Time slowly crept toward midnight, darkness covering the land like a solid dark blanket. The night sky shone with millions of stars barely allowed the shadows to separate from the trees and shrubbery, the overhang of the nearby cliff above them shadowing any other potential light anyone could have received from that position. The moon was absent from its position as king of the night. Nothing stirred around them. Seeing was nearly impossible. It was though the land had been plunged into an eternal night.

The night of the new moon had finally come.

Several figures huddled at the base of a group of large trees, hidden in the shadows that even blinded them and tried to remain as silent as possible, though the only sound that reached them was the low breathing of their allies nearby. It was frustrating; they could barely see their own hands. They couldn't protect each other very well if it came to it. They were not bred to see in the night, they were hunters of the day time. Limbs were stiff from remaining in position for so long they ached. One of the still figures shifted lightly against the truck of the tree only for it to give away on his left, sending him into a tumble and crash into a large prodding tree root. His armor banged lightly almost in protest.

"Yeack," the voice yipped in shock and panic.

"Arata!"

"Shush!"

There were the sounds of a brief scuffle (most likely Ryota putting Arata in his place), a few choice curses with low hisses of the others, and finally it lapsed back into silence. The only difference was the tense aura vibrating from the demons. Hoshiko glanced down at her companions hidden in the trees below her, nimbly perched on a high tree branch. She frowned a bit; didn't they know the meaning of trying to be as quiet as possible? Arata may have slipped but the scuffle might have given them away. She observed the still trees and any mysterious shadows but she saw no movement. She didn't hear any movement besides those of her companions. She let out a faint sigh of relief. Absolutely nothing stirred but all the same, it didn't mean anything from experience. Hoshi had no idea what was going on in the shadows. Ryota and Arata should know better but she had to reluctantly admit they were pups.

She felt the wind brush her bangs gently in a cool caress. Hoshi didn't brush them away. Her body was posed in high alert, ears pricked up for the faintest sounds, eyes wide and glancing repeatedly around. Her aura had been stifled out it was so faint that it was barely there, but she desired so badly to flare it out to sense for any potential threat. But she couldn't; she mustn't give their position away. Just like the fact they couldn't light a fire to prevent catching any enemy eyes if they were out there tonight. It was best to avoid adding fuel to the fire, don't provoke the Panther demons into pursing an attack. Why? Her companions were in no condition to fight with their poor eyesight and could accidently attack their allies. Only she, Tetsuya, and Arata were capable of any sight but she had the keenest; too much experience was the perfect reason why. The exact reason why she was the one keeping watch from above.

Her fingers gently ran down the rough bark of the pine tree, feeling the pricks against her fingertips and the small patches of sap. She plucked a few pine needles from the tree and crumbled them up scattering them on the faint wind. The smell of pine reached her nose. She glanced at her fingers; Filthy. Just like her past. She sighed, pulling her hood farther over her face. Her hair wasn't easy to hide, being a bright vivid light green and she had to remain hidden from any unfriendly eyes. Not that being shot down from the tree would kill her but she would rather not put herself into that position. Or being targeted from behind, that wouldn't be pleasant. She wondered what it would take to kill her; a stab to the heart, an arrow or blade in the eye, perhaps being torn into bits? She pressed her shoulder and felt the slight dip of where her scar ended. The scar that had previously ended her former life, she'd been killed by being torn in half. She shuddered lightly.

Ironic," her inner demon suddenly murmured faintly. We died, but we were brought back to life when we barely had a reason to live. The others, who had more reason than we did to live, died.

It is unfair. They deserved to live more than we.

They did but for some reason, I have the feeling there is something we live for. The reason Inu No Taisho brought us back. Other than his feelings, the fates gave us a second chance. But why?

The fates will decide that.

Maybe we already know deep down, but we can't or won't admit it to ourselves. Or we truly do not know what our fate is. Do you believe we have a destiny?

Hoshi frowned, hesitating for a second.

I don't know.

Her inner demon paused now for a moment, their thoughts separating from each other and taking on an unpredictable nature. They lived in this mind together, but in reality, they were two separate personalities. Hoshi only knew her inner demon was more prone to cruelty, hatred, and stubbornness.

Do you sense the change?

Hai, Hoshi replied, staring down hard at the shadows.

The night is too still, too quiet, her inner demon growled. The forest feels darker than what it should. Darkness is breeding in the shadows.

I know, this silence never leads to any good future. I worry, we are too close to the Northern Palace. If the Panther demons to strike in this direction, they'll have a good chance to break past lines and attack the palace directly.

We will not allow that to happen. We were bred to fight and protect.

Forced to fight, born to protect.

We are eligible for both reasons. Bred to fight, forced to fight, bred and born to protect. We will not allow them to pass; we will let our power burn them alive.

You are too boastful and proud.

