Author's Note: Merry Christmas! This is a Christmas present for everyone. This was the first draft of Human Heart, Demon Heart. This story is stand alone, so no need to read any of my other stories. I hope you all enjoy.
Chapter 1
Aiming at a target, fourteen year old Rin let the arrow fly. It hit the bull's eye square on.
"Hmmm, good job," Kagome said in approval.
"Doesn't mean she'll be any good," Inuyasha replied, "You gotta learn to hit a moving target if you're gonna be any use in a fight."
"Inuyasha! She's still learning!"
"I'm just telling the truth."
"Siii," Kagome gritted her teeth.
Inuyasha flinched.
"No..." a vein in her forehead popped, "It's not worth it. I just have to take a deep breath."
"Kagome, I do have a long way to go," Rin put the bow on her back.
"How about we call it a day?" Kagome asked, "Keade said she needed help making remedies."
Nodding, Rin headed back to the hut. Inside, she found a familiar imp sitting at the fire.
"Oh, Rin, you're back," Jaken said.
"Master Jaken!" Rin smiled.
Going out of the hut, Rin looked around. Her eyes searched for the familiar white kimono Sesshomaru wore.
"What kind of greeting is that?" Jaken chastised, "I came all this way and you run out without a proper hello. Foolish girl."
"Master Jaken, is Lord Sesshomaru with you?" Rin looked at the green demon.
"No. Lord Sesshomaru went on ahead. I decided to give you a visit."
"Oh," she said in disappointment.
"Well, I can see how welcome I am," Jaken pouted.
"Oh... I am glad to see you, Master Jaken. I was just hoping to see Lord Sesshomaru too."
"He can't drop everything just to see you! He has duties of his own to attend to."
"What duties?"
"A small dispute between the Raven Demon tribe and Bear Demon tribe. Those idiots keep arguing over hunting grounds. I heard they actually got into a fight over a human girl."
"A girl?"
"Yes, she wandered into the forest. Members of both tribes spotted her, so they both started to argue over who was entitled to her."
"Do you mean that they were arguing over who got to eat her?"
"Yes, what else?"
Rin's gaze shifted uncomfortably from Jaken's.
"Honestly, girl, have you forgotten what demons are like after only a few years with humans?" Jaken asked.
Rin made no reply.
"Well," Jaken continued, "the battle escalated into a near full on war between both tribes. Lord Sesshomaru will set the boundary straight.
"What will happen to the girl?"
"Hmm," Jaken shrugged, "She most likely been eaten by now."
"That's horrible!"
"That's what a human gets for wandering into a forest full of demons."
"Humans need the forest to survive! How do you think I could help people if I couldn't harvest herbs from the forest?!"
"That's an interesting statement," Jaken said sharply, "You use to say that you hated humans."
"I was just a child... You knew better than to believe me."
"You're still just a child," Jaken pointed to her, "And you don't understand anything. Demons need to eat to. Humans just happen to be a good source of protein."
"Humans aren't cattle! They're beings with brains and souls, just like demons!"
"Humans are nothing like demons!"
Rin's hand closed into a fist.
"If I hit you... you'd feel it, right?" Rin voice shook.
"Of course... you're not going to hit me, are you?"
"You'd feel pain. Just like I would. I've died twice... Demons die to... We both end up in the Netherworld and we both get buried in the ground. Demons just live longer."
Rin looked over at Kagome and Inuyasha. They smiled as they played with their infant son. Staring at Inuyasha's dog ears, Rin wondered at something.
"Master Jaken," Rin said, "Inuyasha's father was a demon."
"Well... yes. The Great Dog Demon fell in love with a human woman. And their union created that mongrel."
Inuyasha shot a dark look at Jaken, who shivered on the spot.
"You should know by now that he can hear you," Rin said snidely.
"I only meant that he was a half-blooded demon."
"Inuyasha's mother and father liked each other, didn't they? They learned to get along? So couldn't other demons do the same?"
"Well... the Great Dog Demon was an unusual case... Most demons wouldn't be caught dead consorting with a human. The shame would be too great."
"But... Lord Sesshomaru..."
