A mysterious figure appears instantly behind Sesshomaru. Under the evening sky, in the grassy woodland field the person kneels before him. "I see you've returned from your mission. Are you here for a visit?" Sesshomaru asks, as he turns to face the stranger, whom he sees clad in white samurai armor and a helmet covering the face and head.

"I've returned from slaying the demon that was plaguing okasan's village," replies the stranger in a feminine voice, "I shall leave again. I'm tracking down the band of ronin whom I've been hearing about. I recall their leader is your younger brother."

"As if you need permission from me, Rai. You do what you like." The stranger nods and disappears as quickly as she arrived. Rin approaches Sesshomaru, riding on Aun's back.

"Was that…?" Rin starts to ask.

"Rai's back. She says she's searching for InuYasha. With her nose, it shouldn't take her long."


The next day, Miroku returns on horseback to Kaede's village. He approaches the house at the foot of Kikyo's hill. "The rumors are spreading," he replies to Sango, who's sitting relaxed in front of a roaring fire.

"So some mysterious samurai is going around from village to village slaying troublesome demons."

"Yeah but it's the way he does it. He slices the demons with fire on one of his swords, completely burning them from the wounds he makes in their flesh."

InuYasha walks into the house. "So how's Kagome holding up?" asks Sango.

"As much as one could expect. Her grandfather is no longer in this world anymore. His funeral is scheduled the night after tomorrow."

"So are you going there?"

"No I hate funerals, you know that. InuYuzu's going in my place."

Shippo strolls the ground outside the house and paces back towards the dry well. At this time Shippo has grown into a young man and looks like he could be 20. Suddenly he senses a foreboding presence approach the village. As he races back to the house, InuYasha dashes out, sniffing the air.

Suddenly, a giant serpent darts across the sky. It flies straight towards the village, crashing its body against the earth, with its mouth always open.

"This vial demon has the gall to pick this village as his target," InuYasha sneers, clinking his sword from its sheath. The serpent glides its body across the ground, snatching a villager in its mouth, and flying across the plains with his arm in its jaws.

"Watch out, InuYasha," shouts Sango racing out of the house, "This thing has friends." She points out four more serpents flying along side the first one, each sweeping the ground for victims. Suddenly a figure leaps upon Kikyo's hill clad in white armor with two swords on the stranger's waist.

"You bastards have picked the wrong village to hunt," the stranger shouts. "I'll show no mercy and take on all five of you at once."

"We'd like to see you try!" hisses one of the serpents, "You look nothing more than a weak human."

"Is that the samurai you were talking about?" asks Sango, looking at Miroku.

"He looks as the rumors describe. InuYasha hold back. I want to see what he can do."

"Like hell I'll hold back!" InuYasha draws the Tetsusaiga out and invokes the wind scar. The samurai ignites one of the swords with flames enveloping the blade. The serpents turn their attention to the samurai and surround him from all sides. Suddenly the samurai leaps into the air and slashes instantly at the serpents. InuYasha blinks his eyes in shock, as though blinded by the fighter's speed. All five serpents burn quickly to ashes, while the man the one serpent snatched falls from the sky towards the ground. Immediately, Kirara transforms in time to catch the man.

Meanwhile, the white-armored samurai walks forward towards InuYasha. "You're him, aren't you? Father told me about you. The rumors of a hanyou ronin have truth to them."

"Who are you, buddy? What are you doing here?"

"I've been tailing those snake demons for a while now. Fancy they lead me to you."

"We've heard of a strange samurai slaying demons," replies Miroku, "You're him, aren't you? You slay demons with fire and leave nothing of their corpses but a burning pile of ashes."

"You're a very wise monk. Father told me about you as well. You are the band of demon-killing ronin. There are a couple details false about this rumor about me. One is the samurai is human and the other…" The stranger pulled off the helmet and revealed a female face, "…is I'm a man, both of which are false."

InuYasha glances at her face and sees her hair and ears the same as his. "Y…you're a dog youkai?"

"Well hanyou if you want to get all technical."

"Your face and armor look like Sesshomaru's," replies Shippo, "Are you one of his minions?"

"Minions? You don't remember me, Shippo? Course it was 16 years ago since we last met. Back then I was a small child."

"You look like Sesshomaru, but you're a woman," replies InuYasha.

"The name's Rai. I'm his musume."

"Why did you disguise yourself as a man?" asks Miroku.

"Can we go inside? I wish not to discuss things out here. What if more of those snakes show up?"

