Disclaimer: I . . . DO NOT . . . own . . . Inu Yasha! Only one of the characters are mine! That would be Ashati. Oh! I made up all th mothers and Han also!

Cursed Hearts.

By: Tokia

Prologue PartOne

Laughter filled the rice fields as four sisters flashed in and out of sight. If travelers were to judge by their mud-soaked kimonos and dirt- patched faces, they would never have guessed that these four were the princesses of the mountain region.

"Mi Ladies! Mi Ladies!... Princesses! Would you please stop playing with the village peasants and return to the mountain castle? You all really must be getting back!"

Playful giggles responded to the servant's plea as she pounced in a patch of swaying rice only to find one of the village children and some very thick mud that found her clothing quite homely.

"That's it!" Han shouted sounding annoyed, "All of the children of this valley I command you! Come to me now!"

One by one, but faster than you would have thought, all of the human children within the rice field found themselves facing an extremely angry looking Han-san, direct servant of Kouga-sama. "Listen well! Go home now or you will be punished for disobeying Kouga-sama, taiyouki of the mountain regions!"

Immediately after, the pitter-patter of hurrying little feet filled the ears of the dragon fly youki as the children scampered frightfully away. "Now princesses, will you come out or, will I have to send word to your otoosan that you refuse to respect his wishes."

Han watched for half a minute before she saw the first little head with two bronze eyes pop out. 'Works every time.' The truth was that Han neverhad a problem withallowing the children their fun. In actuality, Han was the one who taught them their stealth mode and fighting skills meaning she could easily find them. The daughter's of Kouga however, were not to be underestimated since they were all advanced for their age.

Every evening it was the same routine. Han would receive orders from Kouga- sama to allow them only a bit more time of play and then would go out pretending that they were hard to find. Afterwards, when it became late, she would pretend to be frustrated, religiously scare off the village children then, use the old 'shall I tell your otoosan' line that would flush them out every time.

The youngest, with her bronze cat-like eyes, black shoulder length hair and a body length tail that battled between being a fluffy curly poof and a thick straight mane, was always the first to appear. Rin was the daughter of Kouga-sama and Niagra-fujin, the youki vixen who died in battle during the girl's infant years.

The next to appear would always be the second youngest. Kagome, with her icy colored blue gray eyes, mid back length raven black hair - which now and then revealed highlights of blue depending on the sun's position - with a tail as long as her legs that was the same color as her hair and wolf ears at the top of her head - which appeared more catlike according to her sisters' votes - was the only one who was mixed with human blood.

The mother of this young girl was a powerful miko named Midikoru-fujin who died with her spirit locked in a never-ending battle against the most evil youki of her time. K-mae, or so they called her, was also born with the powers of a miko, and although her skills needed sharpening, she showed more promise than her mother ever did during her lifetime.

After would always come Sango, the second eldest. This daughter possessed mid back length dark brown hair and a body length tail of dark brown and very loose curls and chestnut brown eyes. The mother of this particular daughter came from a long line of youki assassinators - demons who were born and bred to serve, as an assassin for lords and emperors - and her name was Kin-fujin. This individual died when Kouga's clan was in battled and had been betrayed. Kouga-sama won of course, but his casualty was great.

As if holding out for the sake of her sisters, the last to appear would alwaysbeAshati the eldest daughter. Out of all, this daughter looked the strangest for her skin was a pale brown and her eyes were a rich emerald green that possessed cat-like features. Ashati's hair was also at back's length and was ebony black much like her body length, silky loose curled tail. The mother of this girl was the last of the shadow cats called KookaIshin-fujin who had died bringing her into this world.

Han, the orange chin length haired, rose colored eye and tailless dragon fly youki, watched the four girls whom she cared deeply for as they put on their sweetest - don't be angry and tell papa -smiles which was also part of their afternoon routine. To end it, she would always say, "Alright, but tomorrow will be different O.K!"

"Hai Han-san!" was the chorus she would always receive just before they raced back to the hidden mountain castle.