"AH! You can't have that idea in your head!" Jaken's arms flailed, "He's a pure bred Daiyokai! He would never, ever, ever, ever, EVER have a human woman!"
"Huh? I know that," Rin said with a frown, "I meant that even he changed over time. And he hated humans... So why can't other demons?"
"Oh... Well... I can't say that I understand why Lord Sesshomaru changed... I suppose you do have your moments... But you're just an oddity."
"An oddity? You think I'm strange."
"I don't mean it like that. (Well, you are a strange girl, but that's not my point.) I mean that you're strange in the fact that Lord Sesshomaru took a liking to you, a human of all things. Just feel honored that he singled you out."
"Heh, Master Jaken? Could Lord Sesshomaru make demons get along with humans?"
"Hmm? Hmmmmmm," Jaken thought long and hard, "I suppose, if anyone could, Lord Sesshomaru could."
"Really? How?!"
"How? Why, he'd make the demon tribes in his lands get along with humans. Then he'd increase their rights in the government... And he'd do other things..."
"So... Would he?'
"Absolutely not! First, he'd have to get the demon council to agree! Lord Sesshomaru doesn't rule by himself, you know!"
"So he can't?"
"Of course he can! But it would be difficult! And certainly not worth his time! He'd never consider it!"
"Why not?"
"Because humans are worthless!"
"They're not!"
"Well, if you want to convince Lord Sesshomaru that humans aren't worthless, you'll just have to prove it to him," Jaken patronized her.
"How?" Rin asked curiously.
"How?" he blinked twice, "Eh... I don't know! Figure it out for yourself!"
"Demons respect power," Sango said from behind Rin.
"Power?" Rin looked at the slayer.
"For a human to earn a demon's respect, humans have to show their strength. Either through combat or by strength of character. Sometimes kindness makes a demon see you differently. The best way to win a demon is to do what makes you human. To show the best of yourself. Demons don't always understand human emotions, but they respond to common ground like the determination to protect and fight. You could try to appeal to their nobler sides."
"I could do that?"
"Demons respect demon slayers for their capability," Sango nodded, "But they also fear them. That's why my village was attacked. But other demons have learned to respect demon slayers for their strength. That has helped stop fights."
"It's too bad you're the only demon slayer left," Rin said.
"I'll train others before I die," Sango looked at her twin daughters, "The line of slayers won't end with me."
"Demon slayers..." Rin muttered.
"Hmp," Jaken huffed, "It's not like you could become a demon slayer and change every demon's mind. They'd attack you on sight."
Rin looked at Sango.
"Rin... It's a long and strenuous road to becoming a slayer," Sango caught the glint in Rin's eyes, "And you have to start young. I've been training since I could hold a weapon."
"I'm already pretty fast and I can shoot a bow," Rin said, "And I know about herbs, so I can make my own poisons and medicines! And I survived on my own in the wilderness for almost a year!"
"Hmm... We'll think about it," Sango promised, "This isn't something you can do on a whim."
"Lord Sesshomaru would never approve!" Jaken protested.
"Lord Sesshomaru isn't my father," Rin pointed out.
"You ungrateful brat! Lord Sesshomaru protected you when no one else would! How dare you disrespect his wishes!"
"I don't see why he would oppose me training to be a demon slayer," Rin said, "I could protect myself."
"Lord Sesshomaru is a ruler of demons! Slayers like her are our sworn enemies!" Jaken pointed at Sango.
"I'm not doing it to kill demons," Rin said, "I'm doing it change demons and humans."
"Rin, you may end up killing more demons than you think," Sango warned, "You'll never see demons or humans the same way again."
"Sango, I don't see humans and demons the same way as other humans already," Rin smiled.
"Lord Sesshomaru will kill me if you are harmed! Forget I said anything!" Jaken said.
"Too late, Jaken," Rin said, "I've made up my mind!"
"Well..." Sango crossed her arms, "If you're that determined... We'll start in the morning. Dawn. Don't expect an easy day."
"What have I done?" Jaken asked himself as Rin nodded.
