A/N: Yup, it has been a while but I am back. I was away abroad for three weeks and now my batteries are charged. Ready to continue this!

Here it goes…

Chapter 28 : Ugly Truth

Jaken walked swiftly through the corridor with self-satisfaction on his features.

After he was done with some errands for the Lady Mother earlier, a few messengers had given him the reports Lord Sesshomaru had eagerly been waiting for about the most recent battles from his troops. The foolish messengers had been unable to find the Lord inside the castle, and as each time that happened, they –of course– relied on his most trusted and reliable servant to find him.

Obviously, that pleased the little toad. With the vassals and servants getting more and more numerous as years passed by, he often felt as if his usefulness was questioned. He had been Lord Sesshomaru's right hand for a very long time, but now he was surrounded with other councillors and warriors, most of them younger than the toad, and some smarter (alas, he was very well aware of that fact, though there were not so many of them…). That didn't change anything to Sesshomaru's trust, Jaken was certain of that.

Only Rin may have surpassed him in terms of trust, solely on the personal level, that is. She was still such a young girl…No way Lord Sesshomaru could give her much credibility in strategic matters. And the fact that these messengers had given him the official reports of the Western troop's progression was the evident proof! In terms of reliability, he was unbeatable!

Jaken swelled his chest in pride as he walked outside, to reach the Lord's private gardens…one of his favourite spot when he was simply too pensive to bother with his subjects.

The toad examined his master with slight surprise as he approached, thinking it must be the first time he caught Lord Sesshomaru biting the claw of his thumb. That made him look a bit less…lordly and flawless than usual. It was an odd sight. The Lord never displayed such evident signs of unrest. That either meant that the messages Jaken was about the deliver could soothe his agitation…

…or worsen it, which could certainly shorten his lifespan even more!

Sesshomaru swiftly stopped biting his nails almost shamefully, his amber eyes narrowing slightly, seemingly in annoyance, as he looked back at Jaken, who gulped in fright.

He bowed. "Ahem my lord…"

"Quit the time-wasting honorifics Jaken. Nobody's here anyway", retorted Sesshomaru dryly.

Jaken raised his head. "My lord?", he wondered out loud, unbelieving.

He could feel his eyes getting teary. Never before had his master given him permission to address him as a hierarchic equal!

"State your business", continued Sesshomaru with clear impatience.

Jaken scratched the back of his head with embarrassment. "Ah yes my lord…I had almost forgotten. We have received the casualties report of our two most recent battles", the toad informed as he held out the papers.

Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow, snatched them from the toad's hands without further response and broke the seals.

Jaken watched in admiration as his master read. Nobody could go through these sorts of arid documents as quick as him. So brilliant he is!

His master's hard expression softened as he finished reading and handed the papers back to Jaken.

"So…are these news better than the last we have received?", inquired the toad.

The inuyoukai looked back at the castle and walked towards it, leaving his servant in a very perplexed state.

"My lord! Please honour me with an answer!"
He was answered with a rock between the eyes.

"I thought you could read Jaken", commented Sesshomaru with a sideways glance. "The wind has turned again. See by yourself."

Rin pulled nervously on the tight collar of her kimono. She tried very hard to ignore the acidity in her belly making her feel unwell. She was also unbelievably hot (the thick fabric of her wide clothes not helping at all). Quite frankly, she fantasized of just bathing in a freezing river with herbal tea to soothe her stomach, but now was not the time for such frivolity. She had one task to accomplish, one that –strangely– very few people in this castle seemed to take seriously.

Rin frowned at the female scribes in front of her. She could feel anger boiling in her veins. All these women were reading the list of instructions she had just written as if it was only a bunch of idiocies. She felt uneasy. She was very aware that her writing skills were not that great, but it was not as if she could do anything about it. It was not an official report anyway, just a list of…tasks…

Why did they have to stare at her and back at the paper like that?!

Rin fantasized that she could somehow take a demon form and chase them down like pathetic little ants. That would serve them a lesson. Alas, carrying a hanyou child brought many symptoms, but transforming into a blood-thirsty gigantic creature was not among them.

…Not literally anyway…

One of them finally cleared her throat. "This is not usual procedure Lady Rin."

Hazel eyes blinked. "What is the matter? I am only asking you to compare the symptoms reported by the ill soldiers to the conditions described in tome I and tome II of the arcane magic encyclopaedia. I believe that these information could prove useful to Lord Sesshomaru."

One of them shook her head. "I am afraid it is not part of our responsibilities."

Rin's features turned into a scowl. Oh she felt so irritated! Oh she so felt like taking a demon form to eat them all…Rin blinked…yes, she did feel hungry all of a sudden…

She sighed instead.

"How is that not part of your tasks? I've seen you perform many researches for Lord Sesshomaru."

"Exactly. We are from the private research team assisting the Lord and the Lady of the West –exclusively–", specified the same scribe.

Rin repressed the urge to jump on the little scribe for proper strangulation.