The group enters the house and Rai sits in front of the doorway. Promptly, she removes her dark-gray chest-plate, revealing a white crisscrossing top covering her breasts. "You certainly are a beautiful woman," smiles Miroku excitedly. "Say would you consider bearing my child?"

Sango glares at him with a fiery stare. Rai stares straight into his eyes. "As long as you can take full responsibility in raising this child. I have no time for kids now."

Miroku jolts with an icy chill across his face. "M…me t…take…"

Sango chuckles at him, "She sure got you there, Monk."

"So Rai, you say Sesshomaru is your father," InuYasha tries to confirm, "Then you're my mei."

"You're smarter than you look, Oji(san)," smiles Rai.

"As I remember Sesshomaru and Rin had a daughter about 19 years ago," recalls Sango. "But then three years later, she was kidnapped and killed. Then this woman claims to be this daughter…but you…"

"I asked chichi-ue to spread that rumor for me. I wasn't kidnapped; I went into a dojo far south of here. I stayed at this temple for 16 years, learning the ways of the samurai."

"Why were you disguised as a man? You fight like a man too," acknowledges Miroku.

"To be taken seriously as a fighter, I cross-dress. I don't want you to think of me as a woman. When I battle, I disguise my appearance and make the enemy think I'm a man. Just now when I removed my armor, your reaction to me was the example of what would happen if I revealed my true identity to any man. Besides what dojo takes in women? It's becoming illegal anymore for female warriors to train."

"So for 16 years you pretended to be a boy. How do pull that off completely?" wonders InuYasha, "Eventually you'd have to…"

"You want to know how my daily needs are met. I bathe in secret. While in the dojo, I disguised my actions with masculine moves. Orosa-sensei is a wonderful man. He knew I was a girl, but helped me keep that secret from the other students. Hell whenever I had to piss, he'd sneak me under a bush and stand guard. You see he had three daughters of his own."

"How did you get by with being hanyou?" asks InuYasha, "I'm sure you'd be ostracized by humans. Humans don't usually accept hanyous."

"Speaking from experience? I didn't have that problem. My sensei was like a second chichi-ue to me. And I'd always dye my hair black to make me look human. When I did become human for real, I used that time to train as hard as I can. I still do that."

"You train during your time of weakness? You're like me, but…"

"That's the nature of a true samurai," informs Sango, "They have the ability to turn their weaknesses into strengths."

"So what's with your sword?" asks Shippo, "You fight with both of them, too."

"Yes, but only one kills. The other sword heals." Rai pulls out both of her swords and displays them.

"Fang swords. So they are like my Tetsusaiga. But one heals?"

Rai points to the katana with the large white-silver blade and brown leather handle. "This one is called Hono'osaiga. As you can tell by the name, it's my flame sword. With it I can kill demons, no matter what their number is." She points to the second sword with a shorter blade and a red-and-white braided handle. "This is Naosusaiga. This sword is my healing sword. It acts as my shield in combat. It also has the ability to destroy any undead enemies."

"But if your Naosu…uh healing sword, what good is it if the blade doesn't cut the enemy?" asks InuYasha, "Sessh…I mean your father had a sword like that, but always hated it, calling it useless."

"He told me about Tensaiga. I wanted a blade to rival it. During my youth, I asked Orosa-sensei for breaks. He was such an understanding fellow. I pulled two fangs out of my mouth and went straight to Toutosai. I requested him to make these swords for me. Along the way, I found a dragon lying at the base of Toutosai's volcano, dying. He offered me his heart, scales and his fangs. He instructed me to eat his heart and wished his fangs to be used in the sword that would be Hono'osaiga. Inside that blade, the spirit of the dragon remains alive. Three days later, Toutosai gave me these two swords. He said the one bound in leather would be the flame sword. His scales went into the Naosusaiga."

"So you're getting no protection from Sesshomaru. Your swords protect you from the start. You're on your own?" asks InuYasha.

"That's how I wanted it to be. I don't want you to think you have to protect me, just because I'm your mei." Rai sighs and looks at InuYasha. "It's not as though I'm completely alone. Jii-chan comes to me at night in my dreams."

"My father does that? You've seen him?" asks InuYasha in a shocked voice.

"He helps to train me in the martial arts, Oji(san)."

"By the way, don't call me Oji(san). Makes me sound old. Just InuYasha is fine."

"So you've got a dragon's heart in your body, and his teeth help make up the blade on your Hono'osaiga," confirms Sango.

