Disclaimer - Inuyasha and all characters associated to that intellectual property belong to Rumiko Takahashi and Viz. This story, including all places, people, or objects, is written for non-profit entertainment purposes only.

The miko had to die. It was the only answer.

Sesshoumaru sat on a moss laden bolder that overlooked a rocky hillside, one knee bent with which to lay his arm across. A few days had passed since the incident with his brother, when he was so very close to having Tessaiga once and for all. Sesshoumaru had been visited by a peculiar being before then, a one Naraku, who covered himself in a ridiculous, and yet decidedly disturbing, baboon skin. But this Sesshoumaru knew better than to judge a character by his external appearance. Naraku promptly offered to him a new arm – a human arm – embedded with a sacred jewel, explaining that because the arm was human, he would be able to wield Tessaiga against his brother, as it should be.

Sesshoumaru most definitely had the upper hand when he arrived to meet his annoying hanyou brother after being given the new arm, but in the end it was that miko wench who, once again, managed to surprise the living hell out of him and almost cause him a narrow defeat. This time around, she had a weapon – a bow. And dared to fire it at him. More than once.

Interference. It seemed to be a reoccurring theme with her, one in which he found both peculiar and highly irritating. The first time she had interfered in matters involving himself and Inuyasha, when they waged battle at his father's final resting place, he had lost his arm because she aided the hanyou in claiming Tessaiga. There was no doubt in his mind that she was the obstacle now, and the only thing he regretted was being too dense, too overconfident to see it before.

He would not repeat his mistakes.

Of course, after thinking it over, Sesshoumaru came to the conclusion that he did not actually need a sword like Tessaiga when his power easily surpassed the weapon. It was nothing more than a toy compared to his own raw power, and he wondered if part of the reason why their father chose Inuyasha to wield the Tessaiga was to bring the hanyou to a level of strength closer to his own, so that his power level would be a bit more parallel to his brother's.

No matter the case, he did not care. Not anymore.

His thoughts wondered back to the girl, as they seemed to have been doing of their own accord for the past few days. His decision to end her life was not one brought on by revenge, nor was it anything close to hatred. True, he despised her, but that was only for the most obvious of reasons – she was human, and on top of that, his half brother's companion. But he could not hate her. He could not hate someone who continued to surprise him at every turn. He had to admit it. The disgusting human was so much more than what she let on – perhaps even more than what she her self could ever realize.

Silently, the taiyoukai stood from his spot on the boulder, amber-gold eyes glaring down at the sleeping toad youkai expectantly. "Jaken."

In a tumble of little arms and legs, Jaken woke immediately and lowered his head all the way to the ground in a deep bow. "Forgive me, Sesshoumaru-Sama! I only meant to wait for you until you were ready to leave this area!" he cried, delving into explanations as though they were the only thing keeping him alive and breathing. "If you are ready to go, I would be more than happy to… Sesshoumaru-Sama?"

The toad youkai chanced a peek up, then cried out in a panic at the sight of the Lord of the Western Lands walking steadily further and further away from him. He scuttled to his feet, the Staff of Two Heads firmly in his little grip, and hurried to catch up.

- Posted on livejournal for the Damsel in Distress Challenge at dokuga(underscore)contest. Prompt : Dense