How can I not be? We have won every fight we have been faced with, we have killed every foe placed in our path. You, milady, however are too thoughtful and humble. You never consider one solution, you reach out to every potential solution. You overthink everything.

I should, because your only solution is to kill.

Isn't that reasonable? It's easy.

Not everything can be solved with killing.

It's worked in our situation, her inner demon smugly boasted.

With blood on our hands, sure it has.

Killing is easy and not too much hustle to think about, it's one action and the problem is over.

You know why I consider different possibilities? Time is unpredictable, you know that. We know that. We hope for one thing, we get another. Death can't always work. We cannot hold to simply one. There are more choices than simply killing it off.

Her inner demon was silent for a long moment.

I hate to agree with you sometimes, her inner demon growled reluctantly. But I suppose there can be more solutions than killing though I still think it's easier.

Hoshi felt a faint smile tickle her lips. Though she had to sadly admit her inner demons side of the argument was logical, it wasn't the best solution to just kill others. It was easy, but it wasn't smart nor did it help her reputation, she was already stained to the point of no redemption. Hoshi briefly had to wonder why she considered her reputation. Everyone already knew what she was; a hybrid, a murder, a shame. She didn't want to be remembered as the half breed that killed countless lives just to preserve her own. Sometimes she wondered why she didn't just let them kill her. So many demons would be alive had they not tried to bring her down but they had chosen to chase her down and meet their ends. Not that they had realized they'd be the ones going down. They had died at her hands and countless more met the same fate ignoring the warnings and the obvious turnout. Had they not heard of the one before them slayed, how powerful she was to the point she was able to survive each attempt at slaying her? She sighed heavily.

Besides, she didn't like to kill. She didn't like to know she had blood on her hands, but she couldn't forget. How many demons she had watched die, the life leaving their eyes and hearing their heartbeat fade into silence. She shuddered at the memories. She heard the faint grumble of someone below and concern flashed through her being. She grabbed the branch firmly and swung off of it, flipping upside down to wrap her legs around the branch and shortly letting go, free falling to catch another branch and swinging from it. She was quiet and graceful as she swung out of the tree like a monkey, a technique mastered over the years. She slid down a branch. She flipped over another. She loved the wind in her hair and the feeling she felt as she fell, like she was flying. The ground came up sharply and with a single swing from a branch, she landed with a dull thud in front of her companions. She felt their auras tense up for a moment before relaxing, a few sighs and inhales being heard. She heard one of them curse softly.

"Is all well," Masa breathed.

"All is well for now."

"Not even a warning from the other patrol groups?"

"No."

She looked in Masa's direction; she could see him just fine. However, she could tell he was having hard time even seeing her, though her eyes were very visible in the night. They glowed like blue lanterns. Hoshi knew it frustrated him, unable to even glimpse her, to make them feel so weak without his sight. Yet, it was the perfect night to catch the eagle demons at their weakest point. She shuddered at the thoughts that ran through her head. She knew what could happen if they weren't careful tonight. Hoshi desperately didn't want her companions to die; fate was cruel, though. She heard Masa grumble in response now but he said nothing more, allowing her the opportunity to slip to Minoru's side. His eyes were half open.

"Minoru," she whispered lowly.

"Shi," he mumbled back.

"What is the matter?"

"I can't see," Minoru hissed in anger.

Hoshi sighed lightly. Minoru's pride again; she knew he despised feeling weak and useless. She made a slight movement and now his head turned in her direction, his eyes finding hers by how close she was to him. Not even a foot away.

"The night has barely begun," she murmured. "You must remain patient for the sun to rise."

"If I survive that long," he grumbled back.

"Do you think I'll let you die?"

"No, Shi."

"I won't anyone get your head."

"I'm not sure if I should be grateful or not," Minoru mused dryly.

"Well the question is, do you want life or death?"

He narrowed his eyes thoughtfully, before whispering to her lowly.

"Shi, I don't mean to pry, but you died once."

"Hai," she whispered lowly, unhappily.

"What was it like if you don't mind answering that."

She frowned for a moment, thinking about it carefully.

"I remember the agonizing pain of being torn apart into two and the spray of blood around me," she whispered lowly for the others not to hear. "The last thing I saw was the sky, cloudy and cracking with lightning then there was absolutely nothing. All was completely white and glowing around me. That is all I remember of death before I awoke in Father's arms."

He went quiet and he hummed, "I prefer life then," forcing a faint smile from her lips. She hadn't seen anything more than white light but, what was beyond that light? The Afterlife was what she could assume, heaven. She glanced at her other companions. Ryota had his robe wrapped around him as he hit in the perfect nick in the tree trunk, looking no more to be a rock. Arata was crouched in a hole by a tree root while his guardian, Tetsuya, sat farther down on the root keeping guard from ground. Masa was hidden by sitting next to a large rock with several plants surrounding him, his eyes glancing around him franticly at every area he knew his companions to be hidden. Or attempting to see.

