Chapter Two

As soon as she arrived back at the castle she saw Sesshoumaru in the oddest state ever. He was sitting on the stone steps leading up to the castle his arms resting on his knees, leaning his head in his hands. Ayama picked up the bottom of her kimono and dashed up the steps. She dropped beside him and grabbed his hands. "Milord!! What is it? What's wrong? Where's Yuri?" she glanced around her. "What happened." She shook his shoulders fear was rising through her body. Her lord was….sad? It was different. It was the first time he'd ever actually shown sadness. And it was because of…Yuri.

Yuri continued to run until her sides hurt to where she couldn't breathe properly. Why does he defend her? What did I do wrong? Should I be like her? She sat down by a tree outside a hut. A light suddenly flicked on inside it. A young girl was at the window. She spotted her. Yuri tried to move but her legs locked up and she fell back onto the ground. "Inuyasha there's a girl out there!" came a girl's voice. Yuri's eyes widened. No. not here. Not now. Inuyasha walked out of the hut. Yuri saw him and tried to move but instead of running across his path and into the woods she limped and tripped 10 feet in front of him. "damn.." He walked over to the fallen wolf Hanyou. "Yuri?! What are you doing here? What happened to you??"

Flashback Sequence Begin:

Takeru and Yuri had wandered into a clearing to rest. Unfortunately Inuyasha was wandering through that same area, probably looking for Kikyou. She tried avoiding him but it failed. "Yuri…" Yuri turned away from him. She had sent Takeru to gather firewood and some water. "Inuyasha…why? How could you have the nerve to talk to me? She looked down at her stomach. Go away." she held back the tears. She couldn't take it and dashed off towards the direction Takeru had gone. The tears came pouring down her face. Only a few seconds later she ran into Takeru causing him to drop the water and firewood. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders sobbing into his kimono. He held and comforted her until she had regained herself. Takeru and Yuri were quiet the rest of the night. In the morning she wasn't there when Takeru woke up. She left a note beside him.

Takeru-kun:

I'm terribly sorry. I can't burden you with all this pain I know you want to help me bear it but it hurts me to allow you to do that. Go back with Ayame. If things get better for me I'll come back for you. I promise. Goodbye.

3Yuri

Tears formed in his eyes. He never got to tell her he loved her. He felt all his happiness drain. He despised anyone who hurt his beloved Yuri. He hated Inuyasha for the pain and fear he instilled in her heart. That day he returned to the wolf demon village.

Yuri found a cave and slept overnight there. The next morning she walked aimlessly nowhere. She had given up on Amaya. She wasn't going to return home either. She was slowly drifting down a path that would surely lead to death. Maybe if she had actually chose a mate at that seemingly stupid mating ceremony she wouldn't be suffering. "pssh" the pain still would not have gone away. She had also seen the most beautiful Youkai there, but he was passing by her and she never saw him again. I wonder where he is? She passed out on the muddy path of the forest floor. When she woke up she was back in her cave. A neko girl was sitting beside her.

"Who…are…you?" she asked sitting up slowly. I am Maye Shinotoshi. I found you out cold on the ground and I brought you here. I see you're going to have a pup. Here, you should eat." Maye handed her some soup with bread along with some water. Maye went outside to get wood to make a fire. Meanwhile a Youkai stood outside the cave listening. She stepped into the light from the fire. "Maye? Is it? I wish to speak with my sister." Maye turned around to see a wolf demon in the entrance to the cave. "Amaya? Oh…of course." Maye walked out of the cave allowing Yuri and Amaya to be alone.

Amaya kneeled beside where Yuri lay. She brushed her hand through her hair. "Yuri? Why did you let yourself get this weak? Sister dear? Why do you have so much pain in your heart." Yuri opened her eyes to Amaya holding her hand. "A-amaya…what are you doing here?" she stuttered weak from earlier events. "I heard you went off on your own to look for me?? Why the hell would you do that?? We may be sisters but you shouldn't risk your life for me!" Yuri smiled a weak smile. "gomen…I missed you Amaya" Amaya shook her head. She felt like crying. Not because she missed her too but because she felt pity for how weak her sister had become. She despised her most of the time, but she didn't wish for her to kill herself. Much less noticing she wasn't just living for herself but for her pup too. "Yuri be careful…If I find out you decide to give up it won't be pretty." Amaya stood up and walked out of the cave nodding to Maye as if to say "thanks" for allowing her to see her sister.

Flashback Sequence End:

"Milord?--" Amaya began. Sesshoumaru leaned into Amaya's arms. "She's having trouble accepting your presence." He sounded lost and worried. She rolled her eyes slightly. 'Yuri is suck a fool. She doesn't realize that she has gained the power to hurt the one demon who has always known no emotion. Amaya kissed his forehead, and stood up. "I'll go search for her, get some rest milord." She bowed and swiftly made her way down the stone steps in the direction Yuri had ran off.