…
Rin slashed the air with her sword. The blade hit metal with a clang as a long, magnificent sword met hers.
"Lord Sesshomaru," Rin's eyes went wide as she met his glance.
"You aren't aware of your surroundings," Sesshomaru withdrew his blade.
"I guess not," Rin laughed.
"Your feet are too far apart," he noticed, "And your stance is poor. The demon slayer has not corrected this?"
"Sango doesn't know I'm practicing," Rin said softly.
"If you wish to become proficient, do not attempt to learn without proper training," Sesshomaru sheathed his sword, "Perfect your archery if you wish to train alone."
"I just thought I could impress her if I could handle a sword."
"If you have such a poor grasp of this art before you are trained, these habits will ingrain themselves in your reflexes. It will be more troublesome for the slayer to correct you than to build your skills from nothing."
Sighing, Rin sheathed the sword and sunk to the ground.
"Jaken spoke of your intent to become a demon slayer," Sesshomaru said.
"Is that alright?" Rin asked with a smile.
"You do not need my approval. As you have said, I am not your guardian," Sesshomaru replied, his voice slightly grating.
"Master Jaken is quite the gossip," Rin's face fell, "I didn't mean that I was ungrateful for all the help you've given me, Lord Sesshomaru. I'll always be grateful for everything you've done for me. You rescued me from Hell itself and I won't forget it."
"You've grown, Rin. It is time for you to choose your own path."
"Do you think it's a good idea, though? I still value your opinion."
"It is a difficult path you pursue."
"Do you think it can be done?"
"Success may never come, Rin," he looked at her with grave eyes, "Demons and humans are far more different than you realize. Demons have no wish to lower themselves to the level of humans. We will never see humans as equal."
"We? So, you don't think I can do it?"
"I do not believe that your intentions will be completely unfruitful. But they will not affect the ancient and pure-blooded tribes."
"And what if they can?" Rin rose to face him.
"Then that day will be a turning point in history," Sesshomaru began to walk away, "I'll be watching you, Rin. We will see how far you can go with your willpower."
"I'll make a dent in that demon pride!" Rin promised him, "I'll make you admit it someday, Lord Sesshomaru! There's a chance that demons and humans can live in peace!"
…
-Six Years Later-
Twirling a leaf in her hand, Rin looked at the surface of the lake. The water sparkled with the sun falling directly on its surface. Wind blew across her face, causing the strands of her braided hair to sway. Under the heat of the sun, her body began to perspire. She shifted her weight from on leg to another as her legs cramped up.
Suddenly, the water's surface began to stir. Dropping the leaf, Rin drew and arrow from her quiver. With the arrow ready to load, she hunched behind a bush. A drop of sweat rolled down her neck and onto the demon leather of her demon slayer armor.
Suddenly, the silver scaled water serpent leaped from the lake, water droplets splashing everywhere. His red eyes looked around. Slowly, Rin loaded her bow. She took a deliberate second and aimed at the flesh beneath the mouth. Then she let the arrow loose.
It hit the mark, making the serpent roar in pain. His eyes fell onto her bush. He opened his mouth, a great blast of steam emerging.
Quick on her feet, Rin ran from the bush. The plants melted at the touch of the steam. A whiff of the aroma made Rin reach for her mask. She secured it over her mouth and nose before breathing in the noxious fumes of the demon's breath.
The beast spotted her. Another blast came at her. Rin leaped up into the air. On her decent, she fire another arrow at the serpent. This caused him to roar even more furiously than before.
Suddenly, the scales on his body began to shift. They transformed into sharp spears. He turned, throwing his body at her. As he did, the spears launched in all directions.
One hit her in the stomach. The red, leather cuirass over her armor took the worst of the blow. She only felt a slight prick from the pointed end of the scale.
"Foolish human!" the serpent shouted, "You dare attack me in my domain?"
Rin responded by shooting another arrow at him.
The beast roared again. He launched his body at her. Rin backed up. He hit the shore, putting an indent in the land. Again, she shot at his neck. The demon grumbled. She backed up further.
"You cannot escape!" the serpent declared.
With her arrow ready to load, Rin began to run for the trees.
