Hi Hi

I don't own Inu Yasha

I hope that you enjoy this chapter.

I tried something new I put together short list of songs to listen to while I write.

Here they are in case you want to check them out

I will not Bow- by Breaking Benjamin

Breaking me down- by red

I'd come for you- by nickel back

Sometimes you can't make it on your own-by u2

A special thanks once again to Flip-0v3r, Firepetals, Ash, Kiki, Charli, and KyriaHitomi. You don't know how much you guys mean to me.

Oh and sorry for my bad grammar e.e it's never been a strong point for me…

Well I'll shut up and let you get to the chapter.

And In The Dark

~*~ Ember ~*~

Jaken looked at his master, he was positioned in a chair with his back to him. Even so he knew that the inu youki was perfectly aware of his presence. With a frown he took in the musty smell of the library. As he watched a now familiar man wearing the royal uniform of the imperial army walked up to his master.

"Jaken" not bothering to turn his head Sesshomaru knew that the little green man would be there. Since Jaken had been assigned to him he was always there lurking about him. Though the emperor had appointed him, or maybe because the emperor had appointed him he was leery of the small toad like man. He did not need someone watching his every move. Inclining his head down, he dismissed the small man without another word.

Turning his back to them he paused "I will continue looking and return to you shortly."

Listening to Jaken's short quick steps he waited till they faded and he knew the little man was out of hearing distance before he turned his attention back to the man that was in front of him.

"Report."

"Just as you predicted there was a counter strike to the brutality in Obin, all the men that were left behind were killed… well most of them. It wasn't just any group of rebels responding to the attack it was the Shinkushiyou. He slaughtered our men."

"As was expected."

Over the past few days he had seen just how the Lord of the western lands lived up to his reputation. He was every bit as cold and detached as people claimed, sitting in front of him was a man that had just sent a platoon of soldiers to die without even batting an eye.

"Sir why then…?"

Sesshomaru had chosen not to answer his question he hated it when people wanted to know too much. Narrowing his eyes, he was pleased when the man stopped mid sentence.

"The wolf and the brothers?"

"Neither of them have returned to their posts. It appears they have been in contact though we haven't been able to get close enough to find out what has been going on between them."

"leave me and await further orders."

The man nodded before turning and exiting the room quickly, not wanting to be in Sesshormaru's persance longer then he had to be.

'There's a piece that I'm missing.' With that thought he reviewed the information he already knew. Kouga was chasing the Shinkushikyu but that wasn't all he was after something else he knew, rumor had it that he was looking for a girl. The wolf had played his part in the plan flushing the Shinkushkyu out, even if he had performed this task unknowing. After Toll there had only been two logical places to go, the out laying villages of Obin and Theron. Since his informant he had sent to Obin had already reported the Shinkushiyu's involvement, with in the hour his man from Theron would report to tell him that Theron had been leveled to the ground.

In the grand scheme of things what was one little slave village? The Emperor had told him to find the sword, but it was becoming more apparent that he wasn't going to find any new information someone had gone through a lot of trouble to make sure it had been destroyed. He for one wasn't about to devote himself entirely to a wild goose chase. It would start soon he knew prophecy or not the rebels would be gearing up for an attack. An attack meant to coincide with their feeble little legend.

The kingdom would soon be in an uproar, you could feel the tension in the air. Everyone was in anticipation of what was going to happen, the kingdom of the spider was set to fall.

The Sword and the jewel he knew the second part of the information was important. If it wasn't then some one wouldn't have gone threw so much trouble to hide it. His instincts were telling him that the jewel was just as, or maybe even more important then the sword.

If he played it right 'it could be all mine.' The thought was enough to bring a rare half smirk to his face.

Jaken looked around the stuffy small room he was waiting in. There were no windows as the entire room was crammed with books. The only space on the walls that was not occupied with the musty old volumes was the door he had entered through. His master would not be with the soldier for long. The lord of the Western Lands was not one for words. Tilting his head up he looked around the room once more before letting his gaze fall back to the book he was holding. It was an older book, the pages were yellowing and brittle. With a deep breath he moved his hand to the top of the page, before pulling it in a downward motion. The old page gave way easily in his hand returning the book to one of the shelves he crumpled the paper before reaching for his staff.

The staff was an intricately carved piece of art, most people assumed it was for decoration and that was the way that Jaken wanted to keep it. Sitting atop the staff where two heads one old man and the other a young beautiful woman. As he raised his hand to the staff the old mans mouth opened spewing forth a small amount of flames. The flames danced about wrapping around the piece of paper. When they ebbed there was nothing left not even ashes.

