Heavy footsteps trudged through the forest, followed by small breaths of concentrated anticipation to complete his mission. Now that he had successfully snatched the girl right from under her friends' noses, he now could deliver her back to his boss where he supposedly was dealing with one of the heathens that very moment.

Up ahead, his silver eyes, peering through the large goggle lenses, situated upon his face comfortably, took notice of the river ahead, where an old boat awaited his return. Once setting the unconscious woman inside, he pulled out a small knife and bent down to cut the rope tied off to the post beside him, but he paused on account of moving fabric behind him caught by the wind.

"Where the hell do you think you're going?!"

Not bothering to look over his shoulder, he stood up and faced the raging silver haired half demon whose claws were bared and prepared to attack without mercy, but this underling did not show any signs of fear.

OOO

Link cried out in pain the moment his back hit the wall. Anything in the thief's path, that obstructed his view of the boy, such as crates, jars, or barrels, were kicked aside, shattered or not; he would have his revenge and he would see to it personally.

"Fight like a man!" Sakon hollered, but Link did not have the strength, let alone the energy to fight back as he staggered away, his head still hazy and his vision still partially clouded.

A crate stood in the young warrior's path, and he accidentally stumbled over it, its edge catching on his tunic and sinking into his side painfully. There didn't seem to be any escape from this place, and as Link fell upon his side writhing, his eyes searched for something to fight back with, but there was nothing, at least not in reach. 'Damn…I can't see…'

While he sauntered closer, still smirking at the fallen hero within a reasonable distance, lying helplessly upon the stone flooring, Sakon twisted and twirled the blade in his hand, laughing manically as he pictured all of the morbid ways of causing him so much pain. Oh he would enjoy this, that he was certain.

Once towering before his prone figure, Sakon bent down and grasped his blonde locks, pulling roughly and then slamming Link against the nearest wall, his smirk ever present as Link glared at him. With his knife, he trailed the curvature of the lad's face, easing the edge of the blade delicately upon his skin, caressing it.

Link knew his intentions very well; it was written on his face and in his eyes. If he was going to kill him, he would have done it by now, but from the expression on his face and the subtle stroke of his blade told Link that killing him immediately would not suffice. More than likely it would be a slow and painful process, but Link would not show any indications of terror or anguish, because he knew that if he did, it would only please the thief; he wouldn't give him the satisfaction!

From his jawline to his neck, Sakon made a sweeping motion down his torso, slicing away the strings that tied at his tunic before tearing his blade down into the green fabric until his scarred chest was viewable to his eyes. "I'm going to rip the flesh from your body…" He whispered into Link's ear. "and then I'm going to fashion your skin into a mat and place it on the floor of my home. How would you like that? To have me walk all over you?"

As much as he wanted to strike him, Link found it difficult to move, feeling the numbness spread through his body; no doubt it was the drug working its effects. "Go to hell…" Link bit out.

In that instant, he plunged the blade into the boy's thigh, watching in malicious fascination as his blood stained the fabric of his beige pants, a color he came to love the moment he first killed his parents so many years back. However, as his eyes scanned Link's face, he was dismayed when he only drew in a breath with clenched teeth and closed eyes. Not a cry was uttered, and not even a tear was shed.

Why wasn't he crying out pathetically? Sakon was not pleased, but the fact that he was only able to cause the boy to recoil and hold his breath was somewhat pleasing, but not entirely…No matter…he would bring more suffrage upon the boy, and he would have him pleading for his life in due time.

Canting his head to the side, he roughly retrieved the dagger from his leg, smiling eerily as a shudder shook Link, but still he did not cry out. As he raised the dagger, he marveled at the youth's blood coating its exterior before bringing it to meet with his mouth. From there, his tongue slipped between his lips and he tasted the metallic flavor coating it, sliding it up and down, and cleaning it from the blade fully. After that, he leaned into the boy, who couldn't help but suddenly flinch in response. "Do you fear me?"

"…No."

