Chapter 4

Sesshoumaru had been patrolling his lands when again he found dead wolves. Piles of them along the border to the east, white, brown and grey it would seem young and old were all killed. For the past month he'd been finding them, now it would seem whoever was killing them now was skinning the lower wolves. He didn't know what to make of it; he never found another scent other than the wolves.

It was beginning to worry him, if someone or something was targeting wolves would the wolves living in the west be next. He'd heard rumors the east was under attack by some unknown youkai. But strangely it was only the wolves – he stopped smelling something very familiar on a breeze.

Sesshoumaru was gone in a blink of an eye chasing the scent. Red streaked his eyes…

O_O

Earlier that day

InuYasha and the gang walked into the village to buy supplies and look for rumors about jewel shards. Questioning all they could lead them to the market place. Sango and InuYasha wander away from Miroku leaving him to look around. Miroku being himself eyed a woman's lush backside. The temptation was just too strong, grabbing the woman butt he waited for the usual slap he received. But this woman she reared up screamed and ran. Miroku gave chase apologizing until she ran behind a huge youkai.

"He he touched me," she sobbed. "In a place only you should he he—"the youkai snarled at Miroku he jerked back.

"I am cursed you see and I tried to apologize to your lady it wasn't –"

"You died now Monk" All eyes turned to Miroku and the youkai. InuYasha rushed to the scene and pulled his blade forgetting it hadn't transformed in months.

"You're not fucking killing anyone today asshole"

"What did you do this time Miroku?" Sango snapped preparing for the battle to come. Even the other human and youkai in the market place were moving out the way.

"Well you see my dearest Sango . . . my cursed hand –"before he could finish Sango turned and knocked him out.

"He's really very sorry sir. Sometimes the Monk take's leave of his senses. He meant nothing by it, he is very sorry for his foolish actions," everyone was tense and ready to fight until the tiny human woman stepped from behind the youkai male and touched his arm lightly.

"Maybe she is right my heart. The monk could be sick with devils of the mind. He'd have to be to do such a thing."

"hm, if you say so dearest," he looked softly at the woman, but turned to glare at Sango and InuYasha. "If he try's such a thing again I will kill him. Come dearest I've had enough of this place," he placed the woman on the back of a youkai horse and lead them away.

The three met up with Kikyo outside of the village to Miroku and Sango's displeasure.

"Did you find out anything?"

"Not even a fucking rumor," the group walked off Sango giving Miroku the cold shoulder every time he tried to explain his actions. But in the back of his mind he was thinking 'that woman there was something familiar about her as if I should know her'

O_O

Later that night

Kikyo felt something she hadn't in months, Kagome, she looked around the campsite and stood.

"Where are you going Kikyo?"

"For a walk"

"You want me to come with you?"

"No," she walked away from camp leaving a pouting InuYasha behind. She walked away from camp slowly and then broke into a run. She raced to the spot she felt Kagome should be and came face to face with Kanna.

"You," she hissed. "How are you still alive when your master is long dead?" Kanna didn't answer her only showed her reflection the mirror. Hearing a noise Kikyo shot an arrow to the left only to hit a tree. Hakudoshi appeared from the darken forest.

"She said you would come," he laughed another noise was heard from the right before Kikyo found her hand shattered to pieces.

"I didn't know you were so breakable," the laugh came again as the two small youkai vanished into the darkness of the forest. Kikyo turned and raced back to camp.

O_O

Miroku sighed for the hundredth time as he collected firewood. Sango was still mad at him.

"So you like touching what's not yours Monk?" a voice came from the darkness.

"Whose there?" Miroku whipped around dropping the firewood cursing the fact he had left everything back at camp.

"Did you think I would let you get away with it," he gasped as the youkai from the marketplace stepped into the clearing. He back away from the youkai trying to explain only to be struck from behind.

He woke sometimes later and found himself tied to a tree. The tugging at his throat alerted him to the silken thread around his throat. He followed the slivery thread and came eye to eye with..

He blinked a few times to make sure his mind wasn't playing tricks on him. It couldn't be not her..

"He must be sick with devils of the mind," she laughed pushing the skull up onto her head. "I was good wasn't I?"

"Kagome?" he whispered shocked.

"I am pleased you remember me Miroku. Sorry we don't have enough time to play"

"Pl—play? What are you talking about? Cut me down from here and we'll go back to Sango and InuYasha. Sango's been so worried about you Kagome," he finished in a gasp as she gave the thread another tug.

"He's coming," the male finally spoke with a smirk "Both of them"

"Good. Now the murder of my son will not go unpunished"

"Murd—"

"You killed my son you bastard. NOW DIE," she jerked her hand back with enough force the silken cord sliced through his neck, his head bounce off the tree and landed at his feet.

O_O

Now

Sesshoumaru entered the clearing watching the morbid scene, a woman covered in white wolf fur, with a wolf skull on her head moving about the body of the monk. The same monk that follows his idiot half-brother around. She was placing flowers and humming to herself. Her long white hair caught the breeze. He knew that scent. She turned and to his shock smiled at him while wiping blood from her face.

Before he could say a word a male youkai covered in grey wolf fur, with a wolf skull covering his face dropped down in front of Kagome growling at him. Claws ready.

"You will release the Miko from whatever spell you have cast on her," Sesshoumaru growled hand on his sword. If the bastard didn't release her, he would kill him and render the spell void. But the male only threw his head back and laughed.

"Did you hear him dearest … spell… no Western lord I have given her what you were too afraid to give," in a blink of an eye the two disappeared into the darkness of the night.

Seconds later Sango and InuYasha burst into the same clearing. Sango screamed and ran toward the body of Miroku. She dropped to her knees sobbing. InuYasha turned on Sesshoumaru the rusty blade in his hand.

"I fucking told them. I fucking knew it. I knew you would turn on us you fucking bastard," he snarled and dropped the blade leaping at his half-brother. Sesshoumaru dodge his attack.

"If you would use your poorly developed senses you would know this Sesshoumaru had no hand in this fool," he back-hand InuYasha as he jumped at him again. Sesshoumaru took one last look at the body of the monk and noticed not only had his head been removed but his heart had been torn out as well.

He knew his mind wasn't play tricks on him. That was the Miko, his Miko staring back at him from under that skull. It was her scent on the breeze, enticing him pulling him closer. He left as quickly as he came his mind awhirl with questions.