"What are these follies all about?"

The little scribes gulped as they recognized the Lady Mother, standing behind Rin, her lemony eyes dangerously narrow.

"My Lady!", they all exclaimed in unison, bowing.

"Were you just refusing to assist Lady Rin under the excuse that she is not officially bound by marriage with the Lord of the West?", the demoness inquired with irritation.

One of the scribes laughed nervously. "It is the first time that happens! Uh…may we…require clarification my Lady?"

Sasori scoffed and smiled all in hostility. "You truly wish to meet a premature ending, is that it?"

All of them gasped and bowed, apologizing profusely and confirmed that they would report to Lady Rin as swiftly as possible, and left the room hurriedly.

The Lady Mother watched Rin's fists shake from anger.

"Do not trouble yourself pointlessly. All of this is normal. I was poorly treated in my first years in the West too."

Rin nodded and tried to regain her composure. She truly felt over the edge, today…

"Do you think that research in these encyclopaedias will be useful, Sasori-sama?"

The inudemoness scoffed. "Maybe, maybe not, but I am affirmative that these girls had nothing else to do and need to learn obedience!"

Rin sighed sheepishly.

Sesshomaru's mother smiled reassuringly as she put down in front on the table a good-smelling bag.

"Look what I brought! Nashis and rice balls!"

"I am not hungry Sasori-sama…"

Not anymore anyway. How is it that her hunger seemed to be directly associated with anger? She could probably ask the question to the Lady Mother, but that was probably normal (and embarrassing to ask). Kagome did warn her that carrying a child with a demon blood makes very "messed up" pregnancies…

"You need to stay healthy…", the Lady Mother protested.

"I am sorry…maybe later", Rin replied with a polite smile.

"Hm. Fine…Tell me, do you know where is my son? I would have thought that he would be working during that time of the day…", wondered the Lady Mother with wisps of annoyance.

Rin looked down. "I haven't seen him since this morning."

The demoness scoffed non-heartedly. "Sleeping again, I assume?"

Rin felt her lips tighten. She looked away, feeling heavy knots in her stomach. "Sasori-sama…do you…" She sighed. "Do you know what is wrong with him?"

Sasori stared at the human woman severely. "I was going to ask you the same question..."

Rin crossed her arms worriedly. "I believe…that he might have been cursed during our previous fight on the Western coast…"

"Yes, something of the sort has to be expected…Certainly he must be aware of his abnormal condition?"

"He changes the subject each time I bring up his fatigue! I do not know what to do!"

The Lady Mother looked out of the window with a pensive frown. "He will have to be examined."

"I know! He was supposed to go, but now he has apparently decided that this is a waste of time!", retorted Rin with annoyance. "I swear if he keeps procrastinating, I will ask Lady Ko to examine him while he sleeps!"

The Lady Mother held her chin pensively. "Hmmm…"

Rin had just given her an idea!

Sasori nodded. "In the meantime, there is always…this…" She removed her intricate pendant and handed it to Rin.

"This is the meido stone. It has many virtues. It has already revived you once."

Rin had heard the tale…She looked the pendant with awe, and dared not to take it…Its purple gem drawing every bit of her attention. She looked away. "I am not a miko, Sasori-sama. I wouldn't know what to do with it."

Sasori shook her head. "It matters not, what you are. This mystical jewel feeds off the sentiment of the living beings around it and has immediate impact on the stamina of its wielder…or on the stamina of those that occupy its wielder's thoughts."

"How intriguing…so it can have many impacts?"

"Of life and death, yes. But the sentiments have to be sincere and intense for its power to be unleashed. This is why I removed it and placed it on you to bring you back from the underworld when you were still a little child. You see…the little toad had just told me that your death must have plunged my son in terrible sorrow. I guessed that if the little demon said true, the stone might convert that sadness into enough vital energy for your soul to get back to you. And this is exactly what happened."

Rin's eyes widened as she stared back at the pendant. "Oh…"

Citrine-coloured eyes narrowed. "I had felt some growing heaviness lingering around me at that moment, but never would I have guessed it was due to my son's sorrow." Sasori smiled playfully. "You must thank the little toad for bringing that up. It is certainly not Sesshomaru who would have made such a confession about a little mortal girl that I had mistaken for his breakfast!" The Lady Mother retrieved her seriousness. "This jewel is meant to be worn by the Lady of the West, as a mean to protect herself and those she cares for. You may not be the Lady yet, but your kindliness makes me believe this jewel has much more potential in your hands than in mine. I suppose you could put the pendant on my son's chest while he sleeps, and pray hard for his well being. Surely that will aid him somehow. Just make sure he doesn't know."

Rin raised an eyebrow. "Would that ruin the spell?"

"No. But I am sure that he will be mad if he knows we've been discussing his health in his back. You know how proud he is, do you?"

The human grinned and nodded and she stretched her arm to take the pendant. "Thank you Sasori-sama. I will do my best!"

