(A/N: Hey howdy hey, what's happening ya'll? Hope you all had a good Christmas. I certainly did. Here's the next chapter, during which Naraku's newest incarnation will be revealed. Hope you like it.)

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter 7: Byakuya

He was getting tired of this useless searching. Where was the damn boy? He had to find him quickly; his own safety depended on it.

'Naraku is getting impatient.' He thought. 'I had better find him fast.'

His 'father' had been in a very bad mood lately, ever since Akago had died. His attitude only worsened when Kanna was unable to find the boy, whom Naraku said was called Kohaku.

According to his brother, Hakudōshi, this Kohaku was most likely with the dog-demon known as Sesshomaru. If not, then he was probably with the undead priestess, Kikyou, or Sesshomaru's half-brother, Inuyasha.

'Inuyasha.' He thought. 'You're the one that is causing my master so much aggravation. You and your mate, Kagome. I'll look forward to killing all of you. And I'll take my time and do it slowly.'

But first he had a demon slayer to kill and a jewel shard to recover.

'This is going to be fun.'

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"Lord Sesshomaru, can Rin go swimming?" the young girl asked. "Please."

Kagura held her fan over her eyes and looked up at the blazing sun. "A swim would feel good right now."

"I wouldn't mind a quick dip, milord." Said Jaken, agreeing with Rin and Kagura for once.

Even Ah-Un made a grunting noise in agreement.

Sesshomaru stopped walking. A nice bath did sound pleasant. "Very well, we will stay here for awhile."

"Yay!" cried Rin. "Come on, Kohaku!"

She ran towards the water and jumped in fully clothed, not caring if she got her garments wet. She stayed under for about 30 seconds before she came up laughing, her wet hair covering her face. She moved her dark locks aside and looked at the others still on dry land.

"Come in, everyone! The water feels nice!"

Kagura smirked. "I think I'll find my own spot to bathe." She glanced at the boy next to her. "But I'm sure Kohaku would like to play with you."

Kohaku blushed and looked at Kagura like she was crazy. "I would?"

She pushed him forward. "Yes, you would."

Realizing how close he was to the water, Rin splashed Kohaku. "There, you're wet now too! Come play with Rin!"

Kohaku was blushing madly. Kagura rolled her eyes. He was so shy. She decided to give him at little push. She let out a small puff of breath, which turned into a mighty gust of wind, blowing Kohaku into the water. He came up, spitting out a mouthful of water and gasping down air.

"Hey!" he shouted angrily.

Rin suddenly jumped on his back, laughing happily. "You're funny, Kohaku."

Kagura snickered. 'Well, it looks like my work here is done. Time for some rest and relaxation.'

Jaken eyed the retreating Kagura suspiciously. "What is she up to?"

Sesshomaru resisted the urge to sigh. "Jaken, you are blind." He said. He knew exactly what the wind-demon was doing, and he wasn't sure how he felt about it. He decided that he should have a talk with her. "Jaken, keep your eye on everyone."

Jaken groaned. "But I was hoping to go for a soak."

Sesshomaru gave him a look before kicking him right into the water.

"Soak all you want." He said, before heading in the direction Kagura had gone in.

Jaken floated to the surface, spitting out a stream of water. 'This isn't exactly what I had in mind.'

Sesshomaru continued to walk in Kagura's direction until he saw her clothes hanging over a tree branch. A moment later he saw her completely nude form sink into the water. Sesshomaru's heart sped up. It was really rare for someone to get his heart to start racing. A gasp even escaped his lips at the sight of her. Never had a woman ever made him react this way. His demon side demanded him to charge over to her now and take her right then and there, but his rational side kept him in check.

"You going to stand there all day?" Kagura asked. She was resting in the water with her back to him, leaning against a rock, but had known he was there. She had heard and smelled him. All of him; including his arousal. It made her smirk, knowing that she could get that type of reaction out of him.

With great difficulty, Sesshomaru turned away and went over to a nearby secluded area where he stripped and settled into the water. He took a deep breath, trying to maintain control. The sight of Kagura's naked backside was stirring up emotions and desires within him. True, he had seen her topless before when he had pulled her out of the river after she received a severe wound, but the situation had been too serious at the time to think about anything else, and he had also been considerate enough not to look at her chest.

