Sesshomaru stood silently watching the sky. Massive thunder heads on the horizon only seemed to darken his troubled thoughts.'How have you let this disgrace, this unprecedented display of weakness befall a pawn you'Sesshomaru thought. disgusted by the fact the is one and only friend, Who also happened to be the only person other than his father to best him in battle, had fallen so low as to be sealed within a mortal. It was unheard of, yet she had asked his for his help and he would help her even if it was only to repay a debt. "Zetsumei" Sesshomaru growled "You had better be miserable, Asking me to help. Hn." If a person were to look close enough you could see a slight frown almost invisible on the Demon Lord's stoic mask before he turned to the west to prepare his household.

Landing in the court yard Sesshomaru shifted his head ever so slightly before speaking his orders.

"Jaken, prepare Rin we are leaving." Sesshomaru stated sounding as if he could care ether way.

"Of corse my Lord, my I incline as to were it is that we are going?" Jaken stated paying close attention to his lords posture. To the normal person the Demon Lord looked as stoic as ever but to Jaken; Who could proudly clam over a hundred and seventy years of loyal service to his Lord and master, somthing was amiss somthing not right but he could not for the life of him place it.

Sesshomaru not wanting to answer, so he remained silent.

"Or how long we will be gone?" at a squinting of the eyes of his master and the sudden pressure of condensed youkai around him had him running to do his duty very quickly.

'She would owe him for this he decided realizing that at least from the letter he would be spending a lot more time around mortals though they were supposedly strong. He would find out if they were strong and pray to the Kami's above that the weak stayed out of his way.

Sesshomaru turned to see perhaps the only person in the last seven hundred years to make him smile a genuinely happy smile.

Rin ran down the front lawn of the House of the Moon to meet her Lord and sometimes in private her father. though she knew better then to say that out loud outside of closed doors.

"Sesshomaru-sama" Rin shouted happily though not to loud to hurt his sensitive ears. "Are we going on an adventure?" Rin squealed delightedly at the thought. At his curt nod she ran off to fetch Ah-Un and meet Jaken before departing.

For the life of him he could not figure out why he was doing this. No he knew why he just didn't want to admit that he knew that if he didn't help her she would beat him into a bloody pulp just to rub it in his face. Shaken by a small voice Sesshomaru realized he had been growling though minutely the uncharacteristic behaver had drawn the attention of is charge. She did not speak only looked not mad, not sad, just curious as to what could make her invincible Lord to faultier.

With one last look down at Rin Sesshomaru gathered his youkai cloud and began to ascend to the north west. It would be a long trip plus it was over the ocean. He had personally done it only twice and both times was in his light form. Even with the his amazing speed of it it had still taken three days. Sesshomaru knew Ah-Un was fast but he suspected that the beast could do it in about a week.

As the party made there way over the mountains Rin's gasp could be heard as she first took in the ocean for the first time.

"Does it go on forever?" Rin asked Sesshomaru softly knowing that he would hear her perfectly.

"No Rin." Sesshomaru stated then an idea came to him. "Rin come here" He ordered and smiled in side as she came to him with nothing but trust in her eyes.

"Jaken you and Ah-Un fly directly north until you hit land find me when you do." Turning around he stepped next to Rin and told her to hold onto his waist tightly as he rapped his left arm under her arms. The next step was the hard part this would be the farthest sprint of his life though he knew he would make it. Rapping his sleeve around Rin's face he took one step and vanished leaving only a small cloud of dust were he previously stood. (Think Bleach ep. 56 Rukia's brothers exit after fighting Ichigo.) Running at this speed kept him above the water but he was pleased to see he was still moving way faster than the last time he had made this trip.