She pushed a few pieces of dried meat and leaves into Minoru's hands. His confusion and surprise clouded his eyes as he gazed at her directly now. She eyed him back.

"Crumble the leaves," she murmured lowly. "The leaves hide faint scents. Eat the meat. You need your strength, I know you've been passing on meals you fool."

He looked slightly sheepish. Minoru crumbled the leaves as quietly as he could, letting the remains fall from his hands only to catch on the breeze, blowing straight into Ryota's form. The bull demon sputtered lightly before sitting up, brushing off the leaves glaring in their potential direction. He was a bit off. Hoshi had to bit her lip to stifle her giggle. She knew Ryota hated things on his face or even his form; he was quite neat when it came to eating and didn't like walking through mud, the sorts. Minoru must have caught on what was happening, for a smile crept onto his lips and he let out a faint chuckle. He took a bite of the meat. Ryota grumbled in the background.

"Be careful," she whispered to her companion.

"Always, milady," he whispered back. "Arigato."

"You are welcome. I heard your stomach grumbling from the top of the tree."

He looked even more sheepish this time.

"I will be in the trees if you need me," she said loud enough for the rest of her companions to hear. "Call me if you see or need anything."

After nodding in Tetsuya's direction, she grabbed a branch and swung back up into the tree and launched herself upward. The wind whistled in her ears. Hoshi ignored the pricks of pine in her palms. She considered what Minoru had asked of her; what was death like? She sighed to herself, swinging from another branch. She glanced down at her hands; in a way, it was comforting to know she was still alive sometimes to feel the sensations she did, touching other surfaces. She wasn't some ghost wandering the Earth, unable to find peace. But it reminded her of Kikyo; the others had told her what had happened with the former priestess of the Shikon No Tama. Died in the worst way only forced back into life almost like her; how much could she and Kikyo be alike? She sighed as she reached her designated position.

She shifted into a comfortable position, but alert all the same. She had her small break; she wondered if that even was a break. She quickly did a brief scan around her. As usual, nothing that was suspicious. Hoshi sighed again to herself.

What do you think was beyond that white light," Hoshi thought toward her inner demon.

Something that wasn't our time to venture into, that light had to be the veil between heaven and earth that we were trapped between.

I know that. But I mean, every living thing is accounted for during their time on earth. Do you think my Mother would have been there? My Father? Waiting for me on the other side?

They wouldn't wait for you, because they knew you wouldn't come for a long time. They had faith in us; we'd survive.

Hoshi sighed softly, eyes wandering toward the stars.

I suppose. I only wonder if they're up there.

Me too, but I know they are. Demons who are willing to die for their pup means they were capable of love and compassion. They wanted you to live, even if that meant giving up their lives.

I know. I would do the same for Rin.

I miss that little pup.

We miss that little pup.

Her inner demon gave a weak chuckle. Hoshi admired the night sky for another moment. She knew what death was like in the most painful way; what was it like in the peaceful way? She hoped she could find out. Not that she wanted to die anytime soon, she wanted to live. She just wanted to live out all of the years she had left and die peacefully, her goals accomplished and the sense of joy in her heart. Just like her parents and beloved guardian, Inu No Taisho, had wanted her too. Suddenly, a spark of red caught her attention. She narrowed in on it immediately. It was at least a mile to her left, a very faint glow of red among the dark forest. Her heart began to pound. Oh no. This was not a good sign. A patrol was in that direction, the only other at their elevation. The others were below. They would not be able to see it. Only her patrol could. Why would that patrol light a fire when they were told not to? A dark feeling grew in her breast. She immediately leaped from the tree and didn't bother to swing from the tree branches. She landed in the middle of her group, startling them.

"Shi," Masa immediately startled out.

"There is a fire at least a mile southwest of us."

"A fire," their leader said sharply now, sitting up farther. "We were told not to light fires tonight."

"Idiots," she heard Ryota mumble. "It's cold and dark, but we have orders."

"When did it appear?"

"Only a few moments ago."

"Go check it out and pound the idiot's heads in. Take Tetsuya and Minoru with you."

The two named demons immediately got to their feet, approaching her with weapons drawn. She sent a concerned glance Masa's way but she had her orders now. She was not happy they had to separate although she knew fairly well at least a few of them should remain in position while others checked it out. Not only that, it made her uncomfortable to leave them behind with their poor sight. Arata could see okay, but he was younger than and not as experienced as she and Tetsuya. She sent a comforting look in the fox demon's direction and he weakly smiled, suddenly weighed down by his duty to protect the leader and Ryota. Tetsuya smiled at his kit, who smiled a bit more but still looked a bit stressed. She forced herself to turn away as she gestured for the other two to follow her and within moments, they were sprinting through the forest. She felt the dirt billowing out behind them and the wind blowing her bangs around her face crazily. She was a bit surprised by how close Minoru was running beside her, but it was most likely it was because he couldn't see as well. She didn't mind; Inu No Taisho had run closer to her than he was. They leaped over a fallen log.