A laugh escaped him, and finally releasing his blonde hair, and watching as Link slumped against the wall, never once breaking eye contact, Sakon brought his hand to Link's neck, wrapping his fingers around it before squeezing lightly; it wasn't enough to choke him, but enough to warn him in advancement of what he was capable of. "Well you should…" Once again, he plunged the blade into the same wound, this time hearing a pleasing groan escape through his captive's throat, but that was all. "Look at me!"

He opened his eyes; his gaze somewhat more adjusted than before. From what he could perceive, Sakon's darkened eyes were entirely glazed over from the lust of spilt blood. Link; however, held back from screaming as the thief ran the edge of the dagger along the inside of his leg, scraping against the muscles and the bone purposefully, if only to make him squirm and cry out, but it only left Link cringing, so much so that he bit down on his lip, feeling the warmth of fresh blood trickling down his chin.

Sakon's smirk returned. "Yes…look at me…show me that hatred…" He breathed out before retrieving his weapon; however, instead of lapping up the blood like before, he smeared it upon the boy's cheek. When the sharp point of the blade pierced his skin, Sakon drew a faint line beneath Link's eye to his ear in one sweep before pulling away. No doubt it would leave a faint scar afterward. "You're just dying to kill me…I can see it, you know?"

It was more of a statement than a question, but Link only glared, silently contemplating the thief's next move. "It…would be for the best…you dying…" Link slowly replied, his face contorting into a painful one when he felt his wound throb achingly, but he tried to ignore it. "Can you really call what…you do a living? You're scum…nothing but a petty being walking this earth…" Though it was very unlike him, Link couldn't help but feebly smirk when a frown presently formed upon the thief's lips, but it disappeared just as it had appeared. "You're existence here…means nothing…I'd rather see you dead than watch as you defile the lives of those less fortunate…" Sakon deserved to rot in Hell, for all eternity.

From hearing this, a memory suddenly resurfaced, and Sakon's eyes widened…

Flash Back

"Mom? How come daddy hits you?" A small, childish voice asked in the cramped space of a house some miles from town. However, his mother never replied back, deciding rather to sit there at the small table, drinking her liquor while staring passively at the wall on the furthest side of the kitchen. "Why does daddy keep hitting y—"

Her azure eyes flashed at him before she flung the bottle across the room, not caring at all if the act frightened her son, nor did she care if the bottle shattered, its pieces lying across the dirty floor uncaringly. "Whose fault do you think this is!? Look at me! Look at this place! I can't take it anymore! You and your good for nothing father!" She screamed, grasping her head painfully.

Sakon backed away, his shoulders trembling as unshed tears threatened to spill from his widened eyes. "I-I…"

His mother slumped into the chair, her long ebony tresses falling about her shoulders messily. "I wish I never had you…I wish you and your father would just die…disappear…" She uttered. "I've had it…"

A door opened in the next room, revealing a large man with wild eyes, a few missing teeth and a foul stench that lingered wherever he stood. One look at the wretched women, sitting lazily in the withered chair in their small kitchen sent him ablaze, and within a few short seconds, he backhanded her, sending her sprawling onto the floor where she lay crumbled as sobs wracked her small form. "Where the hell did you get that alcohol, you bitch?! You're holding out on me again, aren't you?!" He slammed his bag upon the table and from the look in his eyes, Sakon stood before his father, protecting his mother.

"F-father…where'd did you go again tonight?" Sakon hoped this would take his father's mind off of beating his mother, and it worked, allowing his mother plenty of time to sneak back to the bedroom while his dad turned to survey his earnings for the night.

"You're still up, are you?" He asked before opening his bag of money on the kitchen table. From the corner of his eye, he noticed the tears cascading down Sakon's face before ushering him forward. "You see this?" He opened the bag, allowing a few rupees to fall out, but the boy wasn't interested as he rubbed at his eyes furiously. "This here is the way to earn a proper living. Get your hands on these, and you'll have it made!" He laughed before slapping the kid on the back.

After erasing the small traces of his tears, Sakon moved forward, hesitant under his father's encouraging gaze before looking at the beautiful gems lying on the table. There sure were a lot of them, and he knew his father didn't have a job, so how did he get so much money?

The old man leaned down next to the boy. "Want me to teach you the art of thieving?"

