AN: I am so sorry for the long time between updates! I really didn't mean to do it. I apologize and hopefully this action-filled chapter will more than make up for it.

My Father's Sword – Itachi and Hayen

Itachi didn't seem too impressed with the miko standing in front of him. Then again, Kagome wasn't that impressed with him. His face held an openness she had thought all taiyoukai lacked. It would be easy to read him in battle.

He gave her a disproving look. "This is the miko I have heard so much about?" he demanded. "I must say, I'm disappointed. I was expecting someone a little more, ah, conventional."

"I have traveled with a hanyou, a neko youkai, and a kitsune." Kagome said sharply. "You expect me to be conventional?"

"Point made. What do you know about Sesshoumaru's whereabouts?"

"Less than you do. I have not seen Sesshoumaru-sama in a few months."

Itachi's eyes narrowed dangerously. "You lack manners, miko." he said softly. "I suppose you picked that up from the hanyou."

Kagome chuckled. "Actually, I've always been that way. If I could do to you what I used to do to the hanyou, you'd be kissing the dirt right now for underestimating me." She watched as he took a step back, a hint of wariness in his eyes. "Relax. I have no power over you. Other than intimidation." She became abruptly serious. "You know where Sesshoumaru-sama is?"

Itachi nodded. "Or at least, I have an idea."

"Tell me."

/---/

"Stop!"

The group paused a moment, staring blankly at the young owl youkai standing in front of them. Katsuna took a defensive stance in front of Rin, determined to shelter the girl even now. "Can we help you?" he asked cautiously.

The youkai ignored him. His eyes were focused solely on Rin. "You are of the West, are you not?" he asked belligerently.

"I am Rin, the heir of the Western Lands." Rin said formally. She was cautious, one hand on Tokijin's pommel. She knew what was coming – there was really only one reason why another youkai would come to speak with her. It had happened before. "May I ask who you are?"

"I am Hayen, the heir to the Southern Lands." the owl said stiffly, sketching a crude bow. "I am here to test you. You hunt for the lord of the West, am I right?"

"You know you are."

"First, you must prove yourself worthy." He drew his katana, the light catching off the feather engravings on the blade. Rin flinched. She hated seeing blades like that. For one thing, they hurt worse when they penetrated the skin.

For another, they were absolutely murder to try and clean.

She drew Tokijin. "A duel, then?"

He smirked. "Indeed."

/---/

Itachi was pacing by now, his irritation evident. "Do you know anything of the Hanransha?" he asked. Kagome shook her head.

"I'm afraid I don't know as much as I should about youkai politics." she confessed.

Shippou's eyes darkened at the name. "They're rebels." he spat, disgust evident in his voice. "They're Western rebels, aren't they?"

Itachi nodded. "The kit is smart. Yes, they are rebels. Back when Sesshoumaru first gained control of the Western Lands, there was a group of dissenters who wanted the half-breed to lead them. They thought that Inuyasha would be weaker than his brother, and therefore easier to control.

"Of course, Sesshoumaru would have nothing of it. It was ridiculous, really, and besides, the one thing the taiyoukai has always loved is power. He would do anything, kill anyone, for it.

"Well, the Hanransha rebelled anyway. Sesshoumaru decimated half their force, and exiled the rest. They live at the boarder between the West and South, probably plotting their revenge. They've had a long time for the bitterness to build."

Kagome's eyes narrowed. "You don't have that much of an opinion of Sesshoumaru-sama, do you?" she said dryly. "Very well. You've told me some of what I need to know. Where are the Hanransha, exactly?"

His eyes widened. "You would go there to search for him?" Itachi demanded. "They would kill you on the spot for even thinking such a thing!"

Kagome gave a dangerous smile. Shippou chuckled.

"Don't put anything past my Okaa-san, Itachi-sama." he warned. "Kagome has a way of showing everyone just how strong she really is."

/---/

They stood a dozen feet from each other, weapons drawn and in the ready positions. Katsuna was watching from the side lines, wide-eyed along with the others. "Is this really necessary?" he whispered. "I mean, can't we stop this? She'll be killed!"

Jaken snorted. "We cannot stop it. This is how youkai measure each other's worth. And she will be deemed worthy."

Ah laughed. "Even if she's not, that won't stop her. She'll just be a little worse for wear afterwards."

Un shook his head. "Nah. She'll kill him before he kills her."

Katsuna looked shocked. "How can you talk about this so freely?"

"Quiet, houshi." Jaken snapped. "They begin."

Hayen charged, swinging his sword in a wide arc at Rin's head. She simply glared at him as the blow passed well over her head, not even stirring her hair. She hadn't moved. Hayen looked a little put-out.

"No flinching?"

She struck, the blade moving at lightning speed as she plunged it into his shoulder. Just as fast, she jerked it out and resumed her original position.

"No."

She looked far too much like Sesshoumaru then, cold and calm and calculating. Hayen struck, and she retaliated. It went on for several minutes. By the end, Hayen was bleeding and winded. Rin wasn't even sweating.

"Will you yield?"

Hayen smirked. "Not yet."

He charged again, and this time his blade scraped across her ribs. Rin screamed in pain and struck, hitting the side of his head with the flat of the blade. Tokijin's pulse-power activated instantly, shoving the owl youkai back even further. Blood trickled down Rin's haori, staining the white fabric red. She snarled.

Kill him, Rin.

I can't. You know that.

He means to kill you.

I still can't. There's still a chance to knock some sense into him.

Very well. The blade's aura sparked for a moment, then faded. End it now, or I will.

Rin's face twisted in a scowl. She knew the blade was merely protecting her, but nothing was going to stop her. Stay down.

Hayen stood up to charge again, and he found the tip of Tokijin at his throat. Rin glared at him. "Do you yield?"

He hesitated.

"Hai."