In a way, she liked how humble Isao was, he had something human in him which attracted her, his looks, his black hair. InuTaisho had an unreal aura about him, slightly tanned skin, silver hair, golden eyes, blue marks on his face and arms, maybe in other places too but she did not get to see, compared to Isao, he was like a fantasy.

-I know it is not suitable of me to ask this but may I touch your ears? It is not an everyday occasion to see someone with fox ears. I too am a fox but I'm stuck with these ones.

She twitched hers and sighed, those who dared to lay a hand on her without permission had them cut off.

-Yes, you may touch them but don't grab or pull, they're sensitive.

Isao approached the young lady and gently, his fingers touched the soft ears, gently rubbing them. It was a sensation she actually enjoyed, a slight smile appearing on her face.

-As a full demon I am surprised that you have them.

-Me too. Well, my father had them and he was a half breed, but the other was not human, was something else, and I got them from him, my mother looked normal, like you.

-Looked? Isao asked curiously.

-She died a short time ago.

-I'm sorry to hear that. What happened?

-She had fallen ill, or as I like to say, she missed my father so much she just couldn't wait any longer. Hana kept a forced smile on her lips, the men around her offering their condoleances. What about you, general?

-I never knew my father and my mother too died when I was a child.

-I understand...and yours? She looked at Touga who seemed down for some reason. I know my father killed yours, but your mother?

-Died of grief. We were born as a litter, two boys and two girls, my brother did not made it over the night and my sisters died one winter, I was the only one that survived. The pain was too much for my mother to bear so she just ...left.

-A lot of deaths. We live in a cruel world and we are left on our own, this is the fate of demons after all. Hana's tone revieled disappointment. We are left to figure out our purpose by ourselves, our loved ones being taken away before we realize we need them. I was handed a sword by my grandfather that no other but I can use it. He just gave it to me saying with it I will have power over the entire Underworld as if I was born with it or for it.

The sword Kitsune no Yami was entrusted with by her grandfather, Akuma , was one of the three blades forged in Hell, Muramasa holding a piece of Hana's soul. Long before she was born, the old one knew who will be the true owner of the sharp instrument and because she was to be the first female from his blood line, she would've been perfect. His own son, Akki, was never capable of controlling the power of the sword due to its necessity of being held by a woman. Apart from its demonic powers, Muramasa can also create fire. After its owner understands its true power and becomes one with the soul within the katana, the blade will turn into flames. Shiloh, now being the one who was left to fight with it still has more to learn, the capacity the young woman uses is less than half. Since she learned how to swing it, she often looked at the sword in confussion. Muramasa's ultimate technique is the fire twister combined with air, forming deadly tornados capable of destroying everything around on a wide distance. But if the sword manages to take over the owner's soul it can split the ground in two, the gates of Hell opening. Normally, in its last stage, once the red blade turns into fire, as it cuts through, the real demon within the sword is released swallowing the victim or victims turning them to nothing but clouds which get absorbed. The daiyōkai needs to be in full control of his body, mind and soul, the darkness of the katana reaching out for the heart as something to feed with. One simple mistake and the one wielding it finds his end tore apart by the sword.

Hana used the technique years later in her life but made the mistake to think she is in full command of Muramasa, which left her with injuries. Her daughter was too young to be left without a mother and she prayed and begged to her grandfather to let her live some years more.

Before she and Isao died,S hiloh's father, at his partner's insistiance, gave the sword to the child. Her mother shedding tears in silence knowing what she condemned her own offspring to. The fox general knew the powers of the blade but not the whole truth and never understood his mate's concern. Shiloh was indeed to be the rightful owner of Muramasa but the price was higher than her father ever knew.

Mother never talked about her origins to her daughter, what blood was running through their veins, what sick deal with the devil their lifes had made before they were even born. The young red haired fox child with golden eyes as big as the moon was kept away from knowing the truth, until today, her only relatives she knew were her mother and father. She always looked at them with pride and admiration, they were her angels which soon left her alone in the world. They died away from her.

One day they left together promising they shall return as soon as possible with many gifts but the only one that came back was her father's friend, Inu no Taishō.

She knew him from other visits and thought he came just to keep her company, to see if she is well but from his eyes tears ran down his face as he saw the innocent girl now an orphan.

-I am deeply sorry, my child. The great dog general kneeled before her and got his arms around her fragile body.

The light in her eyes faded as she understood, her lips shutting with a straight line, blood turning cold as ice. Her tiny heart beat with an echo. Her fingers grabbed his kimono collar holding tight to it. Touga looked with sorrow at the girl who turned as white as snow. Shiloh let out a scream and pushed herself into his chest, nails crawling into the skin of his neck. Her cry broke him. He was too in pain.

The child's desperate voice and repeated negations were her heart not wanting to believe what happened, not accepting the fact that her parents had died. Her arms wrapped around the tall man's neck were like tentacles, the suffering child looked for someone to not let go of. InuTaishō got up while holding her, wiping her hot tears kissing her forehead, caressing her head.

-It's alright, I am here. I promised your parents I will take care of you as my own. Please don't cry anymore. The dog demon placed his big hand over her cheek, still wiping the drops that slided on her skin. You poor child. His golden eyes too drawn in the salty water. How he wished he could've done something to end her suffering which got worse, the child digging her face in his shoulder. You are mine, now, my dear Shiloh, and you will always be my girl. His lips placed kisses on her small head and felt how her body trembled from the shock. His chest rested as he let out a heavy sigh and looked around him. She was too disturbed by what happened and leaving with her right away would've been a mistake.