Sakon frowned. He knew his dad was never one to share his loot with anyone, not even his family, and since his mom was on the verge of losing her sanity because of her impoverish lifestyle, Sakon found himself suddenly immersed in the secret knowledge that his father had to offer to him. Maybe…maybe he could help his mom if he was able to learn his father's ways…if he could earn a lot of money, maybe his mom would smile again…

End Flash Back

Angered, Sakon backhanded the lad, quickly drawing blood from the youth's cracked lip, but Link only turned his head to stare into the thief's murderous eyes, his own resentment burning within those blue iris's.

"You wanted the truth…I gave it."

Shutting his eyes, in hopes of forgetting the images of his youth resurfacing from his unconsciousness, Sakon reared his arm back and with all his might, prepared to put a hole in the boy's head.

Unfortunately, Link suddenly countered, raising his arm to block the blow, but of course Sakon chortled in response. Still, Link ignored the freshly spilt blood seeping down his arm, dripping onto his already blood-soaked pants, and while the thief seemed engrossed in the damage, Link took that moment to lunge forward, in hopes of disarming him.

OOO

Eventually both the slayer and monk managed to locate two of their friends after returning from Woodfall, but what they hadn't intended to stumble upon was the abrupt separation between the rest of their comrades. However, the only good news they received was that of the Deku Princess's rescue from the Woods of Mystery.

"And then Link suddenly disappeared!" Shippo exclaimed as Serena bobbed up and down in agreement.

This was indeed troubling.

Without even sparing her companions a glance, Sango quickly climbed atop the fiery feline, with Miroku quick to follow. "Let's search the woods!" There was no way in hell she would allow any harm to befall her female friend, nor Link for that matter, and if she ended up stumbling upon the man, whose face was plastered around town, responsible for once kidnapping Kagome, she would eliminate him.

However, before Kirara could soar into the skies, a loud explosion suddenly burst through the trees from the Woods of Mystery, sending its smoke high into the sky. It was so startling that it caused both the witches, who had been standing near the entrance of their home conversing, to jump and take to the skies hastily. Sango and Miroku were quick to follow after.

Shippo found himself suddenly pacing to and fro, unsure of what to do. Of course the explosion had startled him, and he wasn't sure if it was Inuyasha who was caught up in it or Kagome or even Link for that matter. He didn't know where any of his friends disappeared to, and now he was left worrying with little fairy Serena, who wasn't making matters any better.

"This is crazy! Who around here has bombs?" She cried exasperatedly.

From The sidelines, the Deku Princess, still surrounded by her monkey friends, could only watch silently as the large cat, along with the companions of the group that had rescued her, flew off over the trees in search of the loud commotion.

OOO

A loud thud resonated in the drafty room, followed after by a painful groan as young Link attempted to raise himself off his back to stare at the fuzzy silhouetted figure approaching him. Unfortunately he had failed to disarm him.

"Nice try, boy..." Sakon spit off to the side "But you're going to have to do much better than that…"

When he managed to sit up, difficult as it was, Link found himself glaring up at Sakon's murderous eyes as he loomed over him, the steely dagger held tightly within the thief's grip. "Where have you taken her? If you touched h—"

"And what would you do if I did?" He interrupted before smiling eerily as his head tilted ever so slightly. So the boy was in love with her, was he? "Do you think you can save her as you are now?" He laughed, and with his boot, he pushed upon the youth's chest, knocking him into the floor easily before he shook his head disappointedly. "Sad…some 'hero' you turned out to be…You're pathetic!"

Hero…

Link's eyes widened at the term, before narrowing slightly as Sakon's boot pressed upon him harder. What hero was he? Link had asked himself that same question multiple of times…and he was right…

A failure at birth…and a failure till death…

Shutting his eyes to prevent the tears from falling, Link clenched the thief's ankle, though he did not have the strength to push him off him entirely. Instead, memories of his past flooded back to him, memories in which he had hoped would never resurface…

Sakon smirked. "Giving up? Pity…you're pretty worthless. What right do you have to call me scum? What right do I have to walk this earth?" He asked menacingly as he lifted his foot and bent down to grasp his tunic collar before ramming Link against the wall forcefully, his face mere inches from the young warrior whose eyes were still clenched tightly. "If I recall correctly, it's you who doesn't belong! I live day by day to get by! You don't have the right to say that my existence is meaningless!" He growled before slamming Link into the nearest crate, watching as he crumbled to the floor at Sakon's feet. "Maybe you should just die! You sure as hell deserve it!"