---

"I refuse to agree with this proposition."

"Kouga-sama I strongly suggest you reconsider."

"I am an alpha male with four motherless daughters. How can I participate in such actions?"

"For these reasons how can you afford not to?"

"You Dare Threaten My Family and Land?"

"I dare state the obvious!"

Kouga, who had arisen from his seat, slowly straightened and with a calm superiority said, "Tell your masters that I, Kouga-sama, alpha male of the youki wolf clan from the higher mountains, refuse loyalty to their region and rule .. . now get out."

". . .Very well Kouga-sama, I will relay your message to my lord and I am sure you will be responded to very quickly." With that, the servant known as Okou left the wolf youki to his thoughts of the trouble to come.

---

"Rin . . .Rinnie . . . FOR GODDNES SAKES RIN CUT IT OUT!!" Kagome urged as she swatted her sister's hand away once again.

"Why can't Rin play with her neesans ears?"

"Because it's annoying and it ticks me off!"

"No it doesn't!"

"Yes it does!"

"Rin has youki ears too and Rin hears Kagome purr when her ears are scratched."

"I do not!"

::stroke stroke::

::soft pleased rumble::

"See! Kagome likes it when Rin scratches her ears!"

"RIN!"

::stoke::

::rumble::

"SEE!"

"Fine Rin I like it! Its just embarrassing okay." By now, all but Kagome was laughing at the display as the sisters took turns brushing each other's hair and tails for bed. Unfortunately for Kagome, since Rin had the shortest hair, she would always be done first and the young youki never passed up an opportunity to play with her sister's doggy ears. "Rin." called Sango who was busy plaiting Kagome's hair back.

"Hai?"

"Your one hundred and eighty years old, why is it that when you speak you still refer to yourself in the third person?"

"What's wrong with the way Rin speaks?"

"I mean it was okay for the first hundred years or so but now, well you should really do something about it."

"Papa says that we should never rush to grow up . and besides, Rin is only nine human years anyway!"

"Nan de mo." Was Sango's only reply for Rin's toothy grin as she decided to go back to Kagome's ears.

"Aw come on Rin! Gimme a break why dontchya!"

::stroke::

::rumble::

::grin::

::twitch:: "That's it!" Kagome yelled as she shook her ears free of Rin's grasp.

Sango's eyes twitched annoyingly as she felt Kagome's hair pull from her hands and watched the braid quickly unravel from her sister's shaking movement. ". . . Kagome . . ." she whined.

"But Rinnie was tweaking my ears because I couldn't move and."

"Now I haveta' start over!"

"Sumimasen. Gomen nasai."

"It's fine, but don't make me mess up again."

"Hai."

Over a minute passes by.

::stroke::

::rumble::

::grin::

::twitch::

::dodge::

"Rin . GET BACK HERE!!"

"KAGOME!!"

"eep."

::growl::

"But .. ."

"O.K! That's enough." Ashati finally said,when seemed like things were beginning to get out of hand. "Since you're so bored Rin why don't you come and brush my hair for me?"

"Are you sure you want that?" Sango asked warningly.

"Yea! Rin would have you looking wild when she's through." Kagome added as the youngest pouted.

"I'm sure I'll be fine, Rinnie's not that bad and how else can we expect her to learn?"

All argument ended as Sango and Kagome gave their sister the - it's your funeral -look before turning back to their previous activities. ::winch:: "You know. . .grunt. . .Sango. . .ah. . .you really. . .ite. . .shouldn't. . .brush hair. . .ow. . .angry chikushoo!"

---

In Another Part of the Castle:

"You summoned me my lord?"

Kouga looked at his loyal servant as she kneeled before him knowing that she was the only one he could trust for the job he was about to give her. "Han, you have been with me since the beginning. . .you were there when Ashati's mother died and you have remained throughout the years. You are the closest thing to a true mother that any of my daughters have known. From now on, I would like you to address me at least as a friend."

Han stood in disbelief as she quickly tried to gather herself. "My lord, this is the greatest honor you have given me."

