Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.

How does a cookie crumble?

Piece by piece.

O0O0OoO

Rotting, Rotten

Time went on.

Rin followed him everywhere and for the first time in a long time, Sesshomaru felt tranquil. There was something incredibly pure about the child, something so honest and humble that he found that he could not turn her away if he wanted to. She was easily delighted and unusually shrewd; cautious and perceptive and without airs.

Rin was terribly young, but she would never be weak, like other humans, because Sesshomaru protected her.

He vowed that he would never fail.

O0OoO0O

"You've grown powerful, dog," a silky voice mused.

Sesshomaru paused on the trail, and immediately stepped in front of Rin. The air in front of him distorted and warped and shimmered with a dense and dark aura, and the floating head of a male demon appeared. He had violet eyes, long black hair, thin lips curved into a malicious smirk, and –

He looked positively ravenous.

Rin whimpered. Sesshomaru shot her a cautionary glance. "You will not pass through here."

Naraku laughed. "Who will stop me?"

OoO0O0O

The rain poured, and the earth swallowed her whole.

Rin was terribly young, but she was never weak, like other humans, because Sesshomaru protected her.

Sesshomaru failed.

OoO0O0O

AN: Well, that's the end of another segment! Don't worry, all will be explained in the next one or two chapters. As it turns out, it looks as if this story will be slightly longer than intended, but that just means more drama, which is a plus! Oh, and Kagome will be making an entrance in the next chapter, promise. Feedback is appreciated!