The Lady Mother narrowed her eyes suspiciously and snatched the jewel away from Rin's grasp. "I am not done girl!"

Hazel eyes widened.

"You must be warned that this stone is very powerful and can have very unpredictable impacts if you have a tainted heart. In order for me to entrust it to you, you must swear that you will only use it for the good of my son, your offspring or the Western Lands. You must not use it for own personal agenda…ever."

Rin frowned. "If everything you say is true, this artefact may as well be as powerful as the Shikon jewel was. I would never abuse of such a power. I swear I will use it only the protect the interests of the Western legacy."

The Lady Mother's features softened. She nodded. "Fine. Take it."

Rin let Sasori put it on. She took the pendant into her hands and examined it, it was not surprising that this stone felt so heavy, it was huge! No way she was going to wear this everyday like the Lady Mother…

"Make a better use of it than I", the demoness whispered.

Rin tilted her head to the side. "Pardon, my lady?"

Sasori blinked and shook her head. "Nothing. Go now. Maybe you should check on these scribes. These arrogant brats sometimes snooze around."

Rin blinked, sensing the Lady Mother's sudden dark mood.

"Why do you say that you have not used it wisely?", Rin insisted calmly.

The demoness sighed in lassitude. She sure wished that Rin wouldn't have heard. She knew how her son's mate could be persistent sometimes.

"Nothing you should be worried about. For a cold woman as I, such a stone is a true burden. "

" How can such a mystical gem be a burden? I am curious", prompted Rin.

Sasori scoffed and looked away. "There is nothing more to say little Rin, I told you! Go now…"

"If there are risks with this stone, don't you think I should be properly informed?", pursued Rin with a frown.

The Lady Mother did not answer.

Rin touched Sasori's shoulders. That startled the demoness.

Hazel eyes were pleading. "Why do you people have to keep secrets all the time? This is my family too now!"

The Lady Mother examined her very intensely for a long moment. "Are you implying that Sesshomaru keeps things away from you?"

Rin crossed her arms. "Surely you know! You two are the same! Last time I asked him something he did not like to talk about; he said that I should ask you instead. And now that I ask you something, you just try to shoo me away! How the hell am I supposed to be useful if you two keep pushing me away when something personal is involved?"

Sasori blinked.

She sighed and walked away, to look out of the window. Maybe Rin was right, maybe it was time for her to get rid of the entire burden.

"I suppose that this discussion your refer to was about the sensei and the dragon boy?"

"Well yes! And now there is this thing with the stone too!"

Sasori glanced back at Rin with a stern expression. "Rin if that may reassure you, there is not that much secrecy to know about. These two secrets you refer to are part of the same story."

Rin looked surprised. "Sesshomaru's killings and the meido stone?"

The Lady Mother nodded. "Tell me Rin…Has my son ever talked to you about his motives?"

Rin shook her head. "He says that he cannot talk about it."

Sasori scoffed darkly. "That's because he had no motives of his own!"

Rin blinked. "Wh-what?"

Sasori stopped herself for a moment, trying fight off that unpleasant feel in her throat preventing her to be as detached as she should.

Surely Rin will not do the same mistake as me, yet, she should probably know anyway... That stone can be risky.

The Lady Mother sighed.

Here it goes…

"Once, long ago, I had suspected a certain sensei of being part of mutiny. I had heard that he was plotting about murdering my son."

Rin gasped. "Really?"

"It would have been so easy for him…he was teaching combat to young Sesshomaru with minimal supervision every morning", remembered Sasori with pensiveness, quickly switching to bitterness. "However, Inu Taisho denied my request to insure proper surveillance under the pretence that the sensei was an old friend of his and that he should be trusted" Sasori frowned. "That sensei was always giving me self satisfied smirks when we met in the corridors. He had every fibre of the ill intentioned!"

"You were afraid for Sesshomaru", Rin continued in a whisper.

Sasori nodded. "I was angry and afraid. My feelings were dark" She looked down. "Only once…"

She stopped talking.

Rin tried not to be distracted with the trembling in the Lady Mother's voice. She had never seen her looking so vulnerable…

"Once…As I held nervously the meido stone, I wished for that sensei to disappear. Minutes later, my son was overwhelmed by an extreme fit of rage, which was very unlike him, and lashed out on the sensei. He has shown a strength no demon of his age could realistically possess… The little dragon boy that was in training with him tried to stop Sesshomaru, he shouldn't have done that. Before anyone could do anything, our little lord-to-be had succeeded committing gruesome acts, all the while calling the sensei traitor, even though there was no way Sesshomaru could have heard anything about that scheme about killing him. It was as if he has read my thoughts somehow…"

Rin took a deep breath, trying to take that in. "Could it be that…"

"This was the pendant's doing", Sasori finished. " I had wished for the sensei to be dead while holding the stone, during Sesshomaru's training. He was standing in front of the sensei when that happened. The stone must have used my son's soul as its tool to grace my wish, because my fear and hatred were too raw to be ignored."