"But you still address me as lord."

"Tis' a hard habit to break."

"Very well." Kouga said as he allowed a soft smile to grace his lips briefly before the graveness of what he was about to tell her settled in once more. "My friend, I have called you here to make you aware of something."

"I am listening mi' lord."

"Have you heard of the rulers of the western lands?"

"Hai mi' lord."

". . .Walk with me."

"Hai mi' lord."

"What do you know of them?"

"I know that even though rule over the land is divided into four parts of unequal quantity, the true ruler is Inutaishou-sama. The other three taiyoukis are simply caretakers who carry out his wishes for that vast riegion."

"Correct. What else do you know?"

"I also know that Inutaishou-sama has a ruthless habit or thirst."

"Explain." The wolf youki commanded.

"Well great Kouga, Inutaishou leads an army of men, human and youki alike, into random villages to burn homes, kill the men - or all males old enough to hold the terrible memory - ravish the women - or all females who are developed enough - and enslave whoever are unable to please or remember, this includes babies. They do this to human and youki villages and no one ever escapes or survives."

"If no one escapes or survives, how do you know of these stories?"

"I know because there is always someone bearly hanging on to life."

"Really . . . and I suppose you were told these things by someone who knows someone, who has seen someone, who knows of someone, whose uncle saw their second grand cousin on their stepmother's side witness the whole thing."

"Actually mi' lord, I was a very young larva when my father and I went on a hunt one evening . . . all I could remember was my chichi telling me to wait in this very special hiding place until he returned from the village. Morning came, but not my otoosan. I decided to go back to the village after a while. That is where I found him, bearly hanging on to life.

"I didn't know."

"You couldn't have.I've never spoken of it before now. I have witnessed this three times in my life, and each time I found someone barely hanging on."

A tense silence filled the halls as the two walked on. Kouga, now grimacing, was the one to break the silence, but not the heat. "Han."

"Hai mi' lord?"

"Today I met with a servant of Inutaishou."

"And, mi' lord?"

"And Han, he came with an offer of alliance."

"I see."

"This new formation however, required loyalty to Inutaishou and actions much like what you have just told me."

"I assume you did not accept."

"No. I did not."

"I am honored to serve one such as you mi' lord, but, you do know that we face devastating times in the very near future?"

"I do realize that."

"Naturally mi' lord."

A tense silence took over once again before Kouga once again disturbed it. "Han."

"Hai mi' lord?"

"I want you to watch over my daughters and protect them with your life. Effective immediately, they do not leave the castle walls and you do not leave their side. You are a master of the arts and you have trained my daughters well, but in order for them to survive honorably, they must run. This is the first priority of both you and I."

My lord." said Han, "you're wish would have been carried out even if you hadn't said it." Kouga nodded in approval and dismissed the youki dragonfly.

---

After the conversation with her master, Han decided to spen the night - and every other night - with her surrogate daughters. Walking into the room they shared, she was surprised to see that one of them was still up. "Does my lady care to tell me what's so interesting that she prefers to stay up?"

Ashati turned her head from the night beyond to look at their caring nanny. "I don't know actually, but, it is an exceptionally beautiful night."

"I see you let Rin brush your hair again."

"Yup!"

"Oh you poor thing." Han teased which drew grins from the both of them before she continued, "Come'ere. Let me see if I can fix this." The two sat in silence as Han gently tugged at the knots. When she was sure no damage would be done if she did not pay as much attention to her task, the youki dragonfly looked towards whatever held the child captive.

Following the pup's gaze, Han noticed that she did not stare at the moon like most did, but more towards where the lunar rays landed. Yet still, the girl's attraction was not so much the beautiful rays that glistened off the water, but the shadows that danced beyond it.

"It's a beautiful night to be outside." Said the young pup suddenly.

"Hai?" Han questioned noticing the many clouds in the sky.

"Hai."

The dragonfly did not reply to this and continued to brush back the beautiful hair that always seemed more mystical at night. 'And then again . ..' the youki thought, 'You were always a strange one.'