The air began to shift. The sheer power of the demonic aura seemed to shrink. Glancing over her shoulder, Rin noticed the serpent transforming into a humanoid. His armor made from silver scales, his hair as white as snow, and his eyes blood red with bloodlust. He ran after her.
"You cannot outrun a demon!" he declared.
Throwing a poison pellet at the demon, Rin ducked behind a tree trunk. Heart pounding, she waited as the demon flailed to get the poison out of his eyes. Hunched down to avoid his sight, she began to creep away.
Then he appeared before her. Rin looked up into his glowing red eyes.
"Mercy," she pleaded.
His eyes narrowed in disgust.
The demon extended his hand. The scales from his armor shifted over his arm to his hand. They formed a makeshift blade. She moved to thrust it at her head.
Rin grabbed the spear at the base of a bush and thrust it into the demon's neck. He coughed blood up. Rin pressed forward, pushing the spear further in.
"Wench!" the demon cursed, "I am a daiyokai. I cannot be bested by a human woman!"
Drawing her sword, Rin slashed into his neck. The cut hacked part of his neck off. It took two more hacks to remove the demon's head.
"I curse-" the head began to speak.
Rin stuck a sutra on his mouth before he could finish the curse.
"Well done, Rin!" a voice said from the trees.
"Master Jaken, what are you doing here?" she asked.
"Did you really believe Lord Sesshomaru would let you go fight a daiyokai on your own?" he asked.
A rock found its way to the back of Jaken's head. The toad fell to the ground.
"What did I do?" the toad asked.
"You were not supposed to alert her to our presence," Sesshomaru appeared from the trees.
"The idea was that I would beat this demon on my own," Rin looked at the fallen serpent, "I was supposed to be afraid for my life. With Lord Sesshomaru around, I end up relaxing too much."
"Which is why we were not to be seen... oh!" Jaken comprehended.
Sesshomaru knelt to inspect the serpent.
"He's not dead," Sesshomaru said, "Paralysis poison."
"The scales would be useless if his life force expired before his scales were made into a weapon," Rin explained.
"You intend to wield a demonic weapon?" Sesshomaru looked at her in mild surprise.
"You foolish girl, the demonic aura would destroy your soul before you could even hold a weapon made from a demon such as this," Jaken said.
"Totosai is going to forge the weapon. Then Kagome is going to purify the aura," Rin said, "Honestly, Master Jaken, you treat me like an amateur. I've been a demon slayer since I was fourteen."
"Six years is hardly master status," Jaken shot back.
"What I would give for a set of beads of subjugation," Rin said, "Now I just have to lug this body back to Totosai before the poison wears off."
She put her fingers in her mouth and whistled. Ah-Uh came from the forest and flew towards her. Sesshomaru heaved the body of the demon and loaded it onto Ah-Un's back. Rin picked up the head, the pupil's of his eyes dilating as he beheld Sesshomaru at her side.
"Amazing what their reaction is when they see you, Lord Sesshomaru," Rin sat on Ah-Un's back, "Thank you for your help."
…
"Hmm..." Totosai looked over the dragon scales, "You took this demon down by yourself, you say?"
"She did," Jaken said.
"I did," Rin affirmed, "It's my poison, isn't it?"
"Sesshomaru, you might want to make sure you never make her angry," Totosai said, "You may end up like this fish here."
Sesshomaru let out a scoff.
"Now, to return him to his true form," Totosai looked over the body.
He nodded to himself and pounded the neck with a hammer. The body exploded and transformed into a serpent that stretched far over the lava fields. Totosai took a clamp and hammer and started to pound scales off.
"I've got what I need," Totosai said to Rin a few hours later, "you can kill him now."
Rin stuck her spear in the demon's head. His eyes went from red to black.
"How ruthless," Jaken admired.
"He was causing trouble for the village nearby. Inuyasha would have had to kill him anyway," Rin explained, "I don't relish taking life, Master Jaken."
"That's where you and Lord Sesshomaru differ," Jaken said.
"You're supposed to have compassion for life, Sesshomaru," Totosai looked over a scale, "I'll be done in about a week."