"I'm mostly certain chichi-ue sent him to me. The night before I requested audience with Toutosai, Miyoga-jii must have passed that message along to him. I know the dragon had to be Aun's son. Aun must have mated with a female and this dragon was hatched from a clutch. But the poor dragon pup was born in a sickly body and was the runt. Chichi-ue must have sent him to the base of the volcano, knowing I would spot him."

"So you aren't completely alone then," sighs Miroku, "So despite his cold demeanor, Sesshomaru still has a father's heart."

"The power your sword has…flame…" InuYasha inquiries.

"Hi no Kizu," replies Rai. "The sword doesn't produce it directly. It merely acts as a conduit of my own power."

"You have the power?" asks InuYasha.

"You're a samurai, InuYasha. Surely you know the sword you wield is the extension of yourself. You transfer power to its blade and wield it like it was a part of you."

"Tetsusaiga's a part of me? It absorbs power. But like an extension?"

"InuYasha," chuckles Sango, "That's how samurais see their weapons. Their swords are extensions of themselves. In time their katanas become their lifeline. Rai is a trained samurai, so her true power is in her own body."

"In training, I would use wooden swords to fight. Then I'd use my real swords out in the world here."

"If you'd like a demonstration, I'd be happy to take you on," smiles Rai, "Pitting an experienced samurai against a dojo student."

"Me against you, Rai?" asks InuYasha, "That should be interesting. I want to see how you use this Hi no Kizu."

Rai smiles and reattaches her chest armor. She resheathes her swords and prepares to walk out of the house. As she walks out, she bumps into Kagome. Both women look at each other in the eyes.

"R…Rai, is it real…"

"Oba(san)," Rai hugs Kagome, "It's been forever since…"

"I thought you were going to stay at home with your mom," replies Sango.

"InuYuzu is there with her. I'll go back. I just…" tears roll down Kagome's face.

"Oba(san), what's wrong?" asks Rai.

"Her grandfather's just passed on," explains Miroku.

"Oh I'm sorry," sighs Rai, "I had no idea." She hugs Kagome harder.

"Seeing you here does make me feel a little better. All this time I thought you were dead."

"I've been training in the southern mountains."

"Training for battle? Which southern mountains?"

"Mount Hiei was where I trained."

"That's down near Kyoto," Kagome replies with a shocked look on her face. "That's far, even in my era."

"Yes and my sensei is there."

"Kagome," smiles Sango, "This girl here, your niece, is a trained samurai. She's got moves I've seen before on samurai warriors. She's been calling InuYasha a ronin in fact."

"That's what he is, isn't he?" asks Rai, "He makes it his livelihood to hunt and kill demons and is paid for it. Same as you all. Plus I saw him draw his sword earlier. A blade bigger than he. That's what a ronin is."

"I'm not hired by anyone. I kill my enemies with Tetsusaiga, and that's it."

"But we do get paid for demon-slaying. That's how we earn money," explains Sango.

"The offer is still on for the battle against you, InuYasha," Rai smirks with an evil grin.

"Me fight a little girl like you. You've got a death wish?"

"I should ask you that, old man."

"Old man!? I ain't old."

"And I ain't a little girl," snorts Rai, "I'm tougher than I look. Your hesitation proves you ain't up to the challenge."

"More like interest."

"You're never this hesitant when facing chichi-ue. Miyoga's told me everything about you. He's been filling me in on your past with chichi-ue."

"I've noticed that little pest had been m.i.a. for longer spells. Seems he's latched on to you now. Whenever I needed information about some unfinished business Oyaji left behind, or the crap we have to deal with after the destruction of Naraku, that little coward is never around."

"Oji(san)! How dare you!" Rai starts to shout. Just then when she closes her eyes and curls her right fist, with her index and middle fingers extended, while simultaneously bringing her fist towards the center on her chest. Silently, she meditates for a couple of minutes. "Sorry, mustn't raise the ire of my elders. It's disrespectful. If my sensei heard me arguing, he'd be dissatisfied." She opens her eyes slowly and looks at InuYasha with calmness on her face.

"So you live by the laws of tranquility and honor. You respect those both older than you and outranking you," sighs Kagome, "Perhaps InuYasha can take lessons from you, Rai."

"Sh…sh…shut up," InuYasha pouts, "What makes her better than me?"

"Maturity for one," laughs Sango, "Plus she doesn't let something, like being hanyou, affect her judgment."