Turning toward the door he leaned his staff against the wall before exiting. As he had expected the soldier was gone and his master was once again alone. His back still to him he approached cautiously.

Sesshomaru listened as Jaken entered the room.

"My Master"

"Did you find anything?" It was a pointless question, he knew what the answer would be before it was given.

"No, but I will continue to search."

~*~*~* Jinenjis house ~*~*~

"Your Lucky that we're here and not…"

He didn't get to finish his sentence as the girl in front of him started to thrash about again.

"Or you'll what? Have me beat… have me killed? You think I'm afraid of you little boy you think I feel sorry for you like everyone else?"

Sango had been about to interrupt but something in Kira voice stopped her. Looking down at the struggling bundle in her arms and then back to the little boy she frowned.

"Look at me!"

Was this girl crazy? Everyone was already looking at her. Why then did she need to demand more attention? Though he had the feeling she could care less about anyone else in the room her hateful eyes were trained on him.

"I'm looking and all I can see is a pathetic little girl that doesn't know her place." She reacted even more violently at the sound of his words and Shippo was briefly thankful that someone was holding her back.

"You're looking at me but do you even see me?" the words caught in her throat

What was she talking about? Taking in the little girl he tried to imagine her with a different expression. Tried to picture what she would look like with out hate contorting her lovely feature. What he saw surprised him he knew this girl.

Well he didn't know her but there were all these images that came rushing to him. A woman with, the same vivid green eyes was serving his family dinner, the kitchen door swung open and he could see a little girl standing on a stool washing dishes. Once again he was standing outside, the pair was there too, washing and hanging clothes on the clothes line outside of his house. When the woman who must have been her mother saw, that the sound of the little girl's laughter was drawing attention quickly covered her mouth and moved her behind her in a protective gesture.

Then he saw her in the winter with a man who was chopping wood while the little girl who was bundled up carried the already chopped pieces to be stacked next to the house.

In all meaning of the sense they looked like a happy little family but those happy images where replace by the same green eyes she was half hidden behind her mother and tears were coursing down her checks. He knew where this last image had come from. In his mind he could hear the little girls screams and the mothers sobs mingled together.

"Ah I see you do, know who I am."

The words cut at him, the malice behind them tearing at him, he could feel her pain he could even sympathize with it but that didn't excuse what her father had done. The stupid human had known the consequences and was punished accordingly.

"You're family got what they disserved." The words were cold he knew but he wasn't about to have some lowly house servant tarnish his parent memory.

"If that's the case I don't know what happened in Obin but I'm sure, yours didn't suffer enough."

Kira stared ahead her eyes clouding over as images flashed threw her mind. Her fathers lifeless body covered with small gashes, her mothers crying face. The little brats dad drawing back his whip over and over, the raw pulpy mess that was her mothers back.

"What going on here?" Sango wanted answers she had expected them to come form one of the children but it was Mamoru that spoke up.

"A couple of weeks ago her father was publicly executed in the town square for stealing… by the village magistrate… Shippos father"

Sango looked down at the squirming child in her arms, clearing he throat before she spoke "Everyone out now, Miroku let the boy go."

Miroku hesitated though he could see that no one else was going to question Sangos orders. Setting the boy gingerly on the ground he walked to Sango's side where she was lowering the young girl to the ground. Both of the youth turned to them, like they were expecting them to say something. Instead Sango looked down at them and nodded before turning and walking away. Miroku watching her go followed without a backward glance once they had exited the room he closed the door behind himself.

"What do you think that you're doing?" Hojo yelled not able to understand why they had just left the room. Searching their faces he was met with was a hard glare from the karyuudo.

"They are just children."

"Grow up and look around you. In the world we live in, who can afford to be a child?"

Taken back from the tone in her voice Hojo took a step toward the door he wasn't about to just let them fight it out in the next room. He didn't get very far before he found himself nose to nose with one very angry woman.

"But they might…" Hojo couldn't finish the sentence. He didn't want to think what would happen to the children if they left them alone in there.

Sango looked into his angry eyes, that was good she liked anger. Anger she could understand, anger she could handle. It was the anger and loss in those kids eyes that she couldn't bear. So she had left them there, they both had their reasons to fight, they both had their reasons hate each other. Who was she to deny them? 'and isn't that what they disserve?' it was a cold thought she knew but wasn't this what they disserved? Wasn't it what they needed?

She knew very well the pain they were feeling right now. There was nothing any of them could say that would quell the kind of hurt they were feeling. Kira wanted revenge and who was she to deny it? Whether the girl actually carried it out was her own decision.