Rin nodded. She loaded the demon head onto Ah-Uh. Miroku would purify the head so that the aura caused no trouble from beyond the grave.
…
"She was supposed to go by herself, you know," Inuyasha said to Sesshomaru as they landed in the village.
"Lord Sesshomaru doesn't have to explain himself to you!" Jaken shouted.
"She did not know I was nearby," Sesshomaru said.
"That doesn't matter! She can't become independent if you keep hovering over her!"
"Lord Sesshomaru will do as he pleases!" Jaken argued.
"It's like you don't have faith in her," Inuyasha said cruelly.
"I have every confidence in Rin's ability," Sesshomaru replied.
"Then why'd you follow her?"
"I wished to witness the fight, I had no intention of interfering."
"Easy for you to say now. But it had gone wrong, you would have rushed in and-"
"Enough!" Rin stood between them, "I'm twenty years old. I don't need to be nursemaid by a stubborn demon. Inuyasha, Lord Sesshomaru knows what the exercise was meant for. And I have faith that he would have stayed out of it. That being said," she looked at Sesshomaru, "I have preferred that you hadn't followed me this one time. Ah-Un was nearby and would have come if I signaled."
"Be glad you don't have one of these around your neck," Inuyasha pointed to his beads, "She's acting more like Kagome every day."
"I am not so idiotic as to-" Sesshomaru started to say.
"I give up," Rin sighed.
…
Soaking in the large tub inside Sango and Miroku's manner, Rin stretched and let the steam carry away her stress.
"Mind if we join you?" Kagome opened the door.
"Nope," Rin smiled.
Sango and Kagome each stripped and sunk into the steaming water.
"Congratulations on your first solo kill," Sango said, "You did well if Jaken's tale isn't exaggerated."
"Did I fight more than one demon?" Rin asked.
"No, but it was the size of a mountain," Kagome joked.
"Despite whatever differences you have, that imp is fond of you," Sango said.
"He might be laying the praise on a bit thick," Rin said, "He does that."
"Especially about Big Brother," Kagome said.
"Well, that's Lord Sesshomaru. You can't exaggerate praise for him."
"You might be the first human who's ever lectured him and gotten away with it," Kagome laughed.
"I couldn't help it," Rin turned red, "I wanted to fight on my own. He knew that."
"He understands," Kagome said, "So, how did the fight go?"
…
"Do you think they're having fun in there?" Miroku asked Inuyasha.
"They're just talking," Inuyasha replied.
Both of them sat in the main room of the house. Miroku sat at a table, scrolls laid out before him. Opposite him, Akito read the lines of the text, a brush in hand over his own paper. Inuyasha laid on the floor, yawning.
"Perhaps we should join the women," Miroku suggested.
"You're not getting anywhere near my wife, you pervert," Inuyasha snarled.
"I gave up those habits long ago."
"Better to be not tempted. And don't teach any of those weird habits to my son."
"Akito, have I ever taught you anything but the purest of lessons?" Miroku asked the young boy.
"You promised to tell me the 'interesting' stories about yourself when I was older," Akito replied.
"Ho ho," Inuyasha's eyes narrowed, "Bet Sango would be fascinated by that."
"I mean the stories that were more gory than what Akito is used to," Miroku clarified.
"Come on, my kid ain't afraid of anything."
"I'm afraid of Mom," Akito replied.
"Yeah... well," Inuyasha grunted.
"You will be a very wise man when you are older," Miroku praised.
Inuyasha's ear's twitched.
"Oh..." Inuyasha sneered, "Now that's getting interesting."
"What?" Miroku asked raptly.
"They're comparing notes..."
"About what?" Miroku leaned forward.
"On cooking recipes," he snorted, "You pervert."
"How disappointing," he sighed.
"One, they know better than to talk about that stuff when I'm in earshot. Two, they wouldn't. Three, I wouldn't tell you if they did. Four, I'm not gonna talk about that stuff in front of my kid."
"Yet you tell him stories of bloodshed."
"You gotta problem with it?"