All she could see was the black trees and the shadows, faint streams of light shining through the branches. It was eerie. The dark cliffs above them didn't help the feeling. But it wasn't the scenery that got her nerves up; it was the fact a fire had been lit when they had been very firmly ordered not to do so. She ignored the lashing of a stick whack her hip as she flew by. Suddenly, there was a faint red glow in front of them. She put out her hands and slid to a stop, her companions doing the same. They held their breaths for a moment but there was nothing, only silence. She pressed a finger to her lips in their direction and slowly crept forward toward the light. She didn't know what was about to happen, but she wasn't about to take any chances. Her companions were silent as they crept behind her.

Her inner demon was on edge, prepared for anything. She felt her body tense up. Too much experience with situations like this did not help her at least relax in the slightest; she wanted to think of something positive but with her background, she couldn't. Had the demons forgotten their orders? But the silence was too strange. She crept around a few more trees to farther approach the post. No one had approached her yet. Demons had better senses than that! This was getting worse by the second. Suddenly, she saw the campground as she came over the small overhang. She froze in horror. Her companions inhaled sharply behind her.

They were dead. Every single one of them was slaughtered. Blood coated the trees, the leaves, the mangled bodies lying on the ground in random patterns. One of the demons, eyes glazed over as they stared in their direction, was in the middle of a silent scream frozen forever in his last moment of life. Another body was hung from the trees, the head stuck on a spike nearby the fire. The stench of the blood was overwhelming; she heard Minoru gag behind her. She didn't even flinch as she stepped forward, gazing at one of the bodies. This demon had been killed with a single stab in the heart, arrows prodding from his back. She looked around. They had been attacked from behind; several had been killed immediately by the obvious and quick assassinations they'd been through such as the arrow through the eye, sword stabs in the back. The two demons, the one hung and the one forever in a silent scream, were the ones who obviously survived the assassinations unlike their companions and fought, dying brutally. She knelt down by one of the bodies, pulling out an arrow. She saw Tetsuya observe another. She felt sad; they weren't her friends, but they'd been her allies all the same.

"How did we not hear them," Minoru hissed.

"I don't know," Hoshi responded, getting up. "But all the same, we need to report this."

Tetsuya nodded his agreement as he looked sadly at his fallen comrades.

Hoshi heard a faint splash as she took a step forward. She looked down to gaze into a pool of blood, her reflection an angry red gazing back at her. The fire danced in her eyes. Hoshi looked at the fire in horror suddenly; the demons were dead. Who had lit the fire? How? She immediately put her hand on her sword, looking around. She was being watched. The demons that had killed her allies were still here. She suddenly had the feeling the spirits of the dead were screaming at her in warning.

"Minoru, Tetsuya," she hissed at them. "They're dead, who lit the fire?"

Her companions immediately stiffened, eyes widening in horror. That was the only warning she was able to give as an arrow streaked from the darkness around them. She lunged for it, grabbing it before it could make its resting place in Minoru's breast. Immediately knowing where it had come from, she grabbed Nagereboshi from her back and threw it in the arrows launching point, hearing the howl of pain as a demon fell from the trees. Panther demon. His eyes were red in the fires light; spit dripping from his fangs as he lurched to his feet, her spear prodding from his abdomen. He suddenly had an arrow in the eye and fell. She turned to observe Tetsuya lowering his bow as another demon lunged from the darkness behind him, sword drawn. Minoru lunged and dispatched him before he could strike his ally. Hoshiko heard a howl behind her and whirled, the sword missing her by inches but unfazed, she grabbed his wrists and threw him over her. He hit the ground hard, wheezing, as she was tackled by another from the side. Silently, she pulled out the dagger on her hip and stabbed it between her attackers shoulder and neck, cutting an important blood flow to the head before tossing him into a tree. He scrambled to get to his feet but she grabbed him tightly by the throat letting her poison flow to brand his throat, stabbing him in the lower gut to tear it upward to his collarbone. He gurgled, falling to his side as his innards fell from his chest. She didn't flinch at the sight. She dropped to her knees as a sword whistled over her where her head had been and spun, extending out her leg to knock him off his feet. She leaped on him and strangled him, stabbing him the eye with an arrow she grabbed. He fell limp in her grasp. She leaped to her feet to watch Minoru toss a demon into another to send them tumbling. She began to sprint, grabbing Nagereboshi from one of her fallen foes and threw it, stabbing one of the demons in the back of the skull shattering it, killing him instantly.