Flashback

"Zetsumei, why are we here?" asked a just turned seventy five Sesshomaru looking no older than thirteen. "You said you could beat me in a race you never said how long of one or where for that matter. So I challenge you Sesshomaru heir to the Western Throne and House of the Moon to a race. That race will be to the main land and back. Do you except Sesshomaru. She said all of this staring him straight in the eye daring him to back down. He didn't "I accept." Thought you didn't specify how we could travel. At this Zetsumei's smirk grew to a murderous gleam remember Sesshomaru if you loose you will be my servient for a year and vise versa. "Three, two, one, GO!, Zetsumei shouted as she watched Sesshomaru take his energy ball form and take off to the north. When Sesshomaru reached the main land three days later to a tanning Zetsumei on a beach. He was fuming how did she beat him hear he head push everything into his speed and it had still taken him three days how had she done it. "How." it wasn't a question it was a demand and Zetsumei giggled as she wave her hand in front of her. Sesshomaru was furious he, Sesshomaru Zetsumei's slave for a year. it was humiliating yet his honor would not alow him to go back on his word Zetsumei-Sama how may i be of service to you Sesshomaru said bowing yet not his body had barely moved.

"Shut up, Sit Down, and relax its a year in the tropics for us and as for my slave you can just stay here with me I will nullify are agreement. Seeing no issues with that Sesshomaru "Hn'ed" and walked back under the cover of the trees. little did he now it would be the most memorable year of his life.

End Flashback

Sesshomaru land on the beach he had first arrived upon all those years ago. Slowly lifting up his sleeve to see a sleeping Rin in his arm. It had been ruffly a day since they had left and had another days walk to Zetsumei's home. There in the basement was portal according to Zetsumei the last time he was here she had said somthing about it going to a world were humans no long wear weak but some were extremely powerful for humans. Or as she would most often times called them, chew toys. He never really did under stand that one but whatever floats her tails. he thought as he slowly watched Rin stir awake.

"Lord Sesshomaru?" questioned Rin as she blinked the sleep from her eyes.

Sesshomaru started walking after setting her down on her feet. Forcing rin to jog to catch up. Upon reaching Zetsumei's house it had looked like it had been abandoned only further proving his hunch that she was in the other realm and not this one. Rin Gave him a questioning glance only to follow im around the back to a hide stairway that looked to be going to a dungeon. Sesshomaru let his poison melt a section of wall to notify Jaken of his whereabouts. At the bottom of the stairs there was a single door and what lay beyond it Sesshomaru did not know. but he would find out. Reaching out he moved Rin behind him and opened the door.

Sesshomaru seemed to be in a small hut by a beach. H could sense faint traces of Zetsumei here but they were old it was hard. How long did it take her to get that scroll to me i wonder? Sesshomaru thought as he allowed rin to run out on the beach he did not Sense and demon in the area or any thing else for that matter so he thought it would be ok for Rin to lay for a bit before starting there search.

It had been a week and Sesshomaru had realized that he was on a small island thought he could see the mainland and that there was one main village here. If he was right witch he always was Ah-Un and Jaken would arrive today and the could start there search for Zetsumei. Sesshomaru had been unexplainable uncomfortable all morning, he had a bad feeling and it wasn't going away.

There was a sudden youkai spike on the other side of th island put Sesshomaru on high alert he knew who that was. 'Why is it so weak' he wondered as he walked out side.

"Rin, go inside and what for Jaken." at that he took to the air and went to the west side of the island.

From the air Sesshomaru saw a thick fog covering most of the bridge but what caught his attention was the astral projection of Zetsumei's head in true form raging inside of a dome of ice.

Acting quickly he flashed into the dome and grabbing he boy and his companion and throwing them from the dome. All Haku saw was the flash of a sword and soft spoken voice before all went black then nothing.

Sesshomaru raised his sword "Dragon Strike" He watch disappointedly as the dome and the ningen's presence vanished "Weak" was all he said as he tured around to see the blond haired boy looking up at him in fear.

"Ningen what is your name. I do not repeat my self. Sesshomaru demanded

"I.. I.Im Naruto. Who are you?"

Grinding his teeth trying not to kill this child before he could save Zetsumei from him would be pointless.

"I am Lord Sesshomaru you will call me as such or face the consciences." Sesshomaru said deathly calm.

Naruto gulped and nodded then asked "Why are you here, Lord Sesshomaru?"