Revised 8/7/06

Disclaimer: I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho nor do I own Inu Yasha.

Dedication: This chapter is dedicated to: Silver Shadow Kitsune, Kage Otome, LKLTR, and Kura52. Thank you for helping me out with this story.

. : Muichi Motsu : .

: . By Akikazu . :

. : Prologue : .

Blood…

It was still warm and wet…

It was everywhere.

Blue eyes widened in horror. Nothing in all of her seventeen years could have ever prepared Kagome Higurashi for this. The gruesome scene before her held her transfixed, she didn't even notice the lower part of her raven hair become stained with the red spray that tainted the clearing.

A young kitsune (fox) boy clung to her legs, his tear streaked face buried to avoid looking at the horrible sight. The family that had been created around him had been unmercifully torn apart.

"Kagome?" He asked anxiously.

"Run to the well Shippo. Hide there and wait till I come for you," her command was given in a cold, unmoved voice.

The kitsune nodded and ran. As he reached the tree line the small youkai (demon) took one look back at the unmoving teenager. He then disappeared into the forest.

Kagome continued to stare at the mutilated remains of her friends. Unfortunately the training she had received in secret from Sesshomaru, the man she saw as a brother, served to tell her exactly what had happen to her friends.

The proud and beautiful slayer Sango, was pinned dead to a tree by her own weapon, Hiraikotsu. The giant boomerang pinned her by her stomach, cutting back to reach her spine. Blood still spurted from the gash on her once graceful neck. The gash had been caused by the katana that was wedged into the tree by her head. Her chocolate eyes stared forward sightlessly.

The perverted, but wise, houshi (monk) Miroku, lay fallen a few yards away. Violet eyes were closed to the world and he appeared to be sleeping, save for the dripping blood that covered him. His cursed hand was sliced off thrown half way across the clearing. It was still connected to the greater part of his arm. It was clear, however, Miroku's death had been caused by the gaping hole where his heart used to beat.

There wasn't even a partially whole body left of the brave and loyal fire neko (cat) Kirara. All that was left was the random pieces of fur the causal stray paw, tail, and ear scattered throughout the clearing. The fierce cat had been blown apart.

"Admiring my work?"

Kagome's eyes turned from the carnage to the figure on the other side of the clearing. Aside from his clawed hands and sword he appeared clean of any blood. His once amber eyes were red with purple, silted pupils and jagged red stripe ran across both his cheeks.

At one time Kagome would have defended her friend, but this time he had changed on purpose. He was once again after the Shikon no Tama (Jewel of Four Souls), just like he had been when she had released him from the Goshinboku (God tree) two years ago.

The former friends stared each other down from opposite sides of the clearing.

"Why Inu Yasha?" Her voice pleaded for an explanation.

"I want the jewel, they stood in my way. They no longer have an option," his voice was frigid.

"SIT!" Kagome screamed.

The bead and tooth necklace on Inu Yasha's neck yanked forward. Surprisingly, Inu Yasha didn't slam into the ground as he normally did, but instead was only dragged down an inch or two. The subduing necklace snapped off his throat and was flung into the ground by the command.

"You no longer hold power over me, wench. Now hand over the sacred jewel," Inu Yasha commanded.

"I cannot," Kagome whispered.

"Then die."

Inu Yasha charged towards her at full speed, Tetsusaiga ready to swing in one hand and the claws of his other extended, ready to rip into her human flesh.

"No…"

The protesting words were lost in the rushing air.

Inu Yasha was coming closer but Kagome saw his approach in slow motion. She pulled out the daggers, given to her by the slightly reformed Sesshomaru, and threw them at him, pushing her miko (shrine maiden) powers into them.

The first dagger lodged itself into Inu Yasha's stomach and the second whirled past him, cutting through the right side of his neck. The hanyou growled in pain as her purification powers poured into him, but continued forward.

"I won't die."

A blue light gathered between her cupped hands and blasted Inu Yasha. He could barely give a pained roar before he was disintegrated.

Somehow, Kagome managed to collect her weapons along with Hiraikotsu, Miroku's shakujou (sacred staff), and Tetsuaiga. Then she stumbled through the forest to reach the well, where an anxious Shippo greeted her.

Shippo spotted Kagome coming out of the forest and ran to greet her but froze when he saw what she carried. He now knew their companions to be dead. Shippo gingerly continued to approach her.

"What happens now, Okaa-san (mother)?"

Kagome looked at the kitsune with teary eyes. Shifting all the weapons to one arm she reached out to touch the head of the one she thought of as an adopted son.

"Kagome?"

A sad smile crossed her face and she hugged him loosely.

"We leave for my time Shippo. We leave this godforsaken place and never turn back."

Shippo clung to her, hiding his tears in her yukata. The cold blade of the Tetsuaiga pressed to his right check but he didn't shift from his place.

Together they fell through the well and were enveloped by swirling lights. The weightless feeling washed over her numbing her mind and releasing it from the wretched thoughts that plagued her. The feeling was over far too soon.

The lights faded and an unrecognized presence caused Kagome to look up warily. She could feel a demonic presence extremely nearby. Two unfamiliar, male faces were peering down into the well. An unknown power grabbed Kagome and Shippo and hauled them out of the well. Hiraikotsu, the shakujou, and Tetsuaiga were also pulled out, but landed in a pile at the well's side.

The first man caught Kagome. He was tall, with black hair that was slick save his bangs, and had dark eyes seemed to hide a world of dark knowledge.

The second man captured Shippo, he was shorter that the first man but still taller than Kagome. He had blue-green hair and seemed to be wearing somewhat traditional clothes.

"Who are you and what do you want?" Kagome asked tightly.

"I am Sensui Shinobu, and he is Itsuki," the first man said politely. "We require your assistance. I suggest you comply with our wishes."

Sensui nodded in the direction of his partner. Shippo squealed when he felt the cold blade of a kodachi against his throat, Itsuki held the blade firmly against his throat, leaving no room for the kitsune to take a deep breath without being cut.

"No, leave Shippo alone!" Protested Kagome.

"Just cooperate with us and the little fox and your family with remain unharmed," said Sensui simply.

"I'll go with you."

Itsuki's kodachi (sword that is short than the katana) disappeared from his hand and was returned back to the hidden sheath in a flash of movement, but he made no move to release Shippo.

"We'll bring the little fox, just in case you get any ideas." Sensui's announcement was final.

He tossed Kagome over his shoulder and ran off into the dark forest. Itsuki followed close behind, a terrified Shippo still held in his grasps.

The sun set on the Sunset Shrine and it was as if the Dark Angel had never been there.

: . End Chapter . :

. : Author's Note : .

This story is finished now but like a good little authoress, I going back with my wonderful beta to fix it a bit, after all I'm sure I made plenty of mistakes up here in the beginning and my writing probably improved slight during the year it took to write this story.

: . Beta's Note . :

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