The silver haired demon sat on the wooden floor letting the child making herself small on his lap. His deep voice, like her father's, guided her to calmness, his fingers running through her red hair. Touga would've taken her to his mate's palace, the queen and mother of his son, InuKimi, where she would've been more than delighted to raise the girl, since she always wanted a daughter. In a way it amused him knowing his woman will stop dressing their son, Sesshomaru, as such. There, Shiloh would be taken care of as a princess, respected, given a high education and also trained more by the great general. Patiently he waited long enough until the young fox had fallen asleep, carefully got back on his feet carrying her on his strong arm using his other hand to get some of the things that belonged to her parents, the last thing being Muramasa, which he gently placed next to his other swords.

As he left with the child at his chest, he looked back one more time and then up to the sky. The full moon was red, no clouds to pass by it, the wind changed it direction violently and wolves started howling. It was the same scenary that happened years ago when Akki no Yami, Shiloh's grandfather, died. No one knew the true meaning of this or what caused it but both humans and demons knew it had to do with death. The death of someone or something powerful. A tormented soul that either found its peace or fallen to Hell.

On his way to the palace, back to his Western lands, Shiloh kept her eyes closed as she fell into a deep sleep. InuTaishō 's eyes guarding her during his return. At the tall gates he was greeted by the soldiers who were guarding the enterance and as he stepped inside the building, servants rushed to help the general, as usual not accepting anything from them. Soon his queen came before him and as she saw the child in his arms, the demoness understood, her beautiful face turning sad.

-Let me hold her. Poor soul.

-She cried herself to sleep and now she does not want to wake up. The dog demon informed his mate looking down at the fox. Where is our son?

-In his room, sleeping. Or at least that is what I hope he does, you know he spends his nights watching the stars or reading. What happened? InuKimi too looked down at the young girl in her arms.

-There are no stars on the sky, no clouds, just the full moon, red.

The lady mother raised her head facing her beloved with a surprised, concerned, face. She knew what it ment. With a crushed heart, she closed her eyes, frowning in pain, letting her sight over Shiloh.

-Too soon, too young. I am sorry, Touga. The silver haired queen showed compassion and tried to heal the general's pain.

-You either live a short life with glory or a long one without, my queen. He softly replied.

-They did not die because of glory, neither one of them. But because of something else, which involved love. InuKimi had the last word in any conversation, again leaving her loved one confused. I will take the child to her new room, the one next to our son's.

-You finally have the daughter you always wanted.

-I would've been happier if it didn't had to be because of this. It is a sad thing what happened and she becoming my daughter after her parents' passing is not what I wanted but she will be my child too. The royal demon walked away from the general who still had something to say.

-I will make you a second child, a daughter, if that is what you want!

-No thank you, general. I already have your son which is not that different from a girl, more, he does not show interest in anything. I care about you but one that is born from your blood is enough.

As he watched her leaving, InuTaisho gave the things he took with him to one of the servants which went after the lady. Muramasa was still in his posession and it kept shaking since he took it. Hana told the dog general about it in a more detailed story one time so he was familiar with it but at the same time afraid of its power and what it can do.

While InuKimi took care of Shiloh, Touga walked around the palace to make sure no one and nothing will disturb the silence, sometimes still looking at the moon with saddness. As he got to the side where his son's room was, he saw the young boy on his balcony, him too gazing at the sky.

-Weren't you supposed to be asleep, Sesshomaru? The father asked with a serious tone.

The white haired young demon which resembled his mother looked down facing his old man.

-My apologies,father. I am not tired.

-Ah, light sleeper, aren't you? Since you were a pup, or a baby I should say, I had to be carefull to not make any noises to not wake you up. Your mother too hears everything in her sleep. It was hard for me to

-Father,stop. Sesshomaru interrupted the general.

-We have guests, my son.

-I know. The prince turned his back and got back inside his room leaving his father alone.

-What will I do with this child? And I thought his mother was an enigma, or a maze, or an enigmatic maze. InuTaisho talked to himself with a low voice to not draw attention.

Shiloh's stay at the palace was embraced by everyone since those around already knew her. The child overcame the grief, InuTaishō and InuKimi being patient with her. As soon as she was ready, the general started the training sessions, often many being private. Unlike his son, she did not seeked power but the discipline a warrior must have in order to use a sword and the dog demon appreaciate this deeply. She was ,somewhat, like him, a demon but who also had a heart for humans. Her heart was too pure to shield hate but again, she was just a child. Shiloh's mother was far different from her; she was ruthless, bitter, selfish but who cared only for those who she felt safe with, a really small number. Physical contact was something Hana needed to be taught, thus she was raised only by her father who was too busy to give her attention. Hate grew inside her with each passing day, those dark emotions feeding the sword.

Shiloh not even until now is capable of using the blade for its true purpose since she is different from the one that gave birth to her. Many times she doesn't draw the sword knowing it will be useless in a fight since her heart does not match the katana's desire of feeling but lust for blood. Both her and Sesshomaru were left with swords they do not know the real power of or meaning. Muramasa differs from Tenseiga, this sword does not need an open heart, it needs training, body and soul to be connected to each other and someone to fight for, the one in its possession must feel a thirst for doing harm, veins contracting in hate, a desire for revenge or only to bring evil into the world.

There are many secrets Sesshomaru does not know about his companion's sword although he wanted to possess a similar one which his father held.