-Dead Soul-

"His scent is in the direction of the East," Inu Taisho's nose perked up into the air. "We must hurry if we wish to catch him before he moves again."

"What are we waiting for?" Sango grabbed her weapon and determinedly slung it over her stiff shoulders. Kirara mewed and climbed onto her other side. "I must save Kohaku."

Rin looked admirably at Sango and smiled. She really was like the Sango she knew back home, just with slightly more violent qualities. Nonetheless, the love for her brother was strong and Rin had always respected her for that.

At that moment, it seemed like everybody had a reason for wanting to hunt down the despicable demon, Naraku. Sesshomaru knew clearly what his reasons were. Naraku had taken Rin's life from him once before, and he was not going to let that happen again.

They departed Totosai's cave – Inuyasha with his Tesseiga, Sesshomaru with his Tenseiga and Inu Taisho with his own Sounga, and headed in the direction of the immense demonic aura.

-Evil Demon, Naraku-

"Onigumo," Naraku called, watching as his half reincarnate bowed down before him. "There is one more task I need you to do."

Naraku narrowed his purple lids and frowned. "I have hidden my heart in the modern era."

Onigumo's eyes widened. His heart? Now was his chance. If I can get my hands on it, and destroy it… I will obtain my freedom at last!

"Don't even think about it, Onigumo." Naraku laughed. "I hold your own heart in the very palm of my hand. A wrong move will have you dead."

Onigumo growled, having forgotten that Naraku could watch his every move with Kanna's mirror.

"Inuyasha and his pathetic friends are bound to come after me. When they do, they may even be able to destroy my body… but as long as my heart still beats in the modern era, I will never die."

An eerie silence overtook the room. "Go back to the other side and guard my heart, Onigumo. It lies in a black box underground beneath the Sacred Bridge. Fail me, and I shall take your life."

Slowly rising to his feet, Onigumo nodded and walked out of the dark room.

-Searching for the Sacred Jewel-

The bright fire crackled against the darkness of the surrounding night. Inuyasha sat cross legged, his arms comfortably crossed and his eyes closed. The scent of mating was all over Rin and Sesshomaru, and he could not stand it.

"Is she gonna have your babies or what?" he asked, never looking at his brother.

Sesshomaru hissed at Inuyasha and returned to his lying down position next to Rin. "Mind your own business, half breed."

"Man, do I feel sorry for your kids," he grumbled.

Sesshomaru shot a cold glare at him before replying flatly. "She is not my mate...yet."

Inuyasha opened his eyes and raised an eyebrow in confusion. "yet?"

"Inuyasha, I will not disclose personal matter with the likes of you."

There was a moment of silence as both brothers listened to the calming sounds of the fire and peaceful snoring.

"Just so you know," Inuyasha started again. "I'm going to be the one to take down Naraku."

Scoffing, Sesshomaru rolled onto his side and closed his eyes. "Unlike you, I actually have something to fight for."

"Hey!" the half demon barked. "What makes you think you have a reason and I don't?"

I almost lost Rin, he thought. Imbeciles like you wouldn't understand the pain…

"I'm talking to you! Answer me!"

"Inuyasha," Sesshomaru snarled. "Your voice is most irritating."

With a frustrated huff, Inuyasha sat himself back down and looked away. "Stupid know-it-all…"

-Little Fox Demon, Shippo-

"Am I ever starving!" Jaken complained, holding his small growling belly. Hopefully, he looked up at his Lord Sesshomaru and forced a smile. "Lord Sesshomaru…"

"No," the dog demon coldly replied. "If you are hungry Jaken, you must find your own food."

"Yes, My Lord," the imp sadly said, looking down at his feet.

Seconds later, Rin awoke from her slumber and stretched out her long arms. Yawning, she looked around and breathed in the morning air. Suddenly, a strange gurgling noise rippled across her stomach causing her to blush. "I guess I'm hungry…"

Sesshomaru walked over to her side and leaned down onto his knee. "Wait here, Rin. I will find you something to eat."

"Oh, Sesshomaru, it's okay I can just—" But before she could finish, he had already leapt into the forest. Rin looked down at Jaken whose jaw fell to the floor, anger blazing in his eyes like a jealous ember. "Master Jaken? Are you alright?"

"THIS ISN'T FAIR, I SERVE UNDER HIM FOR CENTURIES AND SHE COMES INTO HIS LIFE AND TAKES ALL THE GLORY. YOU WENCH, YOU HAVE MY LORD UNDER A SPELL, DON'T YOU!"

Rin blinked and cocked her head to the side.

It was only minutes later when Sesshomaru came back, the sleeves of his kimono rolled up and the bottoms of his pants drenched with water. In his strong hand, he carried a bundle of flapping fish and dropped it onto the floor. "Eat."

-The Living Buddha of St. Hakushin-

In the modern era, Kaede and Grandpa Higurashi took their morning stroll across the neighborhood. Ever since the disappearance of their granddaughters, these walks became more and more unbearably quiet.

"You know," Kaede whispered. "Rin isn't really my blood kin."

Gramps looked at her curiously and raised two bushy grey eyebrows at her. "You mean to say she is adopted?"

Kaede shook her head slowly and continued to walk with her hands behind her back. "Rin was brought to me by my dead sister Kikyo."

Gramps couldn't understand what the old woman was saying. Maybe she was finally going insane.

"Kikyo claimed to be from the Feudal Era…" she smiled, shaking her head at herself. "It's all a blur, but Rin was fated to be my granddaughter."

"The Feudal Era you say?" Gramps interjected surprised. "What a strange occurrence indeed…" he stroked his slim beard.

Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump….

"Did you hear that?" Kaede looked up. They stood under the Sacred Bridge, somewhere they had passed every morning, but today was different. From under the cement, they could hear what seemed to be heartbeats coming from somewhere in the darkness.

Quickly, they located the source of the sound and dug up a small black box locked with a golden seal. Bringing his frail ears to the leather, Gramps gasped and dropped the box onto the floor. "It is a heart!"

Kaede's eyes widened. "We cannot know for sure unless we open it."

-Miasma-

Naraku hissed in pain, grabbing his chest and falling onto his knees. What is going on? He growled at the floor and called for his reincarnate, Kanna.

The white child conveyed an image of Kaede and Gramps shaking the box which held his heart. "Who are those old fools?" No, more importantly, why can they see and hear my heart?

Slowly, he stood, breathing slowly, sweat pouring down his forehead. He leaned back against the wall, sending Kanna away and closed his fluttering lids. Onigumo, listen to me. Naraku tapped into Onigumo's conscience and gulped. Hurry up, find my heart. You will find an old woman and old man trying to open the box. Destroy them quickly. Do whatever you can to retrieve it. Do you understand?

When he was sure Onigumo had heard his commands, he breathed deeply, occasionally gripping the fabric of his chest in excruciating pain.

(a/n): sorry everyone! I don't know how many chapters I can manage to upload today, school is stressing me out!

On a positive note though, I finally decided on how I'm going to end this story! woot woot!

anyways, review~!