"Please Oji(san)," Rai looks into InuYasha's eyes with a calming smile, "Forgive my lack of manners to you. I may know about you from description, but I know little of you. I've no knowledge of what you're like for real." She bows to him in respect.

"She maybe a hanyou child still, but at least she's mature enough to end a useless fight," admires Shippo, "Apology accepted." Shippo returns her gesture with a bow.

"What did I tell you about accepting things that aren't yours? I have to do the accepting here. If you can't get that then…"

Kagome sighs and rolls her eyes. "Oswari." InuYasha collapses instantly to the ground, face first. "That's how you end a pointless argument with him, Rai. You're proving to be more the adult than he is. It's because of your up bringing. You lived with your sensei most of your life. He trained you and more."

"Orosa-sensei was like a father to me. He knew I was both a girl and a hanyou, but that didn't matter to him. Perhaps that's what kept me there at Mount Hiei for such a long time. He trained me and raised me. In training, he made it know to my peers that I was like them."

"Was it just him who raised you?" asks Kagome.

"He's married. His wife, Yujisa, was kind to me as well. She helped me when I was sick and helped me when womanhood started taking affect."

Just then, Rai feels something like a pinprick on her left cheek. Quickly she covers her cheek with her left hand. After a few seconds, she feels the flea fall into her cupped hand. "Miyoga-jii, what an honor it is to see you, again. Thanks for being there for me all these past years."

"My pleasure, dear. Of all the folks I've ever sucked blood from, I like you the most."

"Give him here!" demands InuYasha, "If you won't squish him…"

"Oji(san)! You'd do that to your elderly vassal? Have you no respect at all? To think I'm even related to you. No, I won't hand him over. He's been a great help to me; I won't betray him." She shields Miyoga from InuYasha with her fingers.

"Rai, you…" Miyoga takes out a flea-sized hankie and blows his beak, "What a sweet, young dog demon you are. To say these things for the sake of an old flea like me."

Suddenly a majestic white horse darts from the sky, towards Rai. His red eyes stare straight at her with bold determination. The wind from his speed brushes through his large red mane and tail. Upon his face he wears cyan-colored tortoise-shell armor with a set of horns, one pair over his nostrils and another upon his eyelids. On his back the same style and color of armor incases him with a white armored saddle on top of the armor. He lands in front of Rai, snorting and neighing at her.

"Inazuma, I understand. You've spotted trouble approaching this village. Who are they this time? Are they demons…" Rai pauses to sniff the air, "Humans. About fifty are headed this way."

"Fifty?" asks Sango, "Who are they?"

"Inazuma says he saw a gang of highwaymen two hours away from here."

"Right, I'll go warn the villagers. Kirara." Kirara growls and transforms herself. Rai dashes back inside the house. She reattaches her whole armor plating and fits her helmet over her head.

"Miroku, can you search the village for strong-looking men? Inazuma will accompany you in the search."

"He looks like Entei. Thirty years ago, we fought that demon."

"Inazuma wants you to forget about him. Inazuma is his younger brother, and he isn't evil. He's my companion." The demon horse kneels down in front of Miroku, allowing him to mount him.

"Just say you want men who are able to defend this village." Inazuma nods and flies off with Miroku.

"Oba(san), perhaps it's best for you to take shelter. Highwaymen can get…"

"We know that much Rai," sneers InuYasha, "I've fought with these types before."

"I can handle these guys," proclaims Kagome.

"Maybe you can protect the headman," suggests Rai.

"We have no headman here," informs InuYasha, "The one in charge is the baba herself. She's up at the temple, praying. She's been up there all day."

"I saw a heavy-set obasan dressed like a miko while up on that sacred hill."

"She's stays at the temple there and has been praying there for quite some time," replies Kagome.

"From what I saw, she looked like she's feeling her age. Perhaps she's feeling her own mortality and knows the feeling won't last forever. There's no time to ponder such things. If you can somehow protect her, at least to be out-of-sight when these disgusting men arrive here."

Rai spots Miroku and Inazuma return to the house. "I've alerted the villagers. There are thirty men here arming themselves, with a great number on horseback. Sango's rounding up all the women, children, and elderly and escorting them to safety. She's got the rest of the men helping her defend the weak and vulnerable." Miroku dismounts the demon horse, as soon as the horse's hooves touch ground.

"Oji(san), aren't you preparing to fight?"

"I don't smell demons to kill. However this sort thing can invite demons to a free buffet."

