-Evil Demon Naraku-

The door to the basement burst open, revealing the slim, dark figure of Naraku. His laugh echoed through the barren room as he took another step in.

"I'll kill this bastard!" Inuyasha yelled, leaping for the man with full force.

With one touch of his finger, Naraku was able to reflect Inuyasha's Blades of Blood. "Don't be a fool, half-breed. Do you really think that in your condition, you can defeat me?" He laughed, focusing his gaze on the helpless girls on the floor before him.

Mercilessly, he grabbed them by the hair and forced them onto their feet. "I'm going to be needing these two, hope you don't mind, Inuyasha."

With that, the door slammed shut, leaving the half demon alone and furious. "Iron Reaver, Soul Stealer!" He clawed at the door but it refused to budge. All that was left were taunting scratch marks from his attacks. "Damnit, Naraku!"

-Evil Spirits Desiring the Sacred Jewel-

"What… do you want from us…" Kagome gulped, trying to break free from his impossibly strong grasp. "I thought you were done with me—"

"Don't be a fool," Naraku hissed. "I still need those eyes of yours."

Rin, terrified, watched Naraku force Kagome's eyes open. "Hey, leave her alone!"

He slowly tilted his head to stare at her with two emotionless eyes. "I'd be worried about yourself if I were you," he smiled. "After all, you are the bait."

"Bait?" she gulped. Sesshomaru sensei… where are you?

A loud crashing noise was heard coming from outside as Rin noticed a battle happening outside the office window. There was Koga, the man she had met previously when obtaining the Sacred Jewel… and… Shippo? She gasped, worried for their sake, and noticed a strange woman in the air with a powerful fan in her slender hand.

Naraku laughed. "So, Kagura has already started?" he muttered to himself. "A little ahead of schedule…" He glanced at Kagome and forced her face outside the window. "Where is it?" he hissed. "Does that mutt Koga have it?"

She winced, then shook her head. "I'm not telling you anything!"

Naraku threw her against the wall and cracked the knuckles in his hand. "Fine then, I guess I'll just have to start phase 2." His arm suddenly transformed into a tentacle and wrapped it around Rin's frail body.

It happened so fast, Rin didn't know how or when to react. The next thing she knew, she was hanging upside down, head first towards the streets of the city. Her instincts were telling her to scream, and so, she did.

-Fang Sword, Tessaiga-

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Shippo stopped what he was doing and looked up through his sweaty bangs. "Lord Sesshomaru! Up there!"

Sesshomaru narrowed his golden eyes at the blinding sun to see a squirming figure hanging outside of the top floor's window. He sniffed, then growled, his eyes glowing a threatening, crimson color. "Koga, Shippo, finish your business here."

In a short instant, a trail of white smoke followed after him as he shot up into the air. With a swift motion of his arm, he cut the tentacle that held Rin in half, and caught her unconscious body in motion. Holding her with one arm, he punched through the wall that she came from and covered Rin's face with his own chest.

"Ah, Sesshomaru! Long time so see," Naraku smiled, holding Kagome by the arm. "You're a little late, aren't you?"

Sesshomaru hissed while he placed Rin down carefully onto the floor.

Who is that? Kagome's eyes widened with surprise. And why is he protecting Rin?

"Naraku, shouldn't you stop these childish games?" Sesshomaru asked coldly, strands of loose silver hair swaying with the breeze that entered through the hole of the wall.

"Where is it?" Naraku hissed. "Where is the Sacred Jewel?"

"So that is what you have been seeking this entire time?" Sesshomaru scoffed, raising an eyebrow. "I'm afraid I don't have it."

He started to move towards Rin, to hold her in his arms and take her back home where she would be warm, and safe… but Naraku wouldn't allow it.

"No jewel, no girl," Naraku growled. "That's how it works."

-Attack-

"Surely you can't be this foolish, Sesshomaru. You're telling me you came here without the Jewel? How else do you expect to save the girl?" Naraku smirked as he was in possession of Rin's body once more.

"I don't need the jewel," Sesshomaru hissed. "I can kill you here and now." His claws extended as he pointed two fingers at Naraku's heart. A green light formed at the edge of his fingertips and soon, extended to the man standing before him.

But, to Sesshomaru's surprise, Naraku was able to easily dodge it.

"Fool," Naraku smiled. He took Rin and Kagome, brought the girls to his chest and pushed them inside. Before Sesshomaru could attack, he was faced with a human shield that was attached to the despicable demon. "What is the great Sesshomaru going to do now?" he taunted. "To kill me, you must also kill the girl."

Sesshomaru leapt back and retracted his whip. Without changing his facial expression, he stood straight and faced the opponent with the utmost hatred.

But it was true, there was no way of defeating Naraku without hurting Rin. And this other girl carried Inuyasha's scent. She must be the priestess.

"Of course," Naraku continued. "We could settle this easily. Just hand me the jewel, and I shall let these pitiful humans go. Surely you of all people can't care that much about the life of a mortal, Sesshomaru."

The dog demon growled, his ears starting to extend with anger. No, he had to suppress the transformation until he could get Rin out of Naraku.

"Where is Inuyasha?" he found himself asking. "Is he even alive?"

Naraku laughed. "Ah, your brother is alive... for now. I never knew you took such interest in your family."

Sesshomaru remembered the promise he made Shippo… the one that he would save Inuyasha and bring him out alive. But how could he focus on someone like him when Rin's suffering was before his very eyes?

He had to do it. He had to transform.