***Author's Note***

Good afternoon, my dears! I know I usually do two chapters per day, but I've been crazy busy today. I'll try to get another one done, but I don't think I'll be able. So, in this chapter, we're going to see a bit of a quick, interesting moment between Kagome and Sesshomaru as well as Inuyasha and Sesshomaru. I took to heart what some of my readers said about Sesshomaru being too AU in the first attempt of this story, so I hope I've fixed that rather egregious flaw. If there's anything further that needs to be fixed, please let me know. Enjoy!

***End Note***

Kagome slid carefully off of Inuyasha's back, preparing her bow as she did, "I remember these guys. Low-level demons, but very skilled. They helped Noru bring us in when we all escaped. They're not terribly powerful, but they're quick."

The man who'd spoken wheezed out a laugh, "That's right. You might as well give in now. The Master's awful put out with you, Inuyasha. He's not real happy with Kagome, either." The demon stared at Kagome with greed in his eyes, "He says you're to come back, so he can play with you some more." The man licked his lips obscenely, drawing a growl from deep within Inuyasha's throat.

By now, they had, indeed, been surrounded and the demon's lackeys chuckled at Inuyahsa's growl. Sesshomaru remained silent, merely narrowing his eyes. Shippo and Kouga both spread their stances wide, alert and ready for the coming attack. Kagome and Inuyasha drew closer together as Inuyasha drew the Tetsuaiga and Kagome nocked an arrow, "You know who we are," she answered, "Do you really want to take us on?"

The man laughed again, "You're missing the demon hunter and the monk...Were they too scared to come? I don't blame them. My Master's wrath will cover all the lands in darkness and choke the life out of those you love, especially the brats...What were their names? Ah; Momoko and Kagome...My Master knows where they are. It's a simple thing for him to retrieve them."

Inuaysha and Sesshomaru roared with rage. The hanyou leaped forward with Tetsuaiga at the ready while Sesshomaru's eyes went red and his face elongated as his true form emerged. Kagome drew on her spiritual powers and shot her Sacred Arrows rapidly into the demons that surrounded them. Kouga did what he was best at, sprinting here and there using his ever-present Garaishi, slashing at whomever was in front of him while Shippo slunk around, blasting his Fox Fire here and there and using his magic to their best advantage.

Sesshomaru, now full transformed, roared with fury and sprung into action and scattering the demons in his anger. Where his jaws snapped and his claws raked, another demon fell, never to rise again. Three demons managed to get past the furious youkai and his hanyou brother, charging straight for Kagome. She took two down with her arrows and aimed for the third, but he reached her first. She saw the blow coming and angled her arm so that the sword merely dealt a glancing blow, rather than severing her arm halfway down her forearm. Inuyasha heard her cry out in pain and smelled her blood on the air – it seemed to snap what little self-control he had managed to retain over the last year. He spun, energy rolling off of him in waves as his eyes went red and the air around him began to stir. The remaining demons that were not busy with Sesshomaru converged on him, glancing warily at each other as Inuaysha's demon form took hold. With incredible speed, Inuyasha sprung at his enemies, the Tetsuaiga laying forgotten behind him. He used his claws to cut them to bits, leaving behind only limbs and bleeding torsos.

Sesshomaru killed the last of the demons and returned to his human form, but the danger was not over. Inuyasha stood with his chest and shoulders heaving, a vicious snarl tearing from his lips as his blind eyes darted here and there, not really seeing anything. None approached him as he sniffed at the air, seeming to search for something. Kouga took a firm hold of Kagome to keep her still; she struggled against him, but it was no use. Suddenly, Inuyasha grew still and his head snapped forward in Kagome's direction. He lunged faster than the eye could see, tackling Kouga to the ground, snapping his jaws mere inches from the wolf's face. Kouga shouted in fear and pain as Inuyasha's claws raked at him. "Inuyasha, no!" cried Kagome as she ran straight for him. She had seen this behavior from him before and was ready for his reaction. He left Kouga lying on the ground, forgotten, and lunged for Kagome instead. She ducked and came back up with a lunge of her own that knocked them both to the ground. She wrapped her arms around Inuyasha's neck and curled herself into his chest, "It's okay. It's okay. I'm fine, it's just a scratch, I promise." She continued to soothe him with gentle words and reassurances until the red in his eyes began to fade and his features returned to normal.

"Kagome?" he whispered, sounding confused.

"It's okay now. I've got you."

"Kagome...What happened? I remember hearing you scream and then I smelled your blood, and then...nothing. What happened? I smell blood...more than before. Is that Kouga?! Oh, crap. What did I do?" The hanyou began to panic as he took in the looks of fear and wariness on his companions' faces.

"It's alright, Inuyasha. You lost control for a moment, that's all. You attacked Kouga, but I stopped you before you did too much damage."

"Speak for yourself," the wolf-demon complained.

Kagome shot him a bone-chilling glare, and he fell silent again, "Ignore him, Inuyasha. He's just mad. You tore him up a little, but it's not that bad. Honestly. He'll probably be healed again by nightfall. It wasn't that bad, I promise."