But now, with just the two of them in this secluded area, she was doing things to him that was making it difficult to control himself. He closed his closed his eyes, willing away these thoughts and emotions. He decided to distract himself by having the conversation he had originaly come here to have with her.

"I know what you're trying to do?"

Kagura smiled. There were several things she was trying to do. "Whatever do you mean?" she asked innocently.

"You know what this Sesshomaru speaks of."

"Care to elaborate?"

"With Rin and Kohaku."

Kagura rolled her eyes. Of course, he was avoiding the situation going on between him and her. She could smell his arousal, and she knew he was trying to control himself. He didn't like not being in control.

'I wouldn't mind him controlling me.' She thought naughtily. "I am simply bringing them closer together. I think they make a cute couple."

"Rin is but a child."

Kagura snickered. "I'm not trying to get them to do anything like that. But you can't deny the fact that they like each other. And I don't mean only as friends." This made Sesshomaru growl, causing Kagura to snicker again. "I see that you're playing the role as the overprotective father. But trust me, Kohaku is one of the nicest people you'll ever meet. And he's very strong. He is fully capable of protecting her when necessary."

"This Sesshomaru is well aware of the boy's nature and abilities."

"Then what's the problem? Why does he not meet your approval?"

Sesshomaru paused as he tried to think of an answer. "Rin is young."

Kagura shrugged. "As is Kohaku. And I told you, I'm not trying to get them to be intimate or anything, at least not for a few more years. So what are you worried about? Are you afraid you're going to lose her?"

Sesshomaru didn't reply. Kagura smiled. "Ah, the fear all father's have of losing their daughter. Well first off, that won't happen for at least 9 years. Second of all, Rin is definitely the type of person to want a family of her own some day, as is Kohaku. The two of them are perfect for each other. There is no way you could ever stop that, and I think deep down that you intend to let her find a husband."

Sesshomaru closed his eyes. "Yes, some day." He agreed quietly.

"Third of all," Kagura continued, "when she does find someone to be with, you won't lose her, you'll gain a son-in-law." She paused, waiting for him to say something. "So, how do you feel now?"

Sesshomaru grumbled. "This Sesshomaru needs to think." He said.

"Throw it again, Master Jaken!" Rin cried.

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Jaken groaned, looking at the rock in his hand. Rin and Kohaku were playing this game where Jaken threw this rock, counted to 10, then Kohaku and Rin would try to get it from underwater first. Kohaku won mostly, being a faster and stronger swimming, but Rin won a few times, not counting the ones that Kohaku let her win.

"Fine, but this is the last time!" Jaken yelled for the 100th time.

He tossed the rock and counted. Rin quickly dove under to find it while Kohaku gave her a head start. He still ended up beating her.

"Throw it again, Master Jaken!"

"No more!" Jaken shouted. "I want some time to rest as well."

"Ok." Said Rin. She turned to Kohaku. "Hey Kohaku, lets see how far we can swim underwater before we need to come up for air."

Kohaku shrugged. "Sure."

"Rin will go first!"

She dove under and began swimming away. Kohaku watched in amusement as she got much farther than he had thought she would before finally surfacing.

"How'd Rin do?" she asked.

"Very good!" he called back.

"You're turn. And don't try and let Rin win again."

He turned red with embarrassment. 'So, she found me out.' "Ok, I won't." he said and dove under.

He managed to swim twice the distance she did, finally resurfacing several feet away from her spot. Once he surfaced, Rin paddled over to him, smiling.

"Wow, Kohaku, you went far!"

He blushed and smiled at her. "You went far too."

Rin smiled and sank under until her mouth was below the surface and she began blowing bubbles. Kohaku chuckled at her playfulness. He glanced back at the direction they had swam in and saw Jaken asleep.

"I think we wore Jaken out." He said.

Rin looked at the toad-demon and giggled. Then she noticed the sound of rushing water.

"Kohaku, you hear that?"

"Hmm? Hear what?