"Rai, he's not generally the type to fight against humans. Besides he can't kill and human enemies, not allowed to. You shouldn't either, Rai."

"Save me against the guilt trips. These men are ruthless thugs. They're monsters that must be opposed at all cost. I'll defend this town, even to the point of killing anyone wishing to cause harm. If we don't kill them, they will kill us." Rai leaps aboard Inazuma, positioning herself in the saddle. She spots several of the village-men arriving on horseback to greet her.

"Sir, are you the one from the capital?" one of the men asks Rai.

"I'm not. I don't actually work for any castle. Nevermind the details about me, what about you? Are you prepared to defend here?"

"Yes sir. Able and ready," replies the man, trying to settle his horse.

Inazuma stamps his front left hoof in excitement. "Oji…I mean InuYasha, are you going to fight or not. This town can still use your support. I'll go with Inazuma to the highest point to spot the trouble as it approaches. When we spot them, he will send you a lightning bolt in your direction. Have no fear, the bolt he'll send to you is hollow; it has no power to kill you."

Miroku nods with a firm, yet straight face. "You heard him, villagers. Prepare for his signal." Inazuma gallops off as fast as he can, carrying Rai on his back.

"Why aren't we telling these men Rai's really a…?" whispers InuYasha to Miroku.

"She has her reasons not to reveal her identity. Perhaps it's because this is a foreign town to her and she doesn't trust there might be a spy in the village. We'll just have to go with this and not reveal who she is."

"So to gain trust, she has to lie."

"It's not as simple as that, InuYasha. If these thugs are as ruthless as she thinks, then saying she's a woman would expose her to unwarranted trouble."

"Who are you whispering about?" asks one of the villagers, "Some woman?"

"Not just some woman, let me tell you about R…" InuYasha starts to speak when Miroku muffles him.

"Rai's concerned about the village women, that's all. He wants to be certain they're safe from the bandits."

Meanwhile, Rai and Inazuma arrive at the top of a vast hill. "Is it anything like in the region of Kyoto?" Inazuma snorts and nods his head. "How far away are these guys?" Inazuma neighs at her. "I see, we still have time," she leaps off his back.

"Could you stand guard over me? I'm not going anywhere. I just have to go. Couldn't very well do it back in the village with everyone watching." Inazuma nods and lies on the ground beside her, acting as a shield. He sweeps his tail in a secluding gesture, letting her pee in complete privacy. "Come on, Inazuma. You should know me by now. I never enter a battle with a full bladder. Can't very well ask the enemy for a toilet break." She leans forward, resting her chin on her knees.

"I wish chichi-ue was here. Could use his help. I don't know, maybe he could at least advise me. Something like that, it's been awhile since I've seen him."

She stands back up and walks in front of Inazuma's face. She opens up his face armor and strokes his nose with her hand. Rai kisses his nose and closes his armor back up. "I know it'd be impossible to ask him. We'll have to do this. It's not as if this is my first battle. This is even the fifth time I led the charge."

Suddenly a burst of wind gushes up behind her. She turns to see Sesshomaru standing beside her. "Chichi-ue? What are you…?"

"Rai, you wanted me here."

"I just told that to Inazuma. It's not as though I begged you…directly."

Sesshomaru smiles at her. "I wanted to come. You're my little girl. Isn't that enough of a reason to come?"

"I'm only fighting to save a human village. There aren't as many demonic enemies this time. It's not as if I can be killed, right? I'm just…"

"Being hanyou, you have the advantage to survive sword injuries. The part that makes you demon protects you. I know your concern is with the human resistance in this village. You want nobody to die. You get that from your mother, I think."

"I'm just concerned for the villagers. The last battle I was in ended in a total loss. Sure we won the fight, but so many lives were lost and the village was completely destroyed. I just don't…Oji(san)…Oba(san)…I don't want them to suffer." Tears form in her eyes.

Sesshomaru embraces her, holding the back of her head. "You're still a pup, so it's understandable you'd be concerned like this. You just have to have faith. Your oji(san), InuYasha, is a strong, powerful hanyou. It takes a lot to injure him, I should know that much. This village isn't such a powerless village. The humans here are strong. It's not like this is the first time there's been a bandit attack here."

Rai pulls back after awhile and replaces her helmet over her head. "You're still wearing that ridiculous thing?"

"Chichi-ue, you really think it'd be wise of me to show my face to the enemy? If these highwaymen learn I'm a woman…well you should know. Why else do you keep Haha-ue out of such battles? These lowlifes take advantage of women. I choose not to give them the option to have their ways with me."