Minoru howled as he was stabbed in the shoulder from behind, whirling to take care of it only to find Hoshiko lifting his foe off his back and throwing him away. He was amazed to watch her kill the demon quickly before pouncing upon the demon he had thrown away moments before and kill him with her hand through his throat, poison dripping from her hand. She dropped the body. He stared at her. Her cheek was streaked in blood and some of her hair had fallen out. She looked terrifying, fierce some, the very deathly warrior he had been told she was. An expert killer, an unbelievable murderer, the perfect mercenary; she was death's beautiful assistant. He could see now why she had survived so long.

"MINORU!"

At Hoshi's voice, he startled to find himself surrounded by several demons. He glowered, glaring at them all as he held out his katana in warning. The other demons grinned at him; it wasn't kindly. They were expecting an easy kill. A demon lunged for him and he cringed as the demon cut his cheek and hacked off some of his hair; that was close! He jumped away and swung, the demon falling back with a cut arm and shoulder. He glanced up as his lady was breaking the spine of a demon approaching Tetsuya, throwing the body away into another enemy as she turned to deal with another. Be like her! He spun to face another demon only to find a blade under his chin. He gulped.

"Why try," the demon purred at him. "We will win anyway."

"No, Lord Takahiro will take you down!"

"Doubtful. It is the night of the new moon."

The other demons chuckled in agreement. The demon pinning him grinned.

"Have a painful death," he said as he raised his blade.

Suddenly, the blade was knocked out of his foes hand and before his foe could respond, a sword plunged through his chest splattering Minoru in blood. He eyed the blade an inch from his own chest. He glanced up as the demon's eyes glazed over as Hoshi kicked the body off her blade, blood dripping from her chin. Her hair had splotches of red now.

"Need some help," she questioned dully, her eyes almost black and cold.

He jumped as she leaped around him, her hands closing around the demons throat and squeezing tightly, his neck snapping under her grasp and she allowed the body to fall to the ground. He stared at her. She didn't just fight with blade, she fought with her hands. That wasn't a common technique. He glanced at Tetsuya who was backing up to them and looked to see what his ally was backing away from. His eyes widened, hands tightening on his katana. There was so many! The Panther demons leered and laughed at them, weapons extended and fangs bared at them. The three of them stood back to back. He could see the strain on Tetsuya's face but Hoshiko, she looked oddly calm. She gazed at their foes with a dark amusement. Minoru wondered what they would do if they knew who she truly was. She was one of the best killers and survivors he'd known. The daughter of two powerful demons, their blood combined within her. Her eyes were tinged with red at the corners.

"Give up demons," a panther demon purred as he stepped out of line, gesturing around them. "You are hopelessly outnumbered. Give up, and we will spare your lives. If you fight with us, you will be rewarded greatly."

"Over my dead body," Minoru growled. "I serve Lord Takahiro and Lord Sesshomaru with great loyalty and with all my power. I will never fight with you."

"Pity. You could have lived."

"You act like you'll win. I doubt you will; after all, only the most powerful demons rule don't you remember?"

The Panther demon's eyes darkened in anger.

"Lord Takahiro is unwilling to give us the rights we deserve. His time as Lord of the North is coming to an end."

"We will see about that."

Suddenly, the Panther demon lost interest in Minoru. He glanced at Hoshiko with great interest, eyes looking her up and down in inspection. The look in his eyes wasn't friendly, it was all but lustful. It angered Minoru; his lady wasn't some horse or something. Not only that, she was the lover of Lord Sesshomaru of the West! She was perhaps the potential future Lady of the West! He had the impression that demon would have his head on Lord Sesshomaru's sword by this point if the Western Lord was here. Minoru wanted to shield his lady but he knew she would hate that. She wasn't some weakling.

"You have impressed me, demoness," the panther demon breathed at the hybrid demoness. "I have never seen a demoness fight so well. So deathly and lethal, one who fights among the demons unlike the pathetic demoness's who sit on their little seats and drink tea."

Hoshi said nothing; she just looked at the demon with an unimpressed expression.

"You would make a fine addition to our ranks," the panther demon continued. "You do not need to fight with them, fight with us. We will greatly reward you, in multiple ways than one," he said in a lower, seductive tone.

"I am fine where I am," Hoshi replied. "My loyalty lies with Lord Sesshomaru."

"Pity. Dispatch them," the demon suddenly spat, still looking lustfully at Hoshi as though cherishing her for her last moments.

"DUCK," Hoshi shouted.

Tetsuya and Minoru didn't ask questions. They threw themselves to the ground just as Hoshi spun on her heel, Taiyo flashing with green energy along the blades as she spun around spinning the swords around her with a shout.

"EARTH SHATTER!"