"This way."

He swam after her until they reached what had caught Rin's attention. This one area had a rock formation that made a natural waterslide.

"Ooh, this looks like fun!" Rin cried. "Let's ride it!"

Kohaku hesitated. "Rin, I don't think we should."

"Please."

She gave him that pleading look. How could he say no to that? He sighed in defeat. "Ok, you win."

"Yay! Rin goes first!"

"Fine, just watch out for rocks."

"Rin will!"

She went down the 'waterslide', squealing happily the whole way down. Kohaku waited until she was far enough ahead before he began to slide down it as well. It was very long, much longer than either of them thought. And at the end, there was a sudden drop into a larger and deeper body of water. The two splashed down into it and came up laughing.

"That was fun!" said Kohaku.

"Let's do it again!" cried Rin.

They swam to land and looked up at the rock structure they had slid down. It was much longer than they had expected. How far had they gone? Oh well, it didn't really matter. Once they found a way back up, they could just follow the running water back to Jaken.

"Kohaku, look." Said Rin, pointing to something in the sky. "Is that Lady Kagura?"

He put his hand above over his head to shade his eyes from the light as he looked at what Rin was pointing at. At first he thought it was Kagura, but quickly changed his mind as whoever or whatever it was got closer.

"Rin, we've got to-"

Rin never found out what they had to do, because whatever it was they had spotted had suddenly swooped down at them, nearly crashing into them. He stopped a short distance away and turned to face them. Whoever they were, they were riding an origami paper crane, which he was using to fly. He hopped off, and the paper bird shrank, which he then put into his robes.

"Well, look what we have here." he said.

Kohaku looked at him and gasped. No wonder he and Rin had mistaken him for Kagura. He looked like a male version of the wind-demon. He was clearly a demon himself, though Kohaku couldn't tell what kind, but he had a sinking feeling that he knew where this demon came from. Or, more specifically, who it came from.

"Kohaku, who is he?" asked Rin fearfully. "He looks like Lady Kagura."

The demon smiled. "Ah, you know Kagura. Or should I say knew." He chuckled, turning his gaze on Kohaku. "And you're Kohaku, the little runaway. That means, you're Rin, Sesshomaru's ward. How nice to meet you. I've been searching for you for several days now. You're not an easy person to find."

Kohaku growled and took a step back, making sure to keep Rin behind him. "Why were you looking for us?" he demanded, wishing he had his sickle. How could he leave it behind? True he was a skilled fighter, but that sword that the demon had looked deadly.

The demon reached into his robes and pulled out a lotus flower, which he held to his nose and sniffed, closing his eyes as he enjoyed the smell. "Just following orders."

Kohaku's eyes narrowed. "Whose orders?"

"My master's. You have something that belongs to him, and I'm here to retrieve it." His eyes snapped open. "Now give me the sacred jewel shard!"

He pointed the flower at them and a stream of flames shot out of it. Kohaku grabbed Rin and pulled her to the ground as the flames flew over them. Kohaku made sure to shield her from the heat.

When the flames finally stopped, the demon chuckled. "You've got quick reflexes, boy." He said, putting the flower back in his robes. "But I'm afraid that my master is getting rather impatient. So let's make this quick."

He snapped his fingers and several vines burst out of the ground. Kohaku quickly pushed Rin out of the way before he was ensnared by them, binding him tightly.

"Oh no, Kohaku!" Rin cried.

She ran over to the vines and began tugging at them, but her efforts were in vain. Several of the vines began making their way towards her. She yelped and jumped away when they began to wrap around her.

"R-Rin…" Kohaku moaned, struggling to breathe due to the tightness of his bindings. "Get… get out of… here…"

Rin looked up at him fearfully. "But what about you?"

"Don't wor-worry about… about me… Just go…"

Rin's bottom lip trembled as tears weld up in her eyes. "I'll get Lord Sesshomaru!" she cried, and took off.

The demon just chuckled. "You're not going anywhere."

He waved his hand, casting his spell. A fog appeared around Rin, so deep that she couldn't see.

"Wha…" she mumbled.