Inuyasha, however, was not convinced, "I lost control!? I lost it, and you're all just acting like nothing happened? Just another day living with a half-demon, huh? Keh! Well, to hell with that." Inuyasha stood rapidly, dumping Kagome on the ground, "I knew this would happen eventually. You can't trust me, Kagome. You're just a human, and way too fragile to be around me. What you didn't bother to mention is that I turned on you, too! I can smell your blood on my hands, Kagome!"

The hanyou's breath caught in his chest; he turned and sprinted away, leaving Kagome breathless with shock and hurt. She tried to stand and follow after him, but Sesshomaru was beside her in a flash, laying a cautioning hand on her shoulder, "Leave him.", he said harshly, "He'll come back on his own."

Despite his words, Inuyasha did not return. After an hour had passed with no sign of him, Kagome rose to speak with Sesshomaru. "He's not back yet."

Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes coldly at her, "I can see that."

Kagome took a deep breath and tried again, "You have to go after him."
"And why would I want to do that?"

Kagome leaned close and grabbed at the front of his yukatta, her temper dangerously close to snapping, "Because if you don't, we'll be down one of our strongest members when we find Rin. I know you're very powerful, but Moshiro has resources that we can't begin to understand! Without Inuyasha's strength to combine with your own, we'll lose. And if we lose, you may never see her again."

Sesshomaru stiffened at her words and gripped her hands roughly as he removed them from his yukatta, "Fine. I'll get the half-breed." Without another word, he spun and sprinted off in the direction his half brother had taken.

Inuyasha sprinted through the wilderness, his mind reeling with emotion. What have I done? I hurt her. I hurt Kagome! I could care less about that damn wolf, but Kagome!? How could I do that? Even when I'm transformed, I normally protect her! I'm the monster everyone said I was when she and I first met. I'm no different now than I was then. I'm fine while you're on my side, but get in my way – even for an instant – and I'll tear your throat out as soon as look at you. I can't stand this. Inuyasha increased his speed, practically flying over the ground. At last, he came across a stream surrounded by a small wooded glade. He stopped, staring at his reflection with revulsion. It all made so little sense to him. I was regaining control over myself. How did this happen? I don't understand. Am I really such a beast that the slightest scent of blood will send me over the edge? His reflection glared back at him as an angry flush crept up his neck. I can't put her in danger like that again; I can't even be around Momokolike this! I'll have to run. I'll have to leave them all. They're better off without me. To his astonishment, the slow-moving stream rippled as though something had dropped into it. He raised his clawed hand to his face, surprised to find tears there.I don't care how much it hurts. You have to do it. You can't keep putting them in danger. It's for the best. You've known it for a long time, now. Every time you turn, it becomes easier. Eventually, it'll become tooeasy, and you won't be able to stop. You'll be stuck in that form, and no one will be able to calm you again. His nose twitched at a familiar scent, "I know you're there. Might as well come out, but you're not taking me back. I'm leaving."

"Fine." Sesshomaru said shortly, "I won't miss your half-human stench."

Inuyasha glared at his brother, "Oh, of course you'd treat this like it doesn't matter! You are such a bastard!"

Sesshomaru nodded, "Yes. Yes, I am. I'm cold, and I'm unfeeling. But I am full demon. You're only half. Controlling that other half isn't easy, and it was never going to be. But if you want to run off and abandon your family like some useless coward, go right ahead. You'll just show how much like our father you really are."

Inuyasha's jaw went slack with shock, "You're lecturing me!? You think I'm the coward? You shut every emotion out because you're scared of it! You don't get it, so you don't feel it. I doubt you ever loved Rin."

Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed dangerously and his left hand shot out, cracking his brother hard across the face and sending him sprawling, "I would not mention my wife if I were you." he said in a dangerous whisper.

Inuyasha stared up at his brother, defeated, "I don't know what to do. I hurt her. Don't tell me I didn't; I could smell it."

Sesshomaru sighed, "You are being ridiculous. Yes, you hurt her, but you've done worse damage than this before without raising a hand to her, and you know it. It's just a small scratch on her cheek. It'll be healed by the time you get back." He added stiffly. He shrugged and continued, "So you should stop being a petulant child and come back."

Inuyasha seemed to deflate, "She's okay?" he whispered. Sesshomaru nodded. "Good. Is she disgusted with me?" The youkai glared down at his brother with an expression of disgust and reproach. "She's not angry? Not even a little? Huh. Go figure. She's insane."

Sesshomaru shifted, ever so slightly, "Yes, she is. She charged right for you, and the moment she touched you, you began to calm down." Grudgingly, he added, "I've never seen anything like it."

Inuyasha stood and stared at his reflection again. It smirked at him, "I am acting like a child, aren't I?" Sesshomaru said nothing, only shot him a bland stare, "Alright. I'll come back, but I want you to stop me if I look like I'm going to hurt someone who's not an enemy, okay?"