Mamoru could feel the tension hanging heavy in the air he hadn't expected that. He would have thought that they would have given the children a scolding, instead they had left them alone knowing that the little girl had murderous intent. What were they going to do when they opened that door and had to deal with the consequences.

Hojo hadn't known Sango as long as the rest of the group. To tell the truth he didn't know any of them very well. 'Sango the hunter' the thought flashed through his mind for the first time he was seeing just what it mean to be a hunter.

Putting his hand on Sangos shoulder Hojo pepared to step by her only to be held in place but the icy look she was giving him.

"You've never known loss like this… So just stay out of it." Her eyes narrowing she looked at the light brown haired man in front of her. She had never really had anything against Hojo before, but at this moment she was having to restrain herself from decking him. He had no idea what was going on in there he had no idea what it felt like to have something that you loved ripped away from you. Unlike her he hadn't grown up in this life. He had been sheltered he had chosen to join the resistance she had thrust into it.

________-

Kira stood where Sango had set her down. She was staring at the little youki boy who was across the room. His chest was heaving and his bright turquoise eyes were fixed on her.

How could he say her family deserved it? They were good hard working people, that was more then she could say for his family. 'murders' that's what his family was. Right now she knew that she was at the disadvantage. Before she had only been able to get the jump on the fox youki because he hadn't been expecting her to attack him but right now he was prepared for her. Rushing forward she launched her small body at Shippo, but he was ready for her batting her away like it was nothing. Her body skidded across the rough wooden floor then he was on top of her the sharp nails that tipped his fingers digging in to her neck.

"Take it back!"

'take it back' how could he demand that she do such a thing? She would rather die, with anger she realized that might be exactly what was going to happen. She might never be going home to her mother again, instead she would be going to her father. The desperation of this realization made her struggle harder to buck off the boy her hands pounding uselessly against his sides, and yanking at his hands. Her vision was starting to go blurry around the edges already Shippo was fading in and out of focus.

"It was my fault…" the words escaped her throat in a half choked cry. Isn't this what she disserved letting her hands fall to her sides she took in the blurry shape above her. He may have been wrong about her parents, but he was right about her. She disserved exactly what was coming to her.

The words were enough to make Shippo pause before he had been acting on auto, being driven by his rage. But those words struck a cord in him 'it's all my fault' how many times had told himself those exact same words? Focusing on her face he saw that her expression had changed, her green eyes taking on a far away look while new tears coursed down her cheeks. He also noticed that the fight had left her body no longer were her little fists pounding on him but rather they were laying lifelessly on the ground.

"It not your fault don't blame yourself" the words tumbled out of his mouth before he even knew what he was saying. His hands dropped away from her slender throat now on the floor on either side of her face. What had he been about to do?

It was the warm wetness hitting her face that forced her to turn her attention back to the boy above her.

"You don't understand it is… I took it I stole your mothers comb… he was covering for me…."

All the sudden the pieces fell together in his mind. He wanted to curse her to yell at her, and brand her for the thief she was. When he opened his mouth nothing came out he couldn't do it. Not to her, not right then. He had felt the weight of thinking his parents deaths were his fault. He had felt helpless, deep down he knew he was. He was a helpless little kid but he wasn't always going to be. He shared that pain with her, but there was something that he could never understand, and that was watching knowing that you had been the cause. Reaching for her shoulders he pulled her into a loose embrace surprised when her arms came up around his shoulders.

"I wanted my mom to have something nice she's never had anything nice…' her voice was leaving her in little hiccupy sobs 'but when it came down to it, my dad paid the price for my mistake."

"Your dad must have loved you a lot, you and your mom were probably the most important thing to him…and because your alive right now he has no regrets…I'm sorry."

This was a situation, he would have never imagined himself in before. Here he was a fox youki comforting a little slave girl, but here in the dark they shared the same pain.

___________-

"Sango…" It was the sound of Mirokus voice that brought her back to reality, and with that she realized she had been had been clutching the front of Hojos shirt holding him in place.

Miroku watched the surprise that flicked behind those chocolate colored depths. It was then that he did something he would normally never have the courage to do. Taking a step forward he wrapped his arms around Sango pulling her back against his chest.

"Can you guys give us a minute?"

Much to his relief they filed out of the room silently. Her body sagged against him as she started to slide out of his grasp to the floor. Not wanting to let her go he sank to his knees turning her as they slipped to the floor.

She felts so weak so helpless. She hated this feeling. It wasn't that she never cried, oh she cried. She had spent nights crying countless tears. What she hated wasn't that she was crying, but rather that she was crying in front of someone.