"Kami…"

"My son instantly confessed being the murderer, and has shown no remorse. He had been so convinced of the justness of his actions." Sasori shook her head in aggravation. "So dejected he was, when further investigations had proven that the sensei was as white as snow…It seemed that someone else in this castle hated that sensei very much and tried to have him killed…"

Rin shook her head in desolation. "It must have been so hard on you all…"

Sasori felt her claws pierce the flesh of her hands, but Rin did not seem to notice the red drops on the floor. "I think my worse mistake is not even the accidental death wish on the stone. The worse was that I did not speak about it during the investigations. I was afraid. Because of my origins, I was the source of a lot of hatred among the subjects and I feared the consequences of taking all the blame. I only foolishly tried to defend Sesshomaru. I talked about his weak mind. He had a weak mind after all. He was just a child! And I had never wanted him to do that in the first place! Many thought that my talks were suspicious and soon enough, there were rumours that I had talked my son into doing it. That aroused doubts in Inu Taisho, who has then sent our son away from the castle, for punishment and discipline, and as a mean of protection…"

"Protection? Shouldn't his parents be the one to insure his protection?", wondered Rin with a frown.

Sasori shook her head quickly. She started to feel her eyes burn. "It was a mean for protection. Yes. He said that it was because our son's discipline was beyond our controll and that he should be confided to experts, but I very well guessed the truth! He wanted to protect Sesshomaru from his own mother! That was the undisclosed reason. I always knew…"

She brushed the tear before it could fall.

Rin looked at the Lady Mother apologetically. "Oh Sasori-sama, I am so sorry…"

Sasori shrugged off Rin's attempt for a hug and walked away slightly. "Way too late, I tried to explain to Inu Taisho that it was my fault, but he refused to believe me. He said that the meido stone that he had forged could never have such a dark power and accused me of lying only to get my son back. That fool! How could he be so sure of himself? He did not even know Sesshomaru! Had he known how much of a kind soul our son had been before this happened, he would not have blamed him like that!", she continued spitefully.

Rin played with a strand of hair nervously. It was sad how both Sasori and Inu Taisho had responsibilities in that story, yet they did not support each other…Had they worked together, Sesshomaru's fate might have been very different…

"What angers me the most is that Sesshomaru got out of this damned military school being expert at killing and hiding every trace of vulnerability, dreaming about weapons, fighting, fighting and only fighting! Completely uninterested by actual ruling, he was only fanaticising about the battlefield. He was not like that before he left! He had a good heart! And he was dutiful! He would never have turned so hateful and obsessed with personal power, had we not abandoned him to warriors and sellswords! Inu Taisho did realize as his son grew up that this inane idea of sending him away had only worsened his behaviour, yet the Lord of the Western Lands was the only one who had not been judged negatively in this whole story. Both Sesshomaru and I only earned respect from the fear we inspired. We have been perceived for centuries as mad rulers. This only started to change when my son grew some sense of responsibility and even some kindness… after his encounter with a certain mortal girl that no one in the realm had seen but me and the little toad…later on, she came back as a maiden, and they started to sing about her…"

Rin felt her breathing hitch at that and cheeks reddening. Was Sasori saying that she was responsible for an improvement in Sesshomaru's behaviour and reputation?

Sasori smiled sadly. "I wanted my son to stop seeing himself as a warrior and nothing else. When Sesshomaru came of age, I told him the truth. And I begged forgiveness."

Rin's eyes widened. "Has he forgiven you?"

Sasori scoffed. "He refused my apology. He pretended that he would not carry any grudge, but for once, his emotions were clear enough on his face. I knew then that I had just lost his trust as well. And knowing the source of his own rashness did not made him feel at peace. He still remembers killing them. To Sesshomaru… it will forever feels like his doing, it has forever soiled his sense of moral and forever ruined his weak bonds with his father. He would have so loved that his father admired him…just this once…instead of looking at him with his judging eyes!" Sasori shook her head. "I know that Sesshomaru has never told the truth to anyone, even though he would have been in the right to throw me in a cell. Instead he kept protecting my honour, even though he felt grand contempt in my regards."

Rin smiled. "l think he cares about you more than you think."

That did not make the Lady Mother smile, not truly anyway, bitterness was all over her features. "It does not change the fact that this lapse of judgement has cost him his reputation, his freedom, his best friend, and his ability to befriend too..." The demoness sighed. "My poor relations with him truly sadden me. I have done everything I could to redeem myself. I even refused to give other children to Inu Taisho in order to ensure that he could not strip Sesshomaru of his birthright. But this didn't change the past. And Sesshomaru's way of treating me has somehow become the same as his father before him. I only wish he would have forgiven me for real...but how can he do so, if I can't even forgive myself?"

She looked out of the window. "I am hopeful. You have a good heart, little Rin. Much better than mine. I know that you will be capable of using the stone wisely. Sesshomaru may refuse my help all the time, but he loves you. I am sure that you can do something for him."