"Understood, Rai." Rai leaps back onto her companion's saddle. Inazuma nods and swings his head toward Sesshomaru, snorting at him. Just then his ears twitch forward and he darts into the air.

"I see them too, Inazuma. Their stench is closing in." Rai glances out at a large number of men charging forward across the vast fields. Inazuma snorts loudly and hurls a bolt of lightning back towards the village, and into Miroku's direction.

"That's our signal, men!" announces Miroku. InuYasha charges forward, leading the first wave of defense to the front line. Inazuma lands on the ground, just as InuYasha arrives on the look out.

"What are you doing here, Sesshomaru? This is a human war."

"Oji(san)! This isn't the time or place for quarreling," scolds Rai, "He's here because I requested him here."

"You needn't defend me, musume. This arrogant dumbass won't listen to you."

"I dare you say that to my…"

"BAKA, BAKA! Settle this after fighting the real enemy. Really, you can quarrel anytime you wish. I want a successful battle against these real monsters who want this village destroyed. Futile disputes waste time and lives."

"What she said," smirks Sesshomaru, "Rai maybe the youngest member of this family, but she's more grown-up than either of us."

Rai unsheathes her Hono'osaiga and prepares herself and Inazuma for the attack. She waits with several of the villagers, each carrying a sword or club with him.

Just then Miyoga reappears on the top of one of Inazuma's ears. "Be careful, there's at least ten strong demons in the enemy camp. The leader has a demonic aura about him. He appears human, but he's got a scorpion's shadow."

"Thank you, Miyoga. Please report this to Sango at once, so she can be ready if they come her way."

"Don't worry, Rai. Miroku and I can take care of any demons."

"I'll back you up, Rai," promises Sesshomaru. Inazuma snorts towards the direction of the bandits. Two snake-like demons jut out of the enemy camp, slithering across the ground.

"They're trying to intimidate us with these weaklings?" steams InuYasha.

"It's more of a diversion," replies Rai, "They want to scare us into a surrender."

"Won't happen!" growls InuYasha, slicing the snakes with his sword. "Damn, missed him!"

"Inazuma." He blows a lightning blast from his mouth, incinerating the snake upon impact.

"Did you see that?" asks one of the horsemen.

"His horse is powerful. Just what is he, a demon?"

Rai finally sees the army of bandits racing towards the village. She holds her position, waiting for the bulk of the enemy to enter the field.

She brings her sword down. "Men, all in favor of taking prisoners, raise your swords. I really don't care." She sees about ten swords being raised, including Miroku's staff. "How many want no prisoners?" The rest of the forces raise their swords. "The majority wins. Sorry ten, it's either our heads or theirs." She raises her sword again and angles it in the enemy's direction, signaling a charge.

Inazuma springs forward and leads the armed villagers in. InuYasha flanks her on the right and Sesshomaru leads on her left. Rai finds her first enemy and slices him in half with her sword. Two horsemen raced in with her, slaying several enemy men at once. Inazuma charges through a line of enemy horsemen, with his head lowered. Immediately he spikes men with the horns on his face armor, gouging them like a rhino.

A villager dressed in green armor rides along Rai's left side, brandishing a giant ax. He swings the ax through a crowd of evil men, slicing them into pieces. He retreats his horse and rides angled away from her. Rai pays little attention to his actions; instead she concentrates on enemies in front of her. Inazuma races through a blocked area. He swerves into an arc. Evil men surround both warriors.

"Inazuma, take care of the wretches on horseback. I'll handle the guys on the ground." Inazuma snorts in compliment. Rai leaps to the ground, while withdrawing her second sword.

"Why don't you just fight us on your horsy?" sneers one of the men.

"You apparently haven't met us. Don't worry, you won't be alive long enough to care."

"Get him!" shouts a burly voice. Several men close in on her from all sides with swords drawn. She stands with each arm outstretched, each holding a sword. She divides the powers from the dragon to each blade. She holds Hono'osaiga behind her. She swerves out and strikes the man in front of her. Another man rushes in on her from behind, but is met with the tip of Naosusaiga's blade. Instantly she substitutes it with Hono'osaiga and slices him in half. She wheels around and slays five enemies at once.

"Who is this man? What's his deal?" grumbles a shocked muffled voice.

"A trained samurai. Look at his armor and fighting style."

"If he's from the capital, should we retreat?"

"I don't see the rest of his friends here. Kill him. One dead dog shouldn't matter to the shogun."