Sesshomaru allowed a wide, gleeful grin to spread across his handsome features, "Gladly."

Inuyasha chuckled and turned back in the direction he'd left the others, but paused for a moment as he glanced back at his brother, "Why did you come after me?"

Sesshomaru shifted uncomfortably, "My reasons are my own."

Inuyasha's ears twitched and he cocked his head to the side, "Kagome asked you to come, didn't she?"

Sesshomaru's hands twitched slightly in irritation and he sprung away into the darkness, leaving his brother to catch him up. Inuyasha grinned and followed. By the time they made it back, it was growing dark, and Kagome had set up a decently comfortable camp. The moment she sensed him, Kagome sprang up and dashed straight into Inuyasha's arms, "Oh, I'm so glad you're back! For a little while, I thought you weren't coming back at all. I'm so sorry I wasn't fast enough," she sobbed into his hair.

Inuyasha pulled back and stared at her, nonplussed, "You're sorry? I'm the one who attacked you, and you're sorry?" The hanyou chuckled, "You really are somethin' else, woman. I'm sorry I frightened you. I guess I needed to run it out of my system. I was being kinda childish, and it nearly made me do something I would have regretted for the rest of my life, but Sesshomaru stopped me."

Kagome glanced at the youkai in surprise, "Is that true, Sesshomaru?" the youkai rolled his eyes and shrugged, "Thank you." Sesshomaru shrugged again and walked away, looking distinctly uncomfortable. Kagome smiled as she watched his retreating back, then dragged Inuyasha to the ground so she could curl up in his lap, her head pillowed comfortably on his shoulder.

A long distance away, Moshiro sat with his eyes close on his steel-and-bone seat of authority. His pale silver eyes opened slowly; they appeared glazed over, as though he were drunk. "What was that?" he breathed, "It was so far away, and yet...Through my pets...I felt...Something powerful. I've never tasted fear like that before."

Noru stood before his Master, confusion in his eyes, "Master? What's wrong?"
Moshiro seemed to remember the dog demon's presence, "Nothing's wrong, you moron. I believe I have found something I have been searching for. The perfect fear, Noru. The most powerful, most delicious fear I have ever tasted. It was only a..." he chuckled darkly, "a shadow of what it could be."

Noru's eyes lit with greed, "Whose fear was it, Master?"
An evil smile spread across Moshiro's face, baring his row of pointed teeth, "Inuyasha's" he nearly moaned. "Oh, I've never practiced my art on a anyone so powerful before. Mmmm. Perhaps...Perhaps I haven't been looking in the right place. I have discovered something of great power, Noru: Inuyasha's greatest fear. I must have this...delectable treat. I believe you will have that chance you were begging for before my shadows had their way with you, Noru." The dog demon twitched, his yellow-green eyes going wide at the memory of agonizing pain and complete darkness, "You will bring Inuyasha and his mate to me. I am going to play a new game with them...And it is going to be...delicious. I haven't had anything new in a very, very long time." Noru's face fell somewhat, causing a knowing glint to come into Moshiro's eye, followed by a haughty smirk. The shadow-demon leaned back in his throne, hanging his legs languidly over the side, "Don't worry, my pet. You'll get your shot at Inuyasha when I'm through with him."

Noru grinned, his eyes glinting with greed and a sick, greedy, hunger, "Of course, Master. I will not fail you again."

Moshiro nodded, "I know you won't. If you do...You'll wind up like my favorite new decorations." Moshiro gestured lazily at the ceiling where Rina and Ayame hung in cages, both covered in dirt and blood that trickled slowly from still-healing wounds. Their faces were matching masks of pain and fear as they stared down at the shadow-demon.

Noru, however, had his mind on other things, "And when we are through with them, my Master, I will feast on their flesh." He bowed and made his way quickly out of the hall.

Moshiro's eyes closed slowly as he languished in the new sensations that Inuyasha's fear had aroused in him, "Oh," he breathed, "Oh, Inuyasha. I never knew you had such depth to you." He felt his hunger rising and called softly to his guards, "I believe I will be requiring more sustenance. Lower my new toys so that I can work on them some more." His men nodded and bowed as they hurried off to carry out their Master's commands. "Oh, Inuyasha," he whispered as he approached the cages, "We are going to have so much fun together." In the still, silent hall, Moshiro's high, piercing laugh rolled off the walls and vaulted ceiling, raising the hair on the back of many a man's neck, and sending Rin and Ayame skittering to the back of their cages in an attempt to get away from him.

***Author's Note***

Phew, so kind of a rough spot Ayame and Rin have found themselves in, isn't it? I know that many of my readers thought that Moshiro was just a bit too much in the first go 'round, so I hope I've toned him down successfully. I didn't want to tone him down too much so that y'all will still be happy to see what happens to him in the end, but I also don't want to make anyone too uncomfortable. I really hope you're enjoying this so far. ^_^ Thanks for reading; lots of love!

- Lady Darkwind