"I believe Akito is fortunate to have a mentor such as myself to give him a wholesome education."
"Wholesome? You're teaching him how to con people with fake charms."
"The charms are real, Father. The demons being 'exorcised' are not," Akito replied.
"You're not actually taking him to con people?" Inuyasha asked.
"Of course not," Miroku replied
"Sango got angry when she caught us," Akito added.
"Not as angry as I'm gonna get if you keep it up, Monk," Inuyasha said, "It's not too late to find a different monk to teach Akito."
"Yes, but what other monk would teach a forth-demon?"
"These two are at it again," Sango said.
"How is Akito supposed to study if you two keep talking?" Kagome asked.
"I tune it out," Akito replied.
"Whatcha doing?" Kagome looked over her son's shoulder.
"A Chinese sutra," Akito showed her.
"Look at that, my son's learning sutras from the mainland," Kagome smiled.
"He is quite skilled," Miroku said, "Hard to believe, given the intelligence of his father."
"Or the strangeness of his mentor," Inuyasha replied.
…
"Get over here!" Inuyasha shouted.
He ran after a young fox demon, who now stood up to Inuyasha's shoulder. Shippo disappeared in a puff of smoke. Inuyasha's eyes darted around, his nose sniffing for the young fox.
Within the stable, Rin scrubbed Ah-Un's scales. She spotted a furry tale hiding under Ah-Un's tail. Shippo brought his finger to his lips, signaling Rin to be silent.
"You seen that fox?" Inuyasha asked.
"Um... I thought I saw him go for the forest," she replied.
"You're not trying to cover up for him, are you?" Inuyasha sniffed.
"What did he do?" Rin asked as Inuyasha looked around the building.
"Dug into something he wasn't supposed to," Inuyasha replied, "I'm gonna teach that kid a lesson."
Shippo flinched. Ah-Un grunted, and flicked his tail. The fox demon flew at Inuyasha.
"There you are," Inuyasha pounded his fist in his hand.
"It was an accident!" Shippo said.
"You 'borrowed' it for three days," Inuyasha replied, "It wasn't an accident."
"Inuyasha!" Kagome shouted behind him, "Beating up Shippo won't change anything! He's already said he's sorry!"
"It ain't enough," Inuyasha grabbed Shippo by the scruff of the neck.
"Stink powder!" Shippo shouted.
A smoke bomb full of poison exploded in Inuyasha's face. The half-demon fell over.
"Shippo, you," he said, his eyes out of focus.
Both of Ah-Un's heads turned away from the smell. Rin lead him outside to let the air clear from the stable.
"Never a boring day," Rin petted one of the head's necks.
Ah-Un grunted in agreement.
As Rin brushed his mains, Ah-Un's heads looked up at the sky. From the clouds appeared an old demon on a cow. He landed near Rin, a finger digging in his ear.
"Totosai!" she greeted.
He took a silver pole made from the silver scales of the demon and handed it to her. Rin held the weapon in her hands, feeling the cold aura of the demon the scales had come from.
"Is that it?" Inuyasha asked, "Doesn't look like much to me."
Totosai whacked Inuyasha on the head with his mallet.
"Hey, watch it, old man!" Inuyasha shouted.
"You'll understand when she uses it," Totosai said, "The Shifuto Yari, the Shifting Spear."
"Thank you Totosai," Rin nodded.
"It better be good," Inuyasha said, "She worked for half a year to earn that fee of yours."
"Hmp! It'll prove itself. Speaking of my weapons, when was the last time you maintained your sword?"
"Umm... Sometime," Inuyasha shrugged.
Totosai sighed.
"Hand it over," he held his hand out.
Inuyasha handed the sword to Totosai. The demon smith looked over the blade, frowning.
"You've practically starved it!" he said, "Don't you ever use demon oils?!"
"How often are you supposed to do that again?" Inuyasha asked.
…
Miroku and Kagome held their hands over the Shifting Spear, purifying the remains of the demon serpent's aura. Once they were satisfied, Rin picked up her weapon.
With a mere thought, the weapon stretched out. A blade sprouted on the end like a blooming flower. Slashing the air, Rin found that the spear had a far better balance than any other she had held. She thrust the weapon forward, finding it light lighter than she was used to.