She jumped as a growl came from within the fog. Her eyes widened as she saw her worst fear. Wolves were coming out of the fog, surrounding her on all sides. They were growling and snapping their jaws, ready to attack.

Rin began trembling in fear as she fell to her knees. "No, please not that." She whispered fearfully.

The demon smirked as he watched her cower in fear. He turned his red eyes back to Kohaku. "It appears that she has fallen prey to my illusion."

Kohaku struggled to breathe as the vines wrapped tightly around his neck. "I-Illusion?" His eyes widened in realization. "Rin, it's… not r-real… It's ju-"

He was cut off as the vines wrapped around his mouth. The demon shook his finger at him while shaking his head and making a 'tsk, tsk' noise.

"Now don't spoil the fun." He said. "We're just getting started. But I'll take care of you first, then take my time with the girl."

The vines lifted Kohaku off the ground, bringing him right up to the demon's face. The demon smirked and Kohaku glared back. The vines just tightened.

"It's not smart to defy the one that has you at his mercy." Said the demon. "I could kill you very easily. All I have to do is remove the jewel shard in your back," he reached behind Kohaku, "and you'll join your father in the other world like you should have long ago."

Unaware of what was happening between Kohaku and the demon, Rin continued to cower in fear. When she realized that the wolves hadn't attacked next, she risked a peek. Big mistake. A wolf was right in front of her, less than a foot away, fangs bared.

She screamed and jumped back. When she looked up again, something else was walking through the fog. Relief hit her when she saw that it was Sesshomaru.

"Lord Sesshomaru, help!" she cried.

Sesshomaru looked at Rin and then at the wolves. "Rin, calm yourself. They are not real. They're merely an illusion."

To prove his point, he kicked one. His foot went right through it. Not wasting anymore time on the phony wolves, he turned his attention to Kohaku and the demon that dared to attack his companions.

The demon's hand had just fallen on the place where Kohaku's jewel shard was when Sesshomaru's energy whip struck his hand.

"What the hell?" he growled. He looked in the direction the whip had come in and smiled when he saw who it was. "Ah, Sesshomaru. I was wondering where you were."

Sesshomaru fixed the demon with his cold stare. "Release the boy." He ordered.

The demon just laughed. "I have a better idea. How about I wrap you up."

He pointed at the demon lord and several vines flew towards him. In an instant, Sesshomaru whipped out Toukijin. With one swipe he cut through the approaching vines. A purple mist escaped the cut vines, a miasma.

"Ah, ah, ah." The demon mocked. "You don't want to cut my vines."

"Well I do!"

The demon turned in the direction the voice came from to find several blades of wind flying at him. He quickly jumped aside, avoiding the attack. But the blades of wind cut through the vines binding Kohaku, freeing him. Miasma escaped from the vines, but Kohaku was able to get away from the toxic cloud before it harmed him.

Now that Kohaku was free, Kagura waved her fan again, blowing away the miasma. She smirked before her mouth dropped open and her eyes widened as she saw the demon.

'He looks… like me…'

The demon looked just as surprised to see Kagura as she was to see him. "Kagura?" he exclaimed.

Kagura got over her surprise and glared at the demon. "How do you know me? Who are you?"

The demon managed to get over his own surprise and smiled. "I thought you were dead. I guess I was wrong."

"Who are you?" Kagura asked again.

The demon snickered. "My name is Mugen no Byakuya. And I am your brother."

"Brother?" Kagura repeated. Her eyes widened. "No."

"Yes, dear sister. I am Naraku's latest incarnation. He created me to replace you. I guess you can call the two of us twins, though we weren't born on the same day."

Kagura took a step back. 'He'll tell Naraku that I'm still alive.'

Byakuya glanced at Sesshomaru. "So, you're traveling with the Lord of the Western Lands." He looked at Kohaku. "Both of you are. I guess Hakudōshi was right. I wonder how he and Naraku will react when they find out you're alive, Kagura."

Kagura growled. "You're not telling them anything! Dance of Blades!"