"Sango it's ok, you don't have to be strong all the time." Making soothing circular motions on her back he rested his cheek against her soft hair.

'you don't have to be strong all the time.' His words echoed in her ears sapping away the last of her defenses and for once she allowed herself to break down. She knew that when she came back to herself, she would have to live with the embarrassment of this moment but right now she could care less. Wrapping her arms around Miroku she allowed all the bitterness that she had been holding in her heart to pour out.

The sound of her sobs broke Mirokus heart. He thought of her earlier words to Hojo. Sango was so brave, he had nothing but admiration for her.

"I'll be your shoulder to cry on." And in the dark he lightened her burden, and shared her pain.

~*~*~* In the Air not far from Jinenjis~*~*~*

Kagura stared the shaft of cold sharpened meddle. Taking a deep breath she took in the full gravity of the situation. The man was skilled of that there could be no doubt. She had seen it in the way that he had just moved, clean and crisp despite the fact that he was heavily injured.

"And what has she done to you? Played tricks?" she had said it to get a reaction out of the man but it appeared that he wasn't going to take the bait. Yet she couldn't help but be curious about the man in front of her. Who was he?

"Who are you?"

"I'm just a man. Who are you?"

"Now, now, you didn't even answer my question properly and you think that you're going to get answers out of me?"

Yasha took in the woman in her dark hair and ruby red eyes. The woman gave off the aura of being deadly and dangerous. As he thought of the grace that Kagome had been dealing with the situation his admiration for her grew. That was Kagome, if someone thought they could push her around easily then they were in for a surprise.

As he watched the woman reached inside her kimono pulling out a folded fan. A fan she fought with a fan. He had only ever heard of one person fighting with a fan. How had he found himself in this position?

"Maybe I could show you who I am." With a flick of her wrist she opened the fan drawing her arm back.

His eyes widening he a watched a her arm came down, suddenly he was surrounded by a mix of wind and water that bit at his face and hands. It was the sound of Kagome's scream that made him turn. Reaching out he went to steady her but it was too late she was already tumbling over the edge. Turning to look at the smirk on the wind witches face he sheathed his sword before diving over the side himself.

Kagura took a deep breath, he jumped? She hadn't expected that oh well it will just make the game more fun. With a smiled she closed her eyes extending her senses, waiting to see what the wind would bring her.

Up ahead of him he could see Kagome. She had spread her body out flat slowing her fall rate just a little, while he was in a head long dive toward her. The rain was pelting him all sides in an unnatural rhythm, more of the wind witches work.

Kagomes body twisted in the wind as she tried to keep it as flat as possible. The wind bit at her exposed skin. Twisting up she saw him Yasha was plummeting toward her. The sight warmed and chilled her at the same time. Closing her eyes she wanted call out to him but her voice wasn't working. She felt a jerking motion as she was pulled flush against Yashas body. His strong arms snaked around her waist holding her to him bringing her own hands up she wrapped them around him, he was the only thing solid in the chaotic shifting world.

Tightened her grip more to prove, Yasha was real than anything else. The heat of his body comforted her, seeping into her. As long as he was there she would be ok. As long as Yasha was with her she could do anything. She could be brave for him. The thought made her happy and sad at the same time. Happy, because he was there, sad because he was in the same predicament she was. Burring her face into his chest, the fast pace of his heart beat pounded in her ear. There were so many things that she wanted to tell him, so many things she wanted to say. Right now wasn't the time and this definitely wasn't the place. She took the only comfort she could, and enjoyed the feeling of being in his arms.

Yasha breathed a sigh of relief tucking her head beneath his chin. The tree line was approaching fast but at this height even with the trees to break some of the impact it was too high. Maybe if it hadn't been the night of the new moon things would have worked out differently. Maybe if it hadn't been the night of the new moon he would have been able to protect her.

"Kagome…" her name left his lips with almost a reverent tone. If it were possible he pulled her body closer to his relishing the feel of her form pressed tightly against his. Turning in the air he placed his body between her and the ground, he would protect her no matter the cost. Closing his eyes he wished this moment could last forever, and there in the dark he bid his Kagome a silent goodbye.

Thanks for reading reviews would be love.

Thanks for reading tell me what you think. For those of you that found your way here right after I posted the chapter edits sorry that there's not a new chapter. But don't worry now that I've been through the entire story I've already got the next chapter underway it should be up soon or maybe I'll be an evil author and see what kind of reviews I get ::wink wink:: but honestly you have no idea how much they help me out. Echoe Shayne