With another thought, the spear retracted into a pole about the length of her forearm. Attaching a leather strap to the ends, she was able to sling it behind her back.
"Just the weapon for traveling," Rin said.
"Portable and sleek. Nice choice," Kagome held her thumb up.
Both of them laughed.
"Kagome, tell Akito that he can take the day off from studying," Miroku stretched, "Purifying that aura took it out of me."
…
Six years went by instantly for a demon. What were six years when one lived centuries? Yet everything seemed to change all around him.
Rin's growth alone astounded him. Not just her height and physical changes. Her thin childish body had developed into the curves of a woman. She gave up the ponytail she wore at the side of her head for a braid down her back. Instead of a yukata, she customarily wore demon slayer armor.
He watched her dodge Hiraikotsu as it was thrown at her. Rin ducked below the boomerang's path. As the demon bone made a return trip, Rin leaped into the air with a reflexes of a seasoned demon slayer. Sango caught Hiraikotsu, running along the edge of the tree line to ram Rin with the bone's pointed end. Landing on her feet, Rin stood her ground. She held out the Shifting Spear in front of her and blocked the Hiraikotsu with the staff of the weapon. With Hiraikotsu blocked, Rin slid the spear under the bone and kicked Sango's heel.
Sesshomaru's eyebrow flinched.
Sango drove her weight over Hiraikotsu and pinned Rin to the ground. With her sword drawn, she thrust the blade into the ground next to Rin's head.
"You're dead," Sango said, "Letting me have leverage was a huge mistake."
Getting up, Sango helped Rin to her feet.
"You'd think she'd learn by now," Jaken said to Sesshomaru.
As he watched Rin's drills continue, a reptilian scent filled his nostrils. Behind him, he heard the flapping of wings. A male demon with pale skin and long, black hair landed on the ground behind Sesshomaru. He wore black western armor and carried an ornate Chinese sword with a silver dragon carved on the hilt. A silver medallion around his neck had a lung dragon painted onto it.
"Dracon," Sesshomaru said, facing the dragon demon.
"Sesshomaru, I have been searching this land for three days. I never expected you to be here, in a den of humans."
Dracon's eyes fell onto Rin, who blocked a strike from Sango's sword.
"That girl... Are the rumors true? You're following in the footsteps of your father?" Dracon asked sharply.
"I will do no such thing," Sesshomaru said as the wind blew his hair behind him, "The girl's connection to me is none of your concern."
"Very well," Dracon nodded, "But, if you were to show any interest in a human woman, I would have to intervene. Your lands cannot afford to be ruled by a second generation of half-demon breeders."
"Lord Sesshomaru would never consider it!" Jaken came to his lord's defense.
For once, Sesshomaru allowed the imp to prattle on about Sesshomaru's pride as a demon.
"I've heard enough, imp," Dracon said after several moments of Jaken's blind praise, "I didn't come here because of some idle rumors. Though I am relieved."
"What you here for?" Sesshomaru inquired.
"There are reports from the western continents. Faust and Dracula have been a war with a group of marauders in Europe."
"This is no concern."
War between demons and humans was commonplace. A reality Rin still refused to grasp...
"This isn't like other groups," Dracon said, "This group is targeting demons. Systematically and without mercy. This isn't some mild dispute over a few lost humans or some greedy land grabbers. This is a full demon hunt."
"Demon hunt?" Sesshomaru's interest piqued.
"They're headed towards the Asian continents. At alarming speed. Recently, Faust and Dracula have been forced into hiding."
"Hiding? Why would two demon lords hide?" Jaken demanded, "From humans of all things?!"
"If but they were humans," Dracon sighed.
"Other demons?" Sesshomaru asked.
"No. Their leaders are far more than that..." Dracon's face twisted, "They have the Golden Dragon on their side."
Sesshomaru's eyes widened for a mere second.
"The Golden Dragon?" Jaken asked, "Wasn't he an ally of your father's?"