Rin smiled sadly. "Thank you for trusting me, Sasori-sama…with all of this…"

The demoness simply nodded and started to walk away.

"However, I think you are partly wrong", the human continued.

The Lady Mother looked back at her, curious.

"I think Sesshomaru really did mean it when he said that he did not hold any grudges."

Sasori scoffed.

"I am serious! I think that he acts kinder in your regards these days. In fact it has been a while since I have seen you both bickering. Did you have some serious talks or something?"

Sasori pouted and looked away, trying to conceal her embarrassment. "N-not really. I did not notice that he despises me less either…"

Rin shook her head and repressed a smile. "Don't you think that it is time to show a little kindness to yourself? I am sure everything would be easier if you let go of that past and forgave yourself."

In the end, it was Rin who left the room first. Sasori pondering about what she had just heard…Kindness to herself? She was pretty sure that Rin did not mean that she should be self-negligent. Yet, how can someone be "self-kind" and as flawless as possible all at once? Was it truly possible to achieve both?

Maybe that Rin was just telling her to slack off. Sesshomaru had already told her that, several times. That must be Rin's influence as well…

Such odd human notions…

The rain was tapping against the wide windows of the Lord of the Western Land's private chambers again. It was always pouring these days. It was truly a curse. But it was not what disturbed Sesshomaru the most.

Amber eyes watched Rin, as she read the Tales of the Heike with the candlelight, from the bed, that is. He was happy to see that she had finally started reading that book and seemed to enjoy it. However, he was not used to having someone reading from his bed. Most importantly, he was not used to have Rin outpace him in terms of waking hours.

"What chapter are you at?"

Rin looked back at him and smiled quietly. "Chapter 10. The epic fight."

He shrugged slightly. "Which one? That book is only about epic fights"

Rin giggled and feigned indignation. "You just blew me the rest of the book!"

"Hmph."

She frowned. "I can go elsewhere, if I am preventing you to rest."

He took a while to answer. "Don't worry about it. I will just…turn around…"

Rin frowned slightly. "Are you sure?"

He nodded. "Yes…Good night…dearest."

Her features softened. She caressed his back affectionately. "Thank you. Sleep well…love…"

She gave one discreet sideways glance as she heard his breathing deepen.

The blade whistled almost melodiously, before landing on the man's jugular. Blood splattered on Tenmaru's clothes, his own breath interrupted by his own bewilderment and shock.

There was blood everywhere, and it was not his!

He glanced with widened eyes at the weapon of conviction, that he was still firmly holding, still trying to process how the hell he had succeeded killing that seasoned foe!

Just how many men had he killed today again?

The sounds of shouts coming from nearby brought him back to really. He disdainfully swiped the bloody blade on the dead corpse at his feet and he ran as fast as he could towards the exit that was just, at the end…of the corridor.

His demonic senses caught something. His eyes widened.

He titled his head forward just in time to avoid a wind of arrows and kept running. He couldn't give up now…He had to get out of this hell damned place and to prove to all these folks taking him for just a court jester that he was worthy of respect…and not just because of his lineage.

"Fuck."

He couldn't believe he started to have these sorts of silly honourable urges and whatnot. He took note that even after his return to the Western Castle, he should stay away from Sesshomaru for a while.

As it turns out, Tenmaru was apparently a fast runner. At least that is what he realized as he saw the figures behind him getting smaller and smaller. He silently envied Sesshomaru and his ability to fly as he please, or just turn into this freekin' ball of light and get away just like that. Why was it that it was only him that got the coolest tricks again?!

He felt hair suddenly rise at the nape of his neck, however, by the time he realized why…

He quickly glanced right and left and then...

"AAAH!"

A wave of blue light struck him, the burning sensation on his limbs nothing very pleasant. Tenmaru stood painfully on one knee, trying to catch his breath and get over the pain.

Then he sensed the attacker, and before he could stop it, a growl erupted from the back of his throat. His displeasure was great…

Of all the people…WHY it had to be…

The inuyoukai smirked darkly. "Well well, look who we've got here! General Deceiver in person!"

Kazuo stood in front of his foe, stare hard as steel. He raised his sword defiantly. "Tenmaru, I didn't expect you to be resourceful enough to even think of an escape plan…"

"Looks like this bastard possess as much shit in his brain than in his mouth!"

Icy blue eyes narrowed defiantly. "The tongue is the weapon of the wimps. Draw this sword and let's get this over with"

Tenmaru scoffed and he stood up. "What are you doing here anyway? Am I that valuable to you?"

"Alas, I am afraid so."

The inuyoukai raised a daring eyebrow. "Funny, I thought it was Rin you had a thing for."

Kazuo scoffed back. "It makes us even, then."

Tenmaru crossed his arms. "I don't know what you are talking about."

"Says the one who accuse me of lying."

"You did lie! You betrayed us!", Tenmaru retorted while pointing an accusing finger.