The green energy appeared to leap off Taiyo's blades to tear into the ground in great pulses of energy, ripping up trees and tearing their enemies apart. Wind roared around them in a circular motion as the sounds of dying demons reached them. Leaves appeared to turn into blades and sliced through demons as green energy finished them off or chased down the ones who tried to escape. Finally, the chaos ended and there was dead silence. The demons were gone. However, they could hear demons farther up coming their way. Hoshi stood there for a moment before looking at them, eyes as cold as Sesshomaru's.

"We need to go warn the others."

"I think that show did," Minoru breathed, getting to his feet and dusting little sticks and dirt off of him.

Tetsuya gestured in the direction of their enemies; Hoshi and Minoru got the message. They took off in the direction of their patrol, running harder than when they arrived. Minoru glanced at Hoshi; she was covered in blood but none of it appeared to be hers. For some reason, his pride was hurt by that. Why was she all but untouchable at times? They leaped into the small area their companions hid. They were all standing looking quite shocked, angry, or afraid.

"What in the world was all that," Masa snapped.

"The Panther demons are attacking," Hoshi said calmly. "We were attacked by a large force. They are approaching the Northern Palace at this moment."

Masa went pale in the face. Just as he opened his mouth to say something, there was the horn of battle and a shot of fire went into the sky from the direction of the palace. Below, they could hear fellow patrols shout an alarm before the sounds of battle reached them. They all broke into a run, sprinting down the steep incline. Hoshi bit her lip. It had begun. Something she didn't want to happen, but had. She had felt this would happen. She had been right in predicting their attack. She ran faster.

Her comrades and herself stopped at the edge of an incline, looking down. Multiple demons were in battle, swords tearing into each other and shouts filling the night. Hoshi glanced to her right to find a demon raising his sword to kill one of her allies, her ally oblivious as he fought off another. She shot down the incline, her body slamming into her enemy who reacted to the attack with surprise, turning on her with an angry but shocked cry. She slammed her arm across his face, grabbing his hair to jerk him down to have his neck meet her knee. She felt his neck bones snap. She dropped the body. By now, her companions had recovered enough to sprint down the hill to help.

She held Taiyo firmly in her hands as another demon stepped forward to challenge her, glaring at her with immense hatred shining in his eyes. They locked blades and they engaged in the dance of fang, swirling around each other with blades clashing. She locked her swords around his and the next thing he knew, his sword went spinning into the forest and her swords licked open his neck ending their deathly dance. Hoshi flicked the blood off of her blade. Without hesitation, she charged into battle. She beheaded another. She slashed another in two. She helped one of her allies finish a stubborn foe off.

Hoshiko grabbed Nagereboshi off her back and threw it, her aim hitting the neck of a surprised victim who had no time to even react; his neck was sliced open. She heard an angry shout from behind her and when she was turning to face her enemy, she was body slammed into a tree. Gasping lightly, she ducked as the blade whistled through the air, embedding itself in the bark where her head had before. She lashed out at him; he kicked at her and got her in the gut knocking her to her side. She didn't panic, simply rolled as he pulled his katana out and sliced at her, and sprung to her feet and locked blades with him. The next thing she knew, her sword had ripped out his heart. She flicked it away in mere disgust. She heard rapid footsteps to her left and whirling around, she found Arata spring on her attacker digging two blades into his forehead. Instant death. She smiled faintly at the kit.

"Good job," she said.

"Welcome," he chuckled back, wiping some blood off his cheek.

She smiled a bit wider at him before glancing down at her enemies clashing with her allies. She gestured toward the onslaught and Arata nodded in agreement before they together raced down the hill, pouncing upon enemies.

THEY WILL DIE, Hoshi's inner demon screamed in fury WE WILL RIP THEM TO SREADS AND BURN THEM ALIVE! LET NO ONE SURVIVE OUR WRATH AND POWER!

Hoshi obeyed the will of her inner demon. Together, they tore their enemies apart, burned them with their poison, let their blades rip into enemy flesh. She threw enemies away from her, she crushed them with her strength, she chased them down with her speed and slaughtered them. She felt her power singing in her veins. She got a few nicks here and there but otherwise, she was almost untouchable. Blood splashed on her repeatedly. She let her talons rip out the heart of her wailing foe. She swung blades with them and beheaded them. This was a battle of higher class demons, ones who took much more to die.

Arata joined her. He ran at her side and she let him help, even catching him a few times when he was thrown away to help him keep his balance. She clasped his hand and helped him up when he stumbled. He groaned a bit as he shook his head, dirt and blood flying. He clutched his wounded arm.

"It just isn't ending is it, there are so many," he murmured to her.

"We will win."

"We're outnumbered!"

"We're stronger and braver. We fight together. We don't give up," Hoshi responded, her attention mainly on the fight. "Keep fighting with me."

"I will."