"You think I work for this disorganized government?" shouts Rai, "My skills are my own; I have no loyalties to any shogun."

"So you're a wanderer, stranger. You fight for yourself."

"I fight to protect. You vermin are planning to raid this village. I won't let you touch it."

"But sir, we were passing through. Your precious village is just in the way. Besides they owe us."

"Ha, what they owe you is what I'll give you now. One way trip to hell." She jabs her Naosusaiga into the ground. "Inazuma! Stand next to me now!" The demon horse darts back towards her and stands beside her, legs hunched, ready for attack. Immediately an unnoticeable barrier draws around them from Naosusaiga's blade. Lightning bolts emerge from the horse's mouth. Rai pulls fire from her hands into Hono'osaiga's blade and holds the sword with both hands. "Now!" shouts Rai. Both fighters spring from the center-point of circular barrier. Rai slices through the enemy's encroachment, burning the enemy combatants instantly with the swift touch of her blade.

Meanwhile Inazuma sweeps the forest grounds with lightning, electrifying his victims with 1000 volts of electricity.

"Men, pull back! These two are demons," shouts one of the evil men.

"So what! We've got demons with us."

"Yes and that hanyou in red destroyed them with his sword. We had demons here with us and this samurai and his horse slaughtered them."

"We have to either pull back now, or call the chief here. He's a demon. Toughest bastard among us."

"Why are you bastards wasting time? Let me take him on. My friend and I can take the toughest bastard you've got," challenges Rai. Inazuma snorts in agreement.

Suddenly a large man with sleek black hair trots his horse towards her. He appears as a tall man with a black kimono top, black hakama, and red samurai armor. His eyes blaze bright red, and stare straight into Rai's, trying to intimidate her into submission. She stares back at him, resisting his threats.

"Young man, you're skilled, I give you that, but you think you can take me on?"

"I eat demons like you for breakfast," challenges Rai, "See I too am a demon."

"Is that so? You think you could take me, Sasorimaru, on. I'm much older than you. I can tell by the look in your eyes, you're a mere child."

"I'm hardly a child. I'm from the Kyoto region. I've been in my share of battles, half of them dealing with lowlife demons like you."

"So there are demons of my caliber in the southern regions. No matter, you're no match for me, child. I've had a hundred years of experience at fighting. I could squash you with one blow."

"Yeah, just try it," sneers Rai. She starts charging towards him, when a sudden gust of wind blasts behind her. Suddenly she sees Sesshomaru standing in front of her. "Ch…Ch…Chichi-ue? What are you doing? I really can handle him."

"No, you're still too young. He's way out of your league. I'll take him on."

"Chichi-ue, but…I'm ready to fight him. I take on tough demons all the times. Kyoto's full of tough bastards."

"That's just it. You're used to demons in the south. I know you can handle yourself. That's not the point. This guy is notoriously hard."

"So this is your oyaji, boy?" sneers Sasorimaru, "You're Sesshomaru. I've heard a lot about you. Since when did you get a kid?"

"None of your business, scum. Rai, back off from this one."

"I can't. Once I challenge someone, I can't just run away. That…"

"I see. You live by pride and honor. When I was your age, that's what I was all about. Then I'll back you up. Will you at least let me assist you?"

"Of course. I can allow that." Rai withdraws her Naosusaiga from the ground and poises for attack.

"Could you take your helmet off, boy? I want to see whom I'm fighting."

"Afraid I can't do that, demon. I never expose my face to scum like you."

"What's the matter? Is it that ugly? Do have so many sword injuries on it…?"

"I'll start by chopping off that tongue of yours!" growls Rai.

"What tongue? I have no tongue," Sasorimaru springs from his horse, killing him immediately. In place of his tongue, a set of feelers wiggles forward. His body expands rapidly, tearing through his own body and clothes. In place of his arms, giant black pincers emerge. His body appears with a black lobster-like body with six bristling legs straddling his body. His body draws back to a long, invertebrate tail, which curves back towards his head, ending in a bulbous stinger.

"So this is your true form?" asks Rai, "So the name Sasorimaru isn't just a cute name you came up with. You're a scorpion demon. Miyoga warned me about you, disgusting bug!"

"And I told you he was hard to handle," reconfirms Sesshomaru.

"You don't understand. This makes the fight more fun. If you find him hard to beat, Chichi-ue," smirks Rai, licking her lips.

"I actually do understand. I didn't say I couldn't beat him."

