My Father's Sword – The Hanransha

Hayen was considerably friendlier to them after Rin defeated him. They hadn't bothered bandaging her wound – it was shallow and would in all likelihood heal before the next battle began. Katsuna was a little miffed at how easily they took to each other. It was like nothing had happened, like Hayen hadn't just tried to kill Rin.

The owl youkai led the group to a small rise on the boarder between the West and the South. He lowered himself down on the ground with only his head poking over the rise, motioning for Rin to do the same. She complied.

Rin gasped. Spreading out in a shallow valley was a large complex, set inside the ruins of what most likely was an abandoned castle. Thousands of youkai, from inu youkai to owl youkai to servant imps like Jaken, crowed the place. She glanced at Hayen.

"Is this where Outou-san is?" she hissed, her voice so low only a youkai could hear it. Hayen nodded grimly.

"Or at least, where we think he is." he muttered darkly. "This used to be the stronghold of the West, before Sesshoumaru-sama's father took over and moved the stronghold to its present location. Now it merely serves as a marker for the boundary between our lands." He stared at the youkai for a moment, waiting for the next question.

He wasn't disappointed. "What are they doing here?"

"This is the headquarters of the Hanransha." Hayen admitted. "When Sesshoumaru-sama came to power, there was a group of youkai who wanted Inuyasha to be the Western Lord. Being a hanyou, he would be easier to control, and easier to get rid of should he become a problem."

Rin hissed in anger. "Let me guess – they tried to revolt, and Outou-san drove them here where they couldn't do any harm."

"Hai. My guess is they ambushed him. That's the only way he could have fallen to them. Once in their hands, he's not getting out without some sort of help." Hayen shook his head, a look of utter disgust on his face. "It won't do any good to go in now. You'll have to wait for night. Otherwise you won't have any cover."

Rin nodded. "Will you or your father help us?"

Hayen shook his head. "Not likely. Politically, this is a problem for the West, not the South. In reality, we simply don't have the manpower to spare. We happen to be in war right now with the Eastern Tribes."

The girl grimaced. She knew all too well the fierceness of the wolves of the East.

Rin. Watch.

She looked back to the camp, confused. Watch what?

Suddenly a large boar youkai exited the ruins, followed by two oni. The oni were dragging a badly bruised and filthy inu youkai behind them. Under the boar's instruction, they tied the inu to a stake in front of the door. Rin could barely hear their words.

"If he causes any trouble, kill him."

"But my lord, it will storm tonight." one oni protested. "Surely that is too cruel, it being in such a weak state."

The boar laughed. "Nothing is too cruel for this one." he snapped. "Now leave him there. The others will watch over him." With that they left, each going their separate way. No one was immediately around the prisoner, but by no means was he unguarded. They were good at watching without being obvious about it, Rin noticed grimly.

Her stomach clenched in anger and sickness even before the prisoner raised his head to reveal two golden eyes simmering with hate and pain.

Outou-san.

/---/

AN: Wow. Really short chapter. I'm sorry about that, but the next one will be much longer. Review, please!