She smiled at him. They ran into the battle once more and ripped another demon in two (she grabbed the lower half, he tackled the upper half). They fought back to back. She broke the spine of another demon and tossed him away. His blood splattered on her hands, but she didn't shudder. She would later; she had to fight for now. The Lords were depending on each of them to do their duty! She turned to face another foe when she saw it. Horror filled her veins. NO! Her inner demon screamed.

Tetsuya was fighting two demons in front of him but one reared up from behind him. His back, his unprotected back. Tetsuya was turning, but it was too late. He was stabbed through the spine and another demon shoved him onto his knees during his moment of weakness, raising his sword. Just as he was about to be killed, Tetsuya met her eyes. HER eyes. Why her? He stared at her with a hopelessness, but fatherly look. He was looking at her and Arata, the two he seemed the most connected to during their patrols together. He stared at her just as the blade came down, beheading him. His body fell. She stared in utter horror. Her friend. Her ally. Arata's guardian. He was dead. ARATA! She turned to look at the fox kit, who had just watched the murder of his guardian. His eyes went wide, his face paled, his mouth hanging open in shock and in utter pain, in terror. Suddenly, his eyes darkened and he screamed. A scream of fury, but of pain. He lunged forward but if he went, he would die. There were too many. Their allies were falling back. She grabbed him, wrapping her arms around him as he screamed.

"Arata," she said into his ear. "He's gone! Let go, Arata, let go!"

"TETSUYA! TETSUYA," Arata screeched, squirming against her hold.

"ARATA, LET GO. HE'S GONE; THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO! LET GO!"

Arata screamed again but his struggling was weakening, so she pulled on him. He stared at the body of his guardian, the demon who had raised him, his best friend. He seemed so lost it broke Hoshiko's heart. She shouted his name again and finally, he seemed to come to his senses and stumbled after her. They ran together, racing farther down the incline as demons behind them tried to hold them off. She could feel Arata's pain, his sorrow, his anger. He was alone now; just like she was when Inu No Taisho was gone. She felt tears fill her eyes. Tetsuya was gone. The mute, always happy demon. Arata stumbled again and she hauled him to his feet, keeping them running. Don't look back Arata, move forward. Don't look back!

She gripped his hand as they ran together. It seemed to be his only lifeline. The only thing holding him to his reality. Arata's eyes were glazed over, shiny; she knew he was all but ready to cry. Tetsuya was gone. She was all but dragging him beside her as they ran. She tried to ignore the stinging in her own eyes. One of the demons she had come to care about here had died. She wasn't able to do anything about it! Pain beat in her breast.

Suddenly, she saw the wall of the Palace. She wasn't surprised by what she saw. It had been damaged quite severely as demons raced over the fallen remains of buildings, some attempting to climb other sides that hadn't been broken down only to be shot down from their perches. She frowned; that was not the best motive. It was asking for a death wish. She dragged Arata through the trees surrounding the palace and sharply turned the corner, to find a large group of Panther demons firing fire arrows into the Palace itself. She growled, whipping out Taiyo and shouting without hesitation.

"SUN'S FIRE!"

The fire fury tore up the ground and the large group of demons screamed as they were burned and destroyed. She felt somewhat satisfied with that. She glanced up at the arrows already burning the palace roof and she paled. Lady Misaki and her children were in there! She drug Arata behind her again; he didn't seem to care about anything anymore, his gaze blank. He'd fallen once more into his pain. Just like she had. She tried not to think too hard about that. Together they raced up the wall and leapt into the courtyard. Demons were franticly attempting to put out the fire, failing greatly. If they didn't do something, the palace would burn! Where in the world was her beloved, Lord Sesshomaru? She shoved Arata in the direction of the palace that wasn't burning.

"Go!"

He stared at her blankly.

"ARATA, GO! GO HELP THE OTHERS!"

There was still no response. She growled now; she had no choice. She gave him a light slap on the cheek and shook him lightly. His eyes bulged out of his head, suddenly appearing to see her again.

"ARATA, YOU IDIOT! GO HELP THE OTHERS! DO YOUR DUTY! GO!"

He cringed at her harsh tone and suddenly appeared to snap back into reality, sprinting toward the palace wall to help his comrades at her command. But she could see his spirit was gone. Just like his guardian. She felt bad but what other choice did she have? She turned away from him and eyes widened at the fire burning up at the palace. The Northern Palace would go down if she didn't do something! What could she do!? Demons were shouting in panic; she could hear the screams of the demons inside the palace as they panicked.

Oh, what could she do? She knew she could return to the battle, but the palace was burning! What could she do to help? She watched the demons rushing water in large buckets from the river nearby to throw it on the fire the best they could. They would get nowhere with that! But her gaze was snared by the water. Water. Fire's enemy, heat's destroyer.

Water can put out the fire.

She frowned at her inner demons comment. Of course water could put out the fire! Her inner demon appeared to frown at her.

We are an water elemental. We can stop the fire.