An image of a frightened child filled Link's thoughts, and he saw the eyes of a crying boy, pounding upon the stone doors that led back to his homeland beneath the Clock Tower. Never knowing his true parents, never realizing the Goddesses had planned to use him for their own selfish purposes had caused him more grief than anything, but the worst was not being there to save those he grew to love and cherish. The gentle warmth of a smile, the caring touch from a friend, even the name calling from his childhood were all gone…and left behind were just fragmented memories…

"Good morning Link!" Saria smiled as she laughed elatedly. "Look, you're still half asleep!"

"Maybe you and I can see the world together, just you and me Fairy Boy!" Malon smiled.

"What are you looking at Mr. No Fairy?! Get lost!" Mido glared.

"Don't worry Link!" A certain blue fairy exclaimed. "It wasn't your fault the Great Deku Tree died," She comforted the solemn boy. "It was already too late…There was nothing anyone could do…"

Picking himself off the floor, Link was suddenly met with kick to the face and another to the side before he was eventually lying upon his face, struggling to pick himself back up.

"I believe in you, Link!" Navi chimed. "As scatterbrained as you are, I think you can do anything if you put your mind to it! Come on! Hyrule's not going to get saved with you just sitting around!"

"I'm praying…I'm praying that a day will come when we shall meet again…" Zelda offered her small instrument to the boy, smiling despite the tears present in her eyes. "May the Goddess of Time protect you throughout your journey…"

OOO

The smoke from the explosion moments before rose quite high in the sky, and as Kirara soared above the treetops, her red eyes noting the direct spot in which her half demon friend was already in battle, a scent caught her attention, causing her to stop mid-flight.

Alarmed by the delay, Sango looked at the feline questionably before petting her fur. "Kirara? What's wrong?"

Blood…the wind had carried the scent far, and she recognized this blood before roaring upsettingly, though this only caused Sango and Miroku to look on with confusion.

"Something isn't right…" Sango exclaimed suddenly, fearing that something had gone amiss somewhere. "Kirara, what's wrong?"

As if to answer her, the saber tooth shifted its direction, her head bobbing toward the direction where the palace sat in the distance over the tree tops.

"Miroku…" Sango began, but the monk already understood.

As Kirara landed below the deep foliage, Miroku suddenly disembarked before nodding to the slayer. "I'll run on ahead to see about the disturbance," He explained. Since he was a fast runner, he was sure to get there quicker.

Nodding, Sango ushered Kirara along, and the saber tooth ascended into the skies, toward the palace, away from the Woods of Mystery.

OOO

The moment the dagger plunged into his right shoulder, Link staggered back, and soon after fell to his knees, his breathing much quicker and his heart drumming loudly in his ears. The ever present laughter persisted within the room and as Link clenched his teeth to fight back the groan trying to escape him; he found it difficult to contain his emotions.

"My, how the mighty have fallen…You really are a fallen hero…aren't you?" Sakon questioned before retrieving the dagger, causing the boy to fall onto his hands before him. "I expected more of a fight from the so called 'Legendary Hero,' but this is pathetic…" At the sight of the boy trembling, the thief turned his head to the side dubiously before crouching down in front of his captive to peer into his face. "Hm?" What he hadn't expected to see stunned him but none the less he couldn't help but allow his smirk to broaden. "That's it! That's what I wanted to see!" He laughed.

Though he hadn't meant to, he couldn't help but stop the tears from cascading down his face. Saria…Malon…Zelda…Navi… Fisting his hands, he turned his glare to the thief towering before him, who was staring at him maliciously. If this was it…if this was how Link was going to die…No…he didn't want to die! For his friends…he would live on!

