Disclaimer: Not mine…

A/N: Well, this is just a little bitty chapter to tell you what Sesshoumaru is up to. Hopefully, it also answers the question of why he left Rin. For those of you who don't remember, Souten is the little sister of the Thunder Brothers, who challenged Shippo to a fight to the death. I couldn't find the name of her dragon anywhere, so if someone knows it… Thanks go out to Alexa (little bit of Sesshy to tide you over), Aurora83 (thanks for all the help again, and Sesshy backstory is coming soon!), DCoD (not to ring my own bell, but I'm rather proud of Keiko. And there will be more Tsumeato/Akai lovin'), segumisama (yeah, I misspelled sake, what can I say, it was late, and I don't want to have to redo that chapter. I will later.), and Demon Lover (thanks for the enthusiasm!) If not tonight, tomorrow will be a couple more chapters. I've just been really busy with my Harry Potter/Ginny Weasley fic I just put up.

The moonlight slid through the leafy canopy, only tiny slivers of silver radiance penetrating all the way to the forest floor. A human standing very still, eyes accustomed to the night, would occasionally catch glimpses of movement, perhaps a glint of light off a pair of predatory eyes. But mostly, they would see nothing, hear nothing but the beating of their own heart as it sped up at some unknown danger in the woods.

A small army of youkai moved with the night, gliding from shadow to shadow like silent specters. Even though the air was heavy with the danger of their passage, no human would guess that fifteen powerful immortals walked passed their village in the dark. They attacked no mortals, left crops and livestock unmarred. The fourteen warriors followed the graceful white figure at their head without even a momentary glance at likely food.

The Lord of the West walked beside his two-headed beast, a hand automatically on the dragon's side. He did not worry Ah-Un would try to wander off. It was habit, to make sure the small figure in the saddle would not tip over in her sleep.

Only there was no one in the saddle.

Sesshoumaru glanced briefly at his steed's empty back. He allowed no frown to crease his brow, and kept his eyes clear. Inside his head, he still heard the soft cry of a child's voice.

The fang, he mused again, looking forward. Totosei never told me that she would be able to call to me in moments of danger through it. But this confirms that Naraku has found her.

Perhaps he should have left the human girl alone, waited for Naraku to claim her and take her back to his sanctum. Perhaps he could follow the call of the fang to the monstrosity's lair, and finally destroy him. Perhaps…if the thought had ever occurred to him.

He may covet Inuyasha's undead woman, hunt her to the ends of the Earth for all I care. But if he thinks I will allow him to take what is mine, and use it against me, he is a bigger fool than I've ever taken him for.

Yet the daiyoukai could not repress the words of his own father, racing off to die for a mortal woman.

"I cannot leave her to die like that."

Unbidden came the image of a child's body, sprawled across a wooded path. The bites and ravaging of wolves had torn her simple peasant garb. Bruises decorated her innocent face. Wide eyes stared blankly into his.

Somehow, even now, those trusting eyes seemed almost accusatory.

"Remember to come back for me!"

And briefly, he allowed his brows to pull together in a frown.

"Sesshoumaru-sama."

He trained his face back into a cold mask as he turned at the female voice. Souten, one of his favored warriors, had appeared close to his shoulder. Ah-Un inclined their heads towards her, making a strange snuffling sound of welcome. The young youkai allowed a smile to crack her veneer. She had a particular fondness for dragons.

"What is it?"

"I sent my dragon ahead, as you asked. He found signs of Sasayaki just a day's walk from here."

"What signs?" Sesshoumaru asked, one eyebrow rising slightly as they continued walking.

"The better part of a village has been leveled."

Sesshoumaru fought hard this time not to allow a frown. "A village?"

"Nothing impressive, exactly. It looks like a village of farmers. There are fields and cattle…"

He turned his head, finally giving her his full attention. "But you do not think they are farmers?"

Souten shrugged delicately. "My dragon could not get a close look."

"Why?"

"There is a very powerful demonic barrier around the entire village."

Sesshoumaru could not stop his one eyebrow from rising higher.

"A barrier?" he repeated.

"Hai. And it does not have the aura of Naraku."

They walked in silence for several moments, Sesshoumaru mulling this over.

"What are farmers doing with such a powerful youkai?"

Souten merely shrugged again. "Perhaps we'll know tomorrow?"

I deliberately picked that village for its rural location, Sesshoumaru growled inside his head. It was out of the way of any danger of Naraku. Yet this powerful youkai's aura brought Naraku's pests nosing around. Whoever this youkai is will answer to me for putting my Rin in danger.

"The sun will rise in little more than an hour," was all he said out loud. "Tomorrow, we start out before dark. I wish to meet this powerful youkai in the light."

Souten nodded, hesitating for a moment.

"Sesshoumaru-sama," she said slowly, "what is it exactly we are looking for out here?"

Her lord looked down at her with icy disdain. "You question me?"

"I thought it might be easier to look if we knew what we were looking for."

Sesshoumaru stopped, and turned fully to face her. She did as well, looking up into his face without fear.

"A girl."

Even controlled Souten couldn't keep the surprise off her face.

"A girl, Sesshoumaru-sama?"

"A girl. As tall as you, with black hair tied back in a red ribbon. She carries a katana made from one of my fangs."

"A…a ningen? A mortal girl?!?"

The tiniest, deadliest of smiles graced his lips.

"My mortal girl."