-Evil Spirits Desiring the Sacred Jewel-

"So, you couldn't kill Inuyasha?" Gaishin inquired, clenching his teeth.

"He was too strong, but I promise the next time I see him, I'll bring his head on a platter for you," Bonkotsu replied.

Gaishin nodded, and then examined his own wounds, remembering the wench Utsukushii. Besides, Inuyasha wasn't his main concern, it was Sesshomaru.

"Bonkotsu," Gaishin smiled, "do you want to know what my real intentions are?"

"Huh? Didn't you already say you wanted to control the West and use Sesshomaru to destroy all competition without getting blood on your own hands?"

"I did say that, yes," he continued. "But no, that is not particularity what I meant." He laughed somewhat maniacally. "I intend on using Sesshomaru alright… to resurrect my dead father, Naraku."

Bonkotsu's eyes widened. He remembered Naraku, that demon who resurrected the Band of Seven 11 years ago. "But… what does Sesshomaru have to do with…"

"You see, I require one with immense demonic powers as somewhat of a sacrifice," he smiled. "Who better to destroy Sesshomaru than himself?"

Bonkotsu wasn't following. He blinked a couple of times before Gaishin sighed and placed a finger on his temple, annoyed. "You imbecile, I'm going to use Sesshomaru to kill off all risks, including Inuyasha, and then absorb his demonic powers!"

"Oh, well why didn't you say so?"

Gaishin grinded his teeth and turned around. "When Sesshomaru becomes nothing but a pathetic human, then I shall kill him and his wife, and take their daughter as my future wife."

Bonkotsu shrugged. He had no idea how this somewhat deranged guy was going to achieve this, but the mercenary really did not care. He flicked his braid over his shoulder and brushed the dust off of his clothes. "And I get my share of the deal, right?"

Gaishin looked at him the corner of his eyes and nodded. "But of course, eternal life with no fear of the afterlife."


-Sign of Unrest-

"Kiyoto is awake!" Kagome cried. At once, everybody but Utsukushii gathered around the trembling boy and watched his bruised eyelids slowly open.

"Mother? Father?"

After sitting the boy up and getting him some water, he started to tell his story.

"I followed Uncle Sesshomaru to the Bone Eaters Well and asked him if I could come with him. Then a strange man with a large type of sword captured me and took us to a dark chamber where we met a demon named Gaishin," he started. Utsukushii, with her eyes closed, listened from a little distance away and collected her thoughts. "He is the son of a cat demon named Touran and a powerful demon named… Naraku, I think." Everybody in the room froze, especially Inuyasha and Kagome.

"Son, you have to get this straight. Did you say Naraku?" Inuyasha asked.

"Yes… Naraku. I'm sure of it," he said looking at the floor. "And then he said that he would kill Auntie Rin and Mitsuki if Uncle Sesshomaru refused his proposition."

"What...what was the proposition, Kiyoto?" Rin's lips trembled.

"He said he wanted Uncle Sesshomaru to serve as his Chief General until all the competition in the East, South and North were eliminated…oh! And he wanted the Western lands for himself."

Utsukushii opened her beautiful eyes halfway. So that's what he was doing there…

"I escaped when Bonkotsu was off to find Auntie Rin and when Gaishin was in the West. I thought maybe, if I could reach Auntie Rin in time, I could have saved her…" tears started to well up in his eyes as he said so, clenching his fist. "But as usual, I was weak…"

Inuyasha grabbed his hand's fist and held it in his own. "No, Kiyoto, I'm proud of you."

Kiyoto stared up at his father in surprise. "But… but I couldn't even fight off some stray demons in the forest…"

"No, I'm proud of your courage and smarts. That's all that matters." Both father and son smiled.

Rin stood and faced Jaken. "Jaken," she blurted. "You said you knew where Sesshomaru was, right?"

Jaken scratched his bald head with a green, wrinkly finger and looked up at her. "Yes, I guess I do… why?"

"Take me there."

"What! Are you crazy! And have my head chopped off by Lord Sesshomaru? No way!"

Rin looked down with cold eyes and shaking hands. "Please, Master Jaken…" she pleaded as beads of tears fell from her eyes and landed on the floor next to him with a plip plop. "I must see him, right now…"

"Honourable Mother Utsukushii! Please, talk the girl some senses!" Jaken squawked.

Utsukushiistood from her throne and walked over to Rin. "Rin, come with me, I wish to have a word with you," and as she took her granddaughter into her own arms, the two walked out into the back garden.


-To the End of Sorrow-

"So, you wish to go to Sesshomaru?" Utsukushii asked through barely parted lips and piercing eyes. The ominous wind blew through their hair in silence as Rin slowly nodded. The demoness sighed and continued, "Do you value your life?"

Looking up at her beautiful mother in law, she held her breath. Finally she gathered the words in her mouth and spat them out, even to Utsukushii's surprise. "Life is everything… but without the man I love, it is meaningless…" and with those words, she dropped her head and held her hand to her heart.

"Rin, tell me, what do you plan on doing when you find him?"

"I… I want to help him, mother. I want to be with him… just in case…" she gulped. "I can feel it, I know there's something wrong, or something will go terribly wrong," she breathed.

"And what about Mitsuki? Do you think she can live without a mother and father?" the demoness asked, knowing exactly what Rin's intentions were.

"No, that is why I plan on taking her with me."

Utsukushii turned around and faced the now dead path of the Midnight Flowers. "The flowers are dead, the wind is cold. Nothing can live in sunlight anymore, only those who thrive during the night will surpass this ultimate test we call life…" The wind picked up the remaining decaying flower petals and blew them away. "Thankfully, the Midnight Flower will sprout again soon, on the night of the full moon."

Rin watched her mother in law with great concentration. Was this her own way of giving Rin hope? Utsukushii stood, and turned around to face Rin again. "You may go, Rin, but promise me you, Mitsuki and Sesshomaru will return – alive."

How can I promise such a thing? But alas, Rin nodded and thanked her for her leave. As she gathered her daughter and walked back inside, she noticed that Utsukushii stood, staring at the passing flower petals. Was she… crying? No, it wasn't possible. The great Inu Utsukushii does not cry…


-Trap-

Sesshomaru panted, facing a field full of freshly killed moth demons. He looked down at his hands and it happened again – the blood was there, but the memories were faint. I did this… but why is it that I cannot remember?

"Ah, Sesshomaru! Well done," a voice came from behind him. Turning, he saw the despicable Gaishin applauding Sesshomaru's recent kill. "Good news! You're almost done as my Chief General."

Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes at Gaishin without saying a word. He didn't care for what Gaishin was forcing him to do. In fact, Sesshomaru would kill the entire world if only it guaranteed Rin's safety. As soon as I'm done with these petty tasks and gain this fool's trust, I will kill him and take my leave.

"Your next task may prove to be a challenge," the evil demon continued, "kill Inuyasha."

"Not until you release me of this charm," Sesshomaru demanded and pointed to his neck.

Gaishin's breath caught in his throat. He knows of the charm? Damn, he's smarter than I would have imagined… he cleared his throat. "Very well," he grumbled. With a snap of his fingers, the charm in Sesshomaru's neck broke in half, releasing him of the control Gaishin had on his demonic powers.

Tilting his head to the side, he cracked his neck and sighed.

"Your foolishness surprises me, Gaishin."

Gaishin raised an eyebrow and took a step back. "I don't know what you plan, Sesshomaru, but you should remember that I have Rin's life in my hands…"

Sesshomaru's eyes flashed red. "Not if I kill you first." Cracking the knuckles in his hand, he flew full at full speed straight for Gaishin.