Byakuya whipped out his Lotus flower and unleashed its flames. Kagura's wind attack only increased the flames. Kagura gasped and sped out of the way of the stream of fire. Sesshomaru reacted immediately, charging at Byakuya. Toukijin sliced right through him. But something was wrong. Byakuya hadn't even tried to avoid the attack. He let Sesshomaru cut through him while smiling the whole time.

Sesshomaru became confused as Byakuya faded away. 'What is this trickery?'

That was when he realized that it was a trick. It was one of Byakuya's illusions again.

"Looking for me?"

Sesshomaru turned around and saw, not one, but three Byakuyas. He wasn't fooled though. He knew that two of them were illusions.

"What are you going to do now?" asked the three Byakuyas.

Sesshomaru didn't respond. Instead he unleashed his sword's power, striking down all three Byakuyas at once. They were all fake.

Byakuya could be heard laughing, though he was nowhere to be seen. "Am I proving too much for the Lord of the Western Lands?"

Sesshomaru growled. "You will not make a fool of this Sesshomaru."

He decided not to rely on his eyes and use his nose instead. No illusion could fool his sense of smell. It didn't take long for him to find Byakuya's scent. He was standing a few feet away, creating an illusion of the area around him to give himself invisibility.

Sesshomaru unleashed Toukijin's power. Byakuya dropped his illusion and jumped out of the way. He looked impressed. "Very clever, Sesshomaru, but you'll need more than a good sense of smell to defeat me."

"How about I join in?" said Kagura, unleashing her Dance of Blades.

Byakuya spared her a glance before he produced a barrier around himself, blocking the attack. "Sorry, sister, but you'll need more than that to defeat me."

Kagura growled. "Fine, try this! Dance of the Dragon!"

Her attack did nothing against Byakuya's barrier. He smirked at her and shook his head. "Pathetic."

He reached behind himself. At first Kagura thought he was going for his sword, but instead he retrieved a gourd that he was carrying on his back. He pointed it at Kagura and grinned evilly.

"Try this." he said.

A swarm of snakes flew out of the gourd. Kagura gasped and unleashed her Dance of Blades, slicing the snakes to pieces. But more just kept coming.

"How long can you keep this up, sister?" Byakuya asked, grinning.

His smirk immediately vanished as he gasped in shock and pain. Toukijin was sticking out of his chest. Sesshomaru had managed to get through his barrier.

"You should never have taken your eyes off this Sesshomaru." The demon lord said.

With great effort, Byakuya pulled himself off the sword. He turned to Sesshomaru, glaring at him defiantly. "You win this round, Sesshomaru."

He reached into his robes and retrieved the paper crane, which grew large enough for him to ride on. And he did just that, flying away.

"You will not escape!" Sesshomaru declared angrily.

He launched another attack, but Byakuya was too far up to hit.

"Get on!" cried Kagura, flying over to him on her feather. "We can still catch him!"

Sesshomaru immediately leapt onto Kagura's feather and the two were off. But Byakuya knew they were following him. He growled in irritation, waving his hand to create an illusion. Several copies of him appeared as the illusion of dark clouds formed. The copies vanished within them. A moment later, flames shot out of the illusion at Sesshomaru and Kagura. They lost his scent, due to the flames' burning smell.

Kagura stopped her feather. "Damn, he got away." She growled. "He'll give me away to Naraku."

Sesshomaru's narrowed eyes were the only indication that he cared. "Do not worry yourself over him. Neither he nor Naraku will bring harm to you. This Sesshomaru will see to that."

Kagura couldn't help but smile. "It's nice to know you care." She said, glad for the illusion of the clouds to hide her blush.

(A/N: Well, that ends this chapter. Hope you liked it. Just so you know, I did not make up Byakuya. He is a manga only character that doesn't appear in the anime, and he does specialize in illusions, and the techniques he used are his real ones. You can look him up on wikipedia for more information on him. Anyway, leave me your reviews and I'll post the next chapter as soon as I can.)

Preview for next chapter: Naraku finds out from Byakuya that Kagura is still alive and isn't happy about it. Sesshomaru has another talk with Kohaku, this time about his relationship with Rin. Kagura has the same conversation with Rin about Kohaku.