Kazuo shook his head before he could blurt out that it was more complicated than that.

I never had a choice in the first place…

"Draw your sword Tenmaru, if you value your life…"

The inudemon spat on the ground. "Cut the crap, Kazuo! If you guys had wanted to kill me in the first place, you would have done it already!"

Kazuo nodded. "You are considered precious leverage, but that doesn't mean that Amane had nothing sadistic in mind for you…in fact, if you have no intention of fighting, it would be less gruesome for you if you just killed yourself right now!"

Tenmaru repressed a gulp and raised his sword. He did not like the sound of this. In fact, he liked nothing of the present situation. He was weakened by the lack of proper rest and all the fights before that one. Not only was Kazuo a way more experienced warrior, but he was also in a much better physical shape at the moment! That gave him very weak chances of actually winning…

Maybe he should just try to run away?

But for some reason, Tenmaru did not want that. Not in front of that scum anyway…

"If you touch me. Your beloved will be mad at you…", the inudemon threatened with a smirk.

The general sighed. "Why should I care what she thinks now? The strategy was to earn her trust to get at Lord Sesshomaru…"

"HA! So you admit it!"

Even blinded by hatred as he was, Tenmaru did not miss the gleam of sadness in the general's eyes.

Kazuo's gaze hardened as he looked back at him. "Are you ready now, master Tenmaru? I hope you are. From all the people I have met in that mission to the West, you are certainly one I wouldn't regret killing very much."

Tenmaru smirked. "So touching, I feel the same, actually…"

Sesshomaru opened his eyes slowly, feeling surprisingly rejuvenated. He frowned as he noticed that it was still dark. He slid discreetly out of the sheets and walked towards the balcony. The rain has ceased falling, only the melody of crickets now clothing the nightly silence…

His eyebrows went up almost instantly. Not only had he woken up before dawn, but he also noticed that none of his limbs made him suffer, as it was usually the case since a while. He bit the claw of his thumb. Of course, it was no secret to him why he had to go through these pains…

He silently opened the door of the balcony and slid it shut behind him, intent on enjoying the sunrise during one of the last warm night of summer.

Had Rin not decided a life with demons, it would have been about the moment that she would have left the Western Lands.

He wondered why he thought about that, all of sudden?

"Already awake?"

Sesshomaru was almost startled. He glanced back at Rin. She had caught his bad habit of walking around as silently as an assassin…

"You shouldn't be here", he stated.

"Don't you enjoy my company?", she wondered with a pout.

"Hmph…" he looked away. "You know it's not that. I just think that you need to rest as much as you can…"

"I bet Mister fear that I'll get cranky if I don't?"

He smiled with his eyes but did not speak.

She sat next to him and brushed a few lose strands from his face to have a better look at his sharp features.

He raised an eyebrow sceptically. "What are you looking at?"

"Was just checking how handsome you are", she replied while fluttering her eyelashes.

He repressed a smile. "You should know by now."

"Your level of handsomeness varies from day to day…"

"Oh? And how do I score today?"

She grinned. "Unbelievably handsome."

"Hmph", he looked away to stare back at the moon contently. "And that's higher than average I presume?"

She just grinned. "So much that I am unable to fight back your magnetism!"

The ghost of a smile spread on his lips. He gave her one quick glance before looking down. He touched her stomach and caressed it softly.

"It doesn't show yet", she announced. "It is way too early."

"I know", he replied gently, "Do you think that the little one could feel the touch, though?"

Her smile widened. "I honestly have no clue! However, I can certainly feel it."

"Does that bother you?"

"Nooo! Please don't stop!", she whispered while closing her eyes with glee.

"You are usually so ticklish from there..."

"Well not tonight", she whispered back, while lying against his shoulder. "I guess many things will change", she continued with what Sesshomaru deciphered as slight worry.

He caressed her hair soothingly. "Everything will be fine. It will all be over way before you give birth…"

"How do you know?"

"Certainly you have seen the last reports?"

"Yes."

"See? There was only one big loss. Since then, the rebels on the Northwest were pushed back, as were part of those marching towards the mainlands. I am confident the future confrontations will end up fine as well. We are in control now" , he whispered to her ear.

"AAAAAArrgg!"

Tenmaru squeezed his eyes shut as he tried to recover from the pain of a sledgehammer that had just smashed his hand violently. The pain was truly blinding, unbearable! Much worse than the little blue flames!

No worries…It was nothing. He was an inudemon, he was physically strong…His bones were not going to break!

His ass got kicked badly by the damned general, but that was predictable, as he had established before starting the fight…And now he was back in the same cell as before, and it seemed that they had suddenly judged it was not appropriate to postpone whatever sick plan they had in mind for him…There were guards all around him, some of them carrying not very reassuring-looking weapons…including that fucking sledge-hammer. The bastard doing it really seemed to enjoy it!

Kazuo was standing in front Tenmaru, chained-up and already severely injured from all his fighting and from the torture…that was only starting.