Oh no! Oh no no no! That would not be a good idea at all, it was a terrible and scary idea! She was horrified by her inner demon's suggestion. She was posing as a mere dragon demoness, an air and earth elemental. A normal demoness beyond what others knew. She wasn't supposed to be a water elemental. She wasn't supposed to be able to have the power she did. She stared at the burning palace, knowing her time was growing short as the fire danced in her eyes. She knew she had two choices; she could use her water element to put the fire out, but she would be faced with consequences. She could save the lives of the demons stuck in the palace. Or let the palace burn and try to save as many demons as she could. Hoshi clenched her fists. What could she do what would she do?

She stared at the flames dancing in the windows, mocking her. There were demons stuck in there, they would burn to death and the Northern Palace would fall. They would die if she didn't do something! Couldn't she just use her air element? Testing the air around her she knew it would do no good. She couldn't make wind herself, she had to use the natural wind but it was weak. Even if she tried to increase its power, it wouldn't be good enough. The only way to get a good blast was in her true form. But it would give her sea serpent heritage away! How could she hide her fins, gills, and tail? The webbing between her toes? Besides, an air blast might even make it worse or even leave embers just to be relit. She clenched her jaw now, bangs hiding her eyes. She could save them, but it would cost her. She made her choice.

Hoshi looked up at the palace now, determination shining in her blue eyes. She knew what she had to do, no matter what the cost would be. They were more important than who she was.

Hoshiko sprinted along the side of the river, calling the power within her to her aid. Her youki flared out, webbing out to the water. The element of her Father, an element she was born within her. Her veins began to sing with power, her muscles tensed up, her hair flew about her with a life of its own. Her aura surged around her, her wounds healing under the power that radiated from her with the combined power of sea serpent and dragon demon. The water followed the movement of hands. Her eyes glowed. With a low growl to herself at the strain, she flung her arms around her and the water surged from the water, howling, obeying her very will. The water danced around her, droplets hitting her face, her arms. With a shout of fury and strain, Hoshiko hurled the water through the air with all the power and will she had and it flew like a water snake through the air to rain upon the Northern Palace. The spray of water flew about her but she didn't pause, she didn't give up. Hoshi clenched her eyes shut. She would do this!

The fire appeared to scream in fury as the water rained down upon its flames, dying under the cool touch. Finally, the palace darkened; the fire was gone. Hoshiko gasped, releasing her command on the water to let it rain upon the ground as she leaned forward breathing heavily. She had never done such a task before. She had never bent that much water in her life. But she had done it. She felt the strain on her power though, it was much weaker now but she didn't care. She looked up at the burned but still standing Northern Palace and she had to smile faintly. She did it.

Hoshiko failed to realize what very few had seen her great show of power, but even if they had seen it they hadn't noticed her. They were baffled by what they seen and brushed it off, guessing a water elemental had been on their side and handled the problem. They just didn't realize who it was.

However, a single demon with silver eyes stared in shock and awe from his position on one of the high walls surrounding the palace with a clear view of everything. He had seen the whole performance. He had watched the little demoness bend a huge body of water to save the Northern Palace. Someone he knew who was powerful, but not that powerful. He watched her look around nervously before sprinting out of the courtyard, disappearing into the depths of battle once more. He blinked in shock as something registered to him; Shi had told him she was an air and earth elemental. Not a water elemental. He recalled what his mate said to him.

"Mate?"

He looked back at his mate, his sweet mate, who was huddled in a large blanket of silk before their large fireplace. She was looking at him with her eyes wide. He was concerned she was about to have another panic attack. She had been nearly murdered that day, after all.

"What is it?"

"It is about Shi?"

"Shi," he had asked in confusion.

"Hai. Her aura.. its odd."

"How so?"

"When it flared out, it felt like a dragon but at the same time, it didn't."

His attention was snared.

"What?"

"Her aura feels like a dragon but it doesn't. It feels like something else. Like a different aura, two auras mixed together."

"What would you say the other one was?"

"I… I do not know. It just isn't dragon."

"I see."

"Also, mate?"

"Hai?"

"Her sword… It was named Taiyo. Wasn't that the name of your deceased friend mate's sword?"

Suddenly, the pieces fell together and he almost dropped his katana as pure and dead shock consumed him.

Lord Takahiro had realized who Shi was.

Oh no! Lord Takahiro has realized who our beloved demoness is, what will he do? Will he do something vile against Hoshi? Will he confront her? And poor Tetsuya and Arata T.T I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter (sorry for the gore if it is very descriptive and all that ^^;) and I'm sorry it took me so long to update again, it is hard to write sometimes with school XP Enjoy and please review, it makes me write faster and it makes me happy :3 Cookies for reviewers!

Next chapter: More war and several surprises, along with the arrival of our favorite Western Lord!