"Since you honored me by showing your true self, bug." Rai resheathes her Naosusaiga and removes her mask.

"A woman?" replies one of the remaining human enemies. "This samurai's a woman?"

"Impossible! The way she fights, only men fight like that."

"So, you've been a woman this whole time," hisses Sasorimaru, "Not that it matters to me, you're still going to die."

"Not if I have anything to say about that," sneers Sesshomaru, "Rai!"

She nods and flanks the giant scorpion on his left. Instantly she dashes beside him and strikes at his underside. He tries to stab her with his tail, but misses as she darts immediately out of the way.

Sesshomaru steps forward with Bakusaiga and rams it directly in the head. Sasorimaru shakes his head violently, trying to grab at him with his right pincer. Sesshomaru retreats instantly and slices off the creature's pincer.

"You think it be that easy to be rid of me. Fool! No attempts to kill me can be reached. My body is impenetratable. It's rock hard. No sword can break this shell."

"Quit your boasting! Nothing in this world is like that, not even your precious shell. If swords can't touch you, what about flames?" She stabs the ground with her Hono'osaiga and produces a ring of fire around Sasorimaru.

"You'll need fuel for this fire," Sesshomaru smirks, releasing poison from his claws. The fire quickly consumes the poison and engulfs Sasorimaru's entire body, eating at him, shell and all.

Sasorimaru's henchmen draw back in fear at the two demons standing in the middle of the forest. Rai stares out at the retreating men. "Uh…lets r…retreat, fellas. This bitch is too deadly, especially with her father here."

As she watches the enemy camp retreat, she notices blood dripping from Sesshomaru's right arm. "Chichi-ue, are you okay?"

"Oh you worried about this? It's nothing. I just got a small cut from another demon."

She presses her hand gently against his right shoulder, only to have blood printed on her hand. "You're not fine." She draws Naosusaiga out of its sheath. "Please remove your armor so I can get to that wound."

"You're just like your mother." He unhinges the armor and shrugs off the top of his kimono.

"Wow, you are injured. Hold still." She holds the blade against his flesh, creating a green glow around the injured shoulder. "See, this isn't called 'The Healing Sword' for nothing." She watches the wound on Sesshomaru's shoulder close up quickly, stopping the bleeding immediately.

"Chichi-ue, sorry what I said, earlier. Sorry for defying your orders. You wanted me to stop and I wouldn't. I was just…"

"…Caught in the moment. In the heat of battle, it happens. When I was your age, that's all I was about. I was a young pup, out on my own. I had more guts than brains. That was amazing you figured out how to kill Sasorimaru."

"I remembered that from the dojo. At dinner, I was put in charge of cooking duties. Lobster was a usual favorite among my peers and me. I figured the concept with this huge scorpion would be the same, since both creatures possess rock-hard bodies."

"He said he knew you? Directly?"

"No, just…you've not been around enough. You haven't got any ideas about who I am."

"Not personally, no. I've had enough folks filling me in. Jii-chan, Miyoga-jii, Toutosai-jii, Aun's son (Hiun)…"

"Okay, so you know indirectly." Rai smiles at him, as she returns both swords to their sheathes. She spots Inazuma grazing in a fresh spot of grass and whistles to him. He snorts and walks over to her.

"What were you going to say when you wanted to fight him for me?"

"Oh, just that I was worried about you. I knew you could handle yourself in battle. I was watching you fight all those bandits at once. But, I knew Sasorimaru was a hard opponent. He was true in saying he had a hundred years of war experience. But what he didn't say was how many times he lost or ran away. That monk, Miroku, tried sucking him in while he had a wind tunnel. But the coward would always divert the thing, or he would summon Saimyoushou to his aid." He grabs her and embraces her. "Rai, when he threatened to kill you, I couldn't allow him to do that."

"Chichi-ue."

"I know you're a wise, clever hanyou. And yet you're my musume; just even the thought of you…I couldn't allow that. I'm not used to such feelings of warmth, but you can't die."

"Chichi-ue," she whispers. Slowly her eyes start to close.

"Rai. Rai," he starts to shake her, only to have her fall limply in his arms. "So that's it. With after all the action you've seen today, your body has had enough. That would be the price to pay for being half human." He picks her up and looks at Inazuma. "Could you take Rai back to the village?" The horse nods and kneels down beside Sesshomaru and Rai. He places Rai onto the saddle on Inazuma's back. Immediately, Inazuma creates a protective barrier, preventing her from slipping off his back.