The general sighed with despair "Master Tenmaru, I insist. You must answer to our questions."

"I ALREADY TOLD YOU THAT I DON'T KNOW!"

"I will state the questions again. From where will be coming the next armies?"

"How the shit would I know? Certainly you're aware for how long I've been in that rat hole?!"
The hammer smashed again. Tenmaru yelled in pain and cursed profusely. Kazuo shook his head.

This was a nightmare. Not only had he betrayed Lord Sesshomaru without even being aware of it, but Kazuo's own kind were also not so trusting of him since he had come back. Amane has taken a liking into making him do the worst jobs imaginable, including torturing many prisoners from the Western Lands...

But now he HAD to be sent at that particular prison, to interrogate THAT particular captive.

Kazuo took a deep breath. At least it wasn't other people he respected much more, like general Yuudai or Lady Miyah…

Or Rin…

"Certainly Lord Sesshomaru must have some usual strategies you could enlighten us with?"

"Well I don't know…haven't you been fighting our armies for months now? Certainly you must now!", whined Tenmaru.

"You must refer to the wildings. We have nothing to do with the wildings"

Tenmaru looked at Kazuo and smirked devilishly, which made the general frown suspiciously.

Oh you fool! Please don't blow it in front of the other guards…don't say that I admitted all these excuses are pure lies!

"A mere…memory lapse! Forgive me for that mistake…general…", Tenmaru replied sarcastically.

Now Kazuo was adamant to change the subject.

"So…nothing on strategy? Nothing at all that could spare you some pain?"

Tenmaru scoffed "Come on Kazuo, you know how shitty I am in tactics! Don't you remember? I am just some idiotic noble drinking sake, hitting on pretty court ladies…"

"You minimize many important facts, master Tenmaru", corrected a cold, misty feminine voice.

Both Tenmaru and Kazuo had to repress a startle of fright, as the sound of clicking okobos gave out that a woman was approaching. Lady Amane appeared out of the shadow, covered with a pristine cloak, her eyes cold and disdainful on the captive. Her sleeves and skirts were very long. She looked like a ghost.

Tenmaru felt a shiver run up his spine. As if she wasn't spooky enough…However…

He narrowed his eyes. Her looks were strange. Her arms especially. One sleeve looked fuller than the other…just like when Sesshomaru was…

He silently gasped.

General Kazuo bowed. "My Lady. You attendance was truly unnecessary."

"You are mistaken general. You are such an incompetent, I was told you have not succeeded making him spill any information!"

Before Kazuo could think of anything to say, she was facing Tenmaru again, who tried very hard not gulp.

He gulped.

Damn it!

"So when I have arrived, you were pretending that you are worthless in strategic matters, yet you were part of the army that defeated us in the Northwest. In fact, you did defeat Kazuo, as I recall", Amane added, while throwing daggers with her eyes to her half brother.

Tenmaru blinked and glanced at Kazuo.

It was almost imperceptible, but Tenmaru swore he saw Kazuo very, verrrrryyyy discreetly shake his head in disapproval.

Now Tenmaru started to be confused.

"Correct him"

Another hit with the sledgehammer. Tenmaru screamed. This time he was pretty sure a few bones had matters not…he was of the strong inu bloodline. It is said that inudemons are so awesome that they can recover instantly at will!

"Captive, answer!"

"Y-y-yeah…about Kuno", he stuttered. "I did defeat Kazuo…but I dunno, he seems good. I say he must have had the sun in his face when we were fighting or something…"

Amane shook her head impatiently. "What are you babbling about, captive?"

Tenmaru cleared his throat. "I am saying that my defeat against Kazuo was a case of pure luck. I am not exactly known to be an excellent fighter."

"Were you the one who conceived the strategy used on Kuno?", Amane continued with narrowed eyes.

Oh shit…

How the hell could he answer safely to that question? Why was it even relevant for Amane to know information about these past events anyway? Tenmaru had…participated…but the final strategy was in fact, very different than what he had suggested. In truth, it was mostly Kazuo and Sesshomaru who had thought about the smartest elements. Now that was a bother…it couldn't exactly tell her that…

Tenmaru saw the sledgehammer rise. He could feel the pain intensify even though the hammer had not hit yet.

"Speak!", barked Amane.

"Hatsuno!", he exclaimed. "It was during a meeting. Hatsuno was an old experienced fossile! Competent fossile I mean. Errr…Yeah, he is the one who was wise enough to suggest that ambush!"

Amane smiled earnestly. "Hatsuno? Baron Hatsuno you mean? The one that got beheaded?"

Tenmaru squeezed his eyes shut and nodded.

Amane's smile turned into a sardonic smirk. "You are on the Western Council, am I correct?"

"Hum…yeah…though as of late, I was in that cell."

The Empress of the Heartlands ignored his pathetic jesting. "Certainly you must have heard of the baron's reputation? Old…fossile like you said…incompetent…and you say such a plan would have been imagined by your most incompetent councillor?"