"A powerful divine beast," Dracon explained, "My wife's grandfather. He has turned his claws against her by attacking my ambassadors in Europe."
"How long before they reach your lands?" Sesshomaru asked.
"It may be several months before they reach the eastern shore of the mainland. And if they penetrate our territory-"
"They will come here," Sesshomaru nodded, "We must stop them at the border of your domain."
"My thoughts exactly. Bakusaiga is a welcome addition to our fight, as well as any troops you bring."
"My lord, if you take all the troops, the Western Lands will be without defense," Jaken pointed out.
"I will return to Yambiro and see to the preparation of the army," Sesshomaru said, "Then I will meet you in the Dragon Capitol."
"It's time to put your combat skills to the test, young lord," Dracon flew into the air, "I look forward to the upcoming battle."
Sesshomaru let a small smile grace his lips. He too yearned for a battle, even with the impeding threat.
"Let's go, Jaken," Sesshomaru said.
"Won't you tell Rin?" Jaken asked.
Sesshomaru glanced at the human woman practicing her swordsmanship. As he took to the skies, she did not look up to watch him leave.
…
Rin felt the shift in the air almost immediately as the dragon demon landed. Then he took off after speaking to Sesshomaru. Out of the corner of her eye, Rin watched Sesshomaru take off into the skies without a word.
"Alright, enough for today," Sango said.
"Good work, you two," Kagome came with bottles of water, "Where's Big Brother?"
"Sesshomaru took off," Inuyasha said from his resting place in a tree branch.
"What was he talking to that dragon demon about?" Rin asked.
"Some humans and something called a golden dragon are causing trouble in the western continents. He's taking an army to fight them."
"An army? He's going to war?" Kagome asked.
"Doesn't bother me. Keeps him away from here," Inuyasha yawned.
Rin felt a prick on her neck. She swatted at the sensation, finding a certain flea falling from her neck.
"Hey Myoga," Kagome said.
"Master Inuyasha, did I hear you say the Golden Dragon was fighting Lord Sesshomaru?!" the flea asked.
"Yeah."
"Oh..." the flea's face became etched in worry, "This is not good. Who was the dragon demon he spoke to?"
"Dracon."
"Lord Dracon?! The Lord Dracon?!"
"Who's Lord Dracon?" Kagome asked.
"I've heard he's the ruler of the demons on the mainland," Sango said, "His territory is supposed to be far larger than Sesshomaru's."
"It is... Many, many times larger," Myoga said, "But my master did not conquer for conquest's sake as Dracon did. He conquered for the peace and prosperity of his demon kin. But for Dracon to call on Sesshomaru for aid... things must be bad... Master Inuyasha, we must go to Yambiro."
"Huh?" Inuyasha scowled at him, "Why would I go there?!"
"It's your duty as the Dog General's second son! This is a time of impending crisis! We must know the full situation!"
"Don't see how it involves me, old flea."
"If Lord Sesshomaru perishes, you are the next in line for the title of Lord of the Western Lands!"
"Sesshomaru won't die. And I don't want the title."
"But if he should perish, all the clansmen in your tribe will begin to fight over the succession! And they will come after you and Master Akito!"
"Don't care," Inuyasha shrugged.
"Inuyasha! Sit!" Kagome commanded.
The beads of subjugation pulled him down to the ground.
"What the hell, Kagome!" he groused.
"We're going! Your brother needs you!" Kagome said, "And this is Akito's life we're talking about!"
"Fine," Inuyasha got up.
"Do you mind if I went with you?" Rin asked.
"Of course you're coming," Inuyasha said, "If we're going into a demon city, we'll need all the fighters we can get."
"A demon city?" Kagome asked.
"Yeah. What kind of city did ya think my brother lived in?"
"I think Miroku and I should come too," Sango said.
"No," Inuyasha replied, "Someone's got to stay and protect the village. I don't want those Ravens and Bears to get the idea they can attack all of a sudden because I'm not here. And don't you have kids to protect?"
"Good point," Sango nodded, "You'll just have to make due with one demon slayer."
"We're leaving right away," Inuyasha said, "So, Myoga, which way are we headed?"
"West."