Gathering up his strength, though a little unsteady, Link managed to raise himself off his knees, but unfortunately could not entirely regain his footing. His wounds pained him terribly, and as he focused his attention on Sakon, he realized his eyes were still not adjusted. It felt as if the entire room was spinning ever so slowly, and the constant drumming of his heart did little to help matters. Link was light headed and he was weary. Honestly, he didn't know how long his body would hold out on him, but he wouldn't allow any harm to come to his companions, especially Kagome.

"Oh, what's this now?" Sakon inquired. "You still got some spunk in you, eh?" How wonderful! This made it all the better! "I won't make this easy on you, kid…I'm going to tear your flesh away!"

With that said, he lunged forward, raising the dagger and prepared to strike, but he hadn't expected his captive to dodge and so quickly too. For a second, he was almost stunned speechless, but he guessed it was the kid's adrenalin kicking in. He couldn't outlast him forever…

After quickly darting out of the intended attack, Link had thrown himself across the room where his bow and arrows lay strewn, but upon impact, he cried out. The wounds to his leg and arm were too great to not ignore, and using the strength from his good leg and good arm, he pushed himself toward his weapons. However, his intentions were short lived when a strong grip encased itself around his ankle, the nails digging into his flesh as they pulled him out of reach.

"Now where do you think you're going?" Sakon inquired before roughly yanking Link's injured leg and thus causing the boy to cry out and land on his chin painfully. "Now let's get this over with…" In one fluid motion, he roughly seized Link's right shoulder and rolled him onto his back before sitting upon his midsection with the dagger quite close to Link's face. "Any last words?"

"Rot in Hell!"

"I thought you'd say that…" Raising the blade high, Sakon aimed for the middle of Link's forehead before uttering what he believed were his final words to the boy. "I'll take very good care of Ka-go-me…" Before he could deliver the fatal attack, Link suddenly grasped the thief's wrist, hindering the blow. "Just die already!"

Gritting his teeth, Link struggled, and with his other hand, managed to knock him right beneath the jaw, and while this action stunned the thief briefly, Link slapped the dagger from his hand, watching as it fell to floor a few feet away from him. However, before Link could reach out and snatch the blade, the thief had suddenly encased his neck with his steely grip, squeezing the air from his lungs in a violent rage.

Sakon scowled. "What do you have to live for anymore?!" Sakon loudly questioned before outright choking him, watching the boy pull at his hands desperately with closed eyes.

A failure at birth…and a failure till death…

Even if it was the truth, even if he was a fallen hero from the beginning, Link realized he didn't want to die…not yet…Yes, he was destined to a life here after in brimstone and fire; it was his fate. But when he thought about it…Hell was a frightening place to wind up in, and he wasn't ready for that…not yet…

Yet even as he lay there, gasping for air, his breath stolen from him by a murderous man intent on doing him and his friends wrong, Link realized just how small he was in comparison to this world he was trapped in. There was no escape from destiny, and waiting was troublesome, even more terrifying when you weren't sure when you'd breathe your last breath. Death would always find someone…He knew that…

Too weak to fight back and feeling his vision darken due to the lack of oxygen and his blood loss, Link felt cold. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the glint from the blade near him, and as he attempted to reach out, his fingers barely touching the hilt, his hand suddenly dropped in defeat. The pounding of his heart felt slower yet louder all the same, and feeling a heavy silence press upon him, his world darkened.

OOO

The entire air around him circulated with the stench and haze of smoke, the result from that of a bomb the enemy had suddenly thrown at him not long ago. Of course, considering that he wasn't completely human, the smoke did not hinder his advancement on the gigantic man before him.

"You bastard!"

With a swipe of his sword, brimming with shimmering lights, a wave of energy soared at its intended target, but the attack only managed to knock over a few trees in the process, leaving an undamaged underling still standing, this time, some distance behind him. His speed was something, that was for sure, but Inuyasha didn't sense any demonic power flowing through him.

"Let me ask you one thing…Are you working for a man named Sakon?" Inuyasha asked. Who else could it be? Last time, Sakon had successfully kidnapped the young priestess, and now this vulgar man had the nerve to take her hostage…It would make sense if it was true. Hell, even the pendant was stolen from Ikana Castle not long ago, and he could only presume it was the thief…Maybe the connection between Termina's end and that bastard were related. After all, it wouldn't be surprising. "Can't talk or what?"

