a darkened black across his stomach. There were a pair of straps that held the furred shoulder pads into place. Around his waist he wore the furs in a skirt that was long but above his knees. His tail protrudes from the back and I catch it flick in an annoyed manner. He also wears fur along his forearms and shins. My eyes then go to his face to see the sharp features. His lips are places in a dissatisfied expression and his blue eyes show an annoyance beyond belief. His dark, black hair is pulled into a high ponytail and there is a furred headband that keeps his bangs out of his face. His stance is of him with his arms over his chest as his eyes are on my brother, assuming because of his challenging youki.
The two other scents are getting close but they aren't close enough yet. Maybe if I can convince him to let us stay before his warriors come then we have a chance. But I had to get his eyes off of Kotsu. I step forward and between him and the toddler that was my charge. Oddly, I feel my brother's youki settle down as if he was bending to my will. I bring my hands together, my fingers threaded together so that I can try and concentrate.
"I am Yumiko, eldest daughter of the Daiyoukai clan leader Hisashi. Last night, the... the Orochi and Ryu attackd our lands and... and..." I faltered. My voice shaking with every syllable.
I know I was afraid but I didn't think that I would falter. Not when I wasn't suppose to be the strong one. Those deep blue eyes were then on me and I notice his arms relax a little. His expression changes from annoyed almost to fear and worry but it was as if he wasn't letting it reach his face. It only stayed deep within his eyes.
"My mother, she ordered me to take my brother and run to the furthest clan in the territory. That's... that's why I'm here and asking... no pleading for you to give us shelter until we are sure what has become of our parents," I explain, finally gathering my courage. But my voice is still shaking and I'm fighting back the tears in my eyes.
He is quite at first but he gives a nod and looks back as the two wolves that I had caught the scent of earlier finally arrive. The first is pale with a white, spiked mohawk. He's panting as he is out of breath just like the other one. He wears an armored breastplate of a dark green and then there are straps that hook to armored shoulderpads, dark green with silver lining. His furs are darker than the Alpha's and he wears the same skirt bit with his tail out the back and furs on his legs. On his arms it looks like he wears armored, dark green bracers as well.. The other has two toned hair. Along the sides it is shorter and white, while down the middle it is longer and pitch black. His furs are lighter than their Alpha's. His breastplate is quite small and doesn't cover his stomach but it does cover his chest. It is a brown maroon which matches his own bracers. Over his shoulders he wears a thick furred vest piece. Then of course the skirt piece and furs on the legs. Panting they look up to their Alpha but then their eyes are directed to my group.
"Hey Kouga... who are they?" the two toned hair wolf asks.
The Alpha turns and it seems I got his name now. His eyes look at the pair behind him with a surprised expression. They are both still panting.
"You guys just got here? Damn you're slow," he states almost as if it is a new revelation.
I let out a sigh and shake my head. Well, it seemed at least we would be entertained. However, I really needed an answer. I was getting nervous being out here in the open where any demons could come across our way. I clear my throat a little, a hand coming to my mouth in the process of doing so. Kouga looks towards me and the two behind him quiet down. He gives a nod and looks to the pair behind him.
"The lady and the runt will be staying with us for awhile until their old man calls for them. Make 'em comfortable," he says almost harshly.
However, I didn't notice when Kotsuroki was near me, his youki flaring again as his green eyes begin to bleed gold.
"Who are you calling runt!" he yells out.
It was natural for him to try and assert dominance over this strange wolf but this wasn't the time. I shift my body towards him, not really wanting to frighten my brother but knowing that I have to at least assert my own dominance over him. I let my own youki flow from me, my crimson eyes bleeding gold. I notice that Kouga takes at least one step back and his own youki flows but he is keeping it under control because he is not being contested. Kotsuroki however backs down and he settles. I take a breath and control the demonic power and close my eyes.
"We are guests in their territory Kotsu. Keep yourself under control. While we are here, he is the Alpha and you are not. Understand?" I scold, trying not to sound harsh.
I hear him mumble that he did and my eyes look to Kouga. Well, I may be a woman but I do know how to use my power.