Author's note: Hello everybody! I just reached the 15th Alert mark so i figured i owed my readers another chapter! I really tried my best to make a longer chapter....alas, it didn't work....again. But this one is full of action...sort of....so i hope it makes up for the time in between chapters. Sorry! Please PLEASE read and review! I want at least 5 comments on this chapter before i release the next one! If i reach that mark by Halloween you guys will get another chapter by Nov. 2nd! If i reach 15 comments by that same time, maybe you'll get 2!

As always, much love to my loyal readers!

Chapter 13

He watched from the trees, not making a sound. The situation had clearly changed as she wasn't turning back into a demon. A trick? No. Not possible. She had no way of knowing he was there. Not in her human form. Still…she could be an avid opponent despite the loss of her heightened senses. And there was that fang…No! It's fine. Brushing his doubts aside, he coiled, ready to spring and complete the task he'd been paid for.

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This wasn't happening. It couldn't be happening!

Kaori's hands shook as she checked her face one more time. "Why?" she whispered.

It didn't make sense. While it was true that the last transformation had been more painful than any before, it shouldn't have anything to do with what was…or rather, wasn't….happening now. Should it?

The creak of a moving branch off to the left of where she was sitting startled her. Desperately, Kaori grasped the fang pendant. Nothing happened. She could hear the telltale signs of someone coming her way at a fast pace.

Frantic, she squeezed the fang with white knuckles. "Please!" she begged quietly, tears threatening at the corner of her eyes, "PLEASE!" Still nothing.

Taking a breath she rolled to the side and sprung to her feet, narrowly avoiding the well-aimed knife now buried in the tree where she'd been resting.

"What do you want?" Kaori half-choked at the man standing before her. She was so exhausted from everything that had occurred in the past 24 hours that she wasn't acting herself. 'Acting? I don't even LOOK like myself!' She couldn't breathe, couldn't think, couldn't move. She could hardly contain her fear!

The assassin regarded her curiously with his cold, black, snake-like eyes. "It'ssss odd. I never underssstood why every victim asks that particular quessssstion. Obviousssssly I want to kill you. Or did you think that knife wasssss a game?"

Kaori didn't reply. Running wasn't an option, not while she was human. The man was half serpent-demon, known for their quickness and cunning. There was no way she could put enough distance between them fast enough. Besides, running made it easier to get a knife in your back. She swallowed hard. "I…I meant, why are you trying to kill me?"

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Rin watched from behind the bush where she had previously been happily picking berries to eat. Why was that snake-demon trying to kill the Lady? The Lady from the village seemed so sad and then the snake-guy had thrown a knife at her but somehow she had known and had moved out of the way. Rin didn't want to stay but she was afraid that if she so much as blinked, the snake-guy would hear her. So she quietly observed the scene.

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"Why, you asssk?" He edged closer.

Kaori didn't allow herself to step back, nor did she allow her voice to shake as she replied, "Yes….why. I have done nothing to offend anyone. I keep to myself and mind my own business. Surely you have made a mistake."

The half-demon laughed, making a quiet hissing sound. "Oh, it'sss no missstake. You cannot believe anyone elsssse hasss your….condition. No. You are the one Ssshe wantssss…." He trailed off and looked off to the right….at the berry bush where Rin was hiding.

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Rin froze. She'd shifted her weight slightly because her legs were losing feeling but now she wished she had just held still. The creepy snake-guy was staring right at her hiding place. Now he was coming toward her! She trembled. 'Please don't see me. Please don't see me. Please don't –" Rin shrieked as she felt herself lifted off the ground.

"Well, what iss this?" The creepy snake man held her in front of him and patted her cheek with his knife, "A ssspy?"

She looked at him with terrified eyes and cried out "Save me! SESSHOUMARU-SAMA!"

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Sesshoumaru whirled around. Rin was in danger. He could smell it, taste it, feel it. This was twice in several hours! He ran swiftly, robes flowing out behind him, in the direction of Rin's anguished cry, his eyes glowing and Tokijin at the ready.

"Ahhh! Don't leave me behind, Sesshoumaru-sama!" cried Jaken as he struggled to catch up.

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Kaori was already moving. She had been fully prepared to run while he was distracted by something she couldn't see, but when she saw the small bundle the assassin had pulled out of the bush, she knew she couldn't leave. She ran full force right at the assassin, aiming for the hand with the knife that was threatening to slice the little girl's cheek. It was probably a stupid idea but Kaori didn't see any alternative. She sliced downward with the un-transformed fang, cutting his hand. Instinctually the half-demon recoiled his injured hand and dropped the girl. Kaori turned and picked up Rin and ran as fast she could in the other direction. Rin clutched at Kaori's robe, trembling.
"Don't worry, I've got you," panted Kaori, reassuringly, "I'll protect you, I prom--"

Kaori stumbled with a cry of pain. She twisted midair to cushion Rin against impact and landed on her back. The snake-demon had caught up to them and slashed Kaori's leg, causing her to stumble. Kaori pushed herself up and pushed Rin behind her, protectively. "Let the girl go! If it's me you want then I'll be your opponent, but leave her alone."

"Sssorry. No witnessessss." Then, with a sudden burst of speed only snake-demons are known for, the assassin rushed toward them wielding a long, thin blade dripping with what could only be poison. If it hit her it would hit both of them and then it would all be over.

Kaori couldn't move fast enough to dodge the blade, but she did manage to push Rin back out of the way just as the half-demon hit his target.

Behind her, Rin cried out.

Kaori's eyes widened in shock and…pain. Oh the pain! She looked down to see his blade sticking out of her, her blood seeping out and staining her clothing. Kaori choked on bile and cried out as he pulled out the blade. She feebly brought up her un-transformed weapon, trying to swipe at his throat but to no avail. The poison swiftly invaded her body, weakening her. Her knees buckled and she fell to the ground.

"Run." said Kaori to the little girl behind her, hoarsely. "Run!"

Suddenly the snake-man's head disappeared in a fountain of blood and the headless body fell back. Kaori clutched her wound in agony. Before she blacked out she saw an imposing figure with silvery white hair standing before her and as she gave in to the void she heard Rin cry out in relief, "Sesshoumaru-sama!"

wow....Kaori can't catch a break can she? only hours after the last fiasco, THIS happens! will she survive? Find out in the next chapter of Exiled Lady Kaori, coming soon!