Before the half demon could charge once more, hurried footsteps turned his attention away, to that of his male friend approaching in long strides. "Took you long enough!"

Finally catching his breath, Miroku turned his eyes to the enormous, well-built man some distance away, and then to his companion beside him with his sword unsheathed. "What happened? Where is Lady Kagome?" Miroku couldn't help but hold the sleeve of his robe to his mouth and nose as his eyes burned from the nearing flames around them.

Inuyasha turned his head forward, his golden gaze directed past the giant of a man. "The bastard tried to make off with her!"

Noticing the priestess lying inside the boat unconscious, Miroku fixed his glare on the one responsible. Who on earth was this person? An enemy? "Who are you?!"

Around this time, the two witch sisters appeared above the trees, their large eyes witnessing the standoff between the two men and the dangerous fire spreading throughout the forest. Without the least amount of hesitation, they both chanted a spell, and as they raised their scepters before them, a mighty shower of rain fell upon the forest, suppressing the flames until nothing was left but charred soil and bark. All that remained before them were the two men and one surprising fellow they hadn't intended to come across.

Kotake and Koume found their mouths open in astonishment before drawing closer to the scene to where Miroku and Inuyasha stood.

Could it be possible? Were her eyes deceiving her? "Sister, isn't that the boatman that lives in our swamp?" Koume asked incredulously, and at this Kotake could only nod before waving her septor before her aggressively.

"You fool! What do you think you're doing?! You'll burn these woods down if you continue!"

No response was received from the one known as the Boatman, instead, the individual pulled out another explosive before igniting it and charging toward both Inuyasha and Miroku with unwavering speed. He was intent on annihilating them once and for all, but for purposes to them, unknown.

If it was a battle he wanted, then it was a battle he would receive. "Have it your way!" Inuyasha replied before he too charged forward, raising his sword before hurling a great, powerful surge of electrical energy at his foe, but before Kotake, Koume nor Miroku could stop him in warning, the air around them suddenly combusted, crackling with fire.

Inuyasha was thrown back, his red robes aflame, but nonetheless protected by the cloth. As for the boatman, he appeared unhurt, standing some distance away, empty handed, and it became clear to everyone that he had thrown the bomb at the last minute, protecting himself from the impact of Inuyasha's sword.

OOO

When he realized the kid wasn't fighting back anymore, Sakon paused before glancing the boy beneath him over carefully, not sure whether it was a trick to fool him or not, yet as he saw his limp form lying there, neither moving nor breathing, Sakon sneered. It was over…He'd finally won…For what had seemed like forever, he'd finally put an end to the miserable brat's life. Now he would be spared the wrath from his master. Now that he was out of the way, it made his job much easier. All that was left for him to do was take claim over his prize, and that was the hostage his partner had captured not long ago.

Looking back at the entry way, Sakon frowned. There still wasn't any sign of the giant man, and he guessed he must have gotten into some trouble back at the woods. He hated waiting…

Glancing back down at the boy beneath him, Sakon took note of the lifelessness in his face. There was no longer any light in those blue eyes, and seeing his pupils dilated, Sakon knew he had killed him. Even his skin was cool to the touch. No pulse was felt.

At least it was fitting, to die inside a monument that rested the spirits of the dead. A tomb, Sakon thought, suited the boy. A dark, decrepit and eerie prison and Link would remain there, his eyes unseeing for the rest of eternity.

"You were too easy…Letting you emotions get the better of you…Very unwise, kid," He replied as he tapped his face before raising his dagger to finish what he started.

A shadow shifted from the entrance, and believing it to be his companion, Sakon turned, but his smile soon fell when he realized it wasn't who he had expected. "What a surprise…" He drawled before standing up and eyeing the young woman and her large feline beside her.

"You!" Sango seethed, but noticing he was not alone in the room, her eyes widened when she saw the form of her companion lying there at his feet. "Link…" Was he…

A chuckle escaped the thief before he raised his hands up mockingly, revealing a dagger glinting from the lighted entry way with blood dripping from its surface ominously. Sakon shrugged his shoulders. "I'm afraid you came too late, my dear…There's no waking him up now."