Disclaimer: I own not InuYasha or any of the show's original characters. All unseen before/unheard of characters are mine and from my loony and loopy and crazy imagination :-D Hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy writing them.

A/N: I know I said inspiration isn't coming. But a reviewer helped me strike up inspiration and to that person many thanks. And a cookie!

AA/N: There are no naughty things in this chapter just a slight mention of it. It is teen-readable. Heck even pre-teen readable but if you're younger than that. You risqué dog you :-P

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Chapter 6: When Darkness Chokes and Shadows Try to Hinder, Hearts Cry and Angels Direct Those Asunder

"And she was really brave Ah-Un, I don't think she's afraid of anything or anyone even when fear grips her. I think she's strong. She was funny too." The little girl giggled as she recounted a tale of gutsy teenager to her two headed companion. "And really pretty." She cast a slightly sly look to her other companion, the one who had been muttering foul remarks under his breath the moment she started telling about what had happened to her and Yuki back at the lake. "Don't you think so master Jaken?"

"Pretty?" The small demon snorted in disgust. "Ugly is more like it. Horrendous even! That stupid no good human. And how dare she insult my Lord Sesshomaru" He continued to mutter darkly.

Instead of taking amusement in Jaken's inane mutterings-as she usually did-Rin's smile faded slightly as she looked over her shoulder, beyond her position on the two headed dragon-type yōkai, beyond the trees that shrouded the sight of the pristine lake they had left behind. She looked beyond and into the starry night, frowning she said softly, "But she looked so sad. She smiled and laughed and was courageous but her eyes were dull and filled with sorrow. I think her heart is filled with pain, Master Jaken."

The little demon startled at the ache he heard in Rin's voice and quickly looked up to where Lord Sesshomaru was hoping that the more powerful demon wasn't listening. More than likely he would get blamed for Rin's change of mood. Oh, he should have just agreed with the girl about the stupid no good human. "There, there Rin," He said, not admitting to himself that he was comforting her because he hated this unusual mood as much as fearing Sesshomaru's wrath, patting her on her arm. "I'm sure it was nothing."

Rin's smile was slight as it curved her lips once again. "Maybe. But I wonder what that dark nothing is."

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Dai walked rapidly down the hall towards the reception desk; it was all he could do not to fall apart and scream. He counted backwards in his head as he tried to regain his wits and his breath. Swallowing he forced a smile on his face when he reached the front of the desk and spoke to the young woman behind it. "Um, I was told that I had a phone call?"

The woman nodded and pressed a button on the phone before handing it to him. Taking another deep breath to make sure that his voice sounded completely calm and happy he answered it, "Hello? Beety?"

"What's wrong?" The rapidness and the forceful concern he heard in the usually delicate and cheery voice took him back. Dai blinked, biting his tongue not to tell her that her grandson was a child molester and more than likely a sociopath. However, he didn't. Like she would believe him, Beety was reasonable and she may have seemed to have noticed that her grandson was far from perfect but that didn't mean she would believe him. Who would ever want to believe something like that of their family? Even his mother wouldn't believe that of his sister and those two were always at odds. "Daisuke," Her voice softened a bit but it didn't become any less urgent. "what is it deary?"

"Nothing." He said with a false cheeriness. "Nothing at all is wrong."

"If you say so deary." It was obvious that she didn't believe him but she wasn't going to press, and for that he would ever be grateful. "I am sorry that I couldn't come but there was some pressing matters for me in America. I trust that the trip was fine and that Dicky is treating you well? Dai?" She stated his name as a question when he again took too long to answer.

Fighting back a shudder and the bile that rose up his throat as his mind went to what had just happened in the bathroom, his throat convulsed for a moment as he tried to get some moisture back into his too dry mouth. "As well as Dick could treat me, I guess." And sadly he had a feeling that that was the whole truth of it.

"Good, good." Again she didn't sound completely convinced.

"I hate to rush," He said with slight panic, knowing that he wouldn't be able to keep himself from lying if she asked directly. "But why'd you call? You don't have to worry about not making it. I was planning of making roads around the town." He said in a lame joke.

"Oh, I'm sorry that you wish that deary. I was hoping that you could go to a shrine for me, the Higurashi Shrine. An old friend of mine runs it and he has something very important, in fact I think you'll find it to be much interest." She said, her usual jovial tones returning.

"I don't know about that." He murmured softly. "Yuki was the history lover not me."

"That's okay; you don't have to be a history lover to enjoy the Shrine. It has this sort of old world and mystical feel that would be of interest to anyone. And what I need you to get from him, I think you'll enjoy it. Just tell him my name; he'll know what it is. Afterwards you can go and see your sister and uncle."

For the first time since he left his mother at the airport, Dai smiled, in fact it was all he could do not to grin.

He felt so much lighter. He would get to go see his sister and maybe Beety would even let him stay with her. He missed his Yuki so much and he was still very worried about her. Dealing with her problems and solving them was what he had been hoping to do, and now the added task would help him take his mind from what happened-no, ALMOST happened to him. "When would you like me to go get this mysterious, oh so interesting object." He asked, starting to feel and sound more like himself.

"I was hoping tomorrow afternoon."

"No!" The words were out before he could stop them. He didn't want to spend most of the day with Dick. Sure, he had been going to go out but he hadn't figured what he was going to do when he came back.

"But," She continued as if she hadn't heard his sharp cry. "Like I said before, I am sorry that you won't have time to explore. It would be best if you go today. How about in an hour? By the time you get there it will be dark. I am sure the Higurashi family won't mind if you stay the night."

"Okay." Calm Dai, he warned himself as he noticed those around him looking at curiously or with disapproval. "I'll go right now. Good bye, Beatrice, and thank you so much. I ... you're an angel." He didn't know what else to say. Again she had helped him out without even truly knowing what an impact her wishes were.

"Oh, deary just being your boss. No reason to go make an old woman blush."

His smile returned as he hung up the phone.

He was already dressed, all he had to do was go back and get was his identification and his wallet. Yes, that meant he had to go back to the rooms but he knew for a fact that Dick had a meeting today. He'd be in and out before the older male even knew a thing.

Beatrice smiled to herself when she heard the dial tone. She was glad that this job put back the innate exuberance in his voice. From the moment she had met Dai that had been what had adhered her to him, the sense of fun and excitment he seemed to give off. However, when he had answered the phone he had sounded so dead and fearful. Nothing had happened he said. Beatrice snorted, the boy was such a horrible liar. But at the moment it was neither here nor there because soon he would be able to do the thing he wanted most, the little deary, and that was to be with his sister. Beatrice chuckled. "Til we speak again, little dragon."