Tenmaru smiled sheepishly. "Well…we liked to mess around with old Hatsuno, but he was not that bad!"

Amane glanced back at him. "That's cute…blaming the dead to avoid spilling names."

The hammer hit again. This time no sound came out of Tenmaru's mouth. There was a heavy lump in his throat.

Amane laughed. "Ah this question was just to warm up." She glanced at the massacred hand. "By the way…I am not sure you will be able to use that again."

Tenmaru glanced at his feet and did not answer. This bitch was not going to see the water in his eyes.

"Next topic", continued Amane. "Succession. So basically, you have said earlier to Kazuo that Lord Sesshomaru has no heir he tries to hide, or any offspring on the way, is that correct?"

Tenmaru did not glance up. He decided to look the least as possible into that bitch's eyes. And he also had to avoid looking at his hand. He could only feel an unbelievable amount of pain, his nerves so exposed that even the drops of blood slipping off the tips of what was left of his fingers felt painful…

"Correct", he replied meekly.

Amane smiled. "I actually believe you on that one. Sesshomaru had the reputation to be very solitary in the bedroom for the past century. Some woman pretenders even started to believe Sesshomaru must have fallen in love with his own reflection…

Tenmaru would have snickered at that…had he not been trying hard not to cry from the pain.

"So what if Sesshomaru dies before we succeed taking over the West…Who would take over?"

"Lady Sasori", Tenmaru retorted without thinking.

Amane laughed. "Of course…The dead and now the old woman. I feel kind. You have one other chance Tenmaru. Who would take over?"

His jaw tightened.

Again, what was he supposed to answer to that? He did not even know the answer to that question!

He simply shrugged.

Amane displayed deception. "Is that all you've got?"

He glanced up and stared at her straight in the eyes. "What? Would you like me to invent? These are private matters only the Lord and Lady of the West know about!"

Amane smiled. "Would it be Sesshomaru's half breed brother?"

Tenmaru laughed.

He almost wanted to say yes to get this over with, but then again, that hanyou was Rin's friend and he assumed that it would get back to him if he ever said that.

"I don't think so. You've heard it from Rin's mouth. The half breed married a human woman and has almost mortal children."

Amane shrugged. "Then who?" She narrowed her eyes. "Would it be you?"

Tenmaru's eyes widened. Then he laughed harder than before, but he wasn't sure if it was a laugh or a cry.

"Me? I'm the court jester! Why would they use me as successor?"

"So you deny?"

"I assume that if I were heir, I would know", Tenmaru spat with a harsher tone than he had intended.

For some reason, Amane did not order to hit him. She seemed to be deep in thoughts. "I do believe you when you say that Sesshomaru would not choose his hanyou half brother who lives with humans. That half-breed would probably refuse the succession anyway, but then, that doesn't leave much other possibilities. If the hanyou is not the heir, it has to be you."

Tenmaru shook his head. "I told you! It doesn't make any sense! I am not even a skilled warrior! Even less a ruler!"

"You are on the council."

"I am there only because I know about the girl's gossips around the realm, nothing else!"

"You share his blood."

"Only partly! I am not even the highest vassal, hierarchically speaking!"

Amane blinked. "True. It was Baron Hatsuno. However, he is dead, and I am told his only living daughter has renounced to inheritance of her lands that are currently occupied by our troops."

Tenmaru's eyes widened. "L-Lady Takara? She did that?"

"Yes." Amane smiled again. "So…are you about to change your answers, master Tenmaru?"

He blinked. He tried to think hard about that question. That truly intrigued him. Could he ever be heir? That seemed crazy! But then again…

Nah…Rin was certainly pregnant by now. Her scent has changed so much lately! Unless Rin gets killed, but for some reason, Tenmaru found that possibility unlikely. They won't let anything happen to her.

Yes, most likely Rin's offspring would replace Sesshomaru if he were to die, and maybe the Lady Mother would take over for a while (or Rin after the Lady Mother dies, but that would be highly ironic and would probably cause an uproar so no…)

He shook his head and smiled back at the empress. "Sincerely. I wish I could blurt you a name, but the truth is, I have no clue. And let's say I truly was the heir, in a testimony somewhere without knowing. Let's say that you would slay me – because I am pretty sure this is what you were thinking about when you asked that question, kill all the heirs– don't you think they can't find anyone else?! There are many vassals and generals and nobles on the Western Lands…"

"Other dog demons?" inquired Amane.

"No", he replied without thinking.

Amane laughed. "What about your family Tenmaru? Are they not dog demons?"

Then the hammer smashed him in the ribs. He laughed and cursed all at once. "That's cheap! I thought you were talking about Inu Taisho's bloodline, not the moon tribe!"

"Do you have children? Any unofficial ones, or maybe one on the way?"

"No", he lied.

Amane did not seem to notice.

"But you have a wife now."

"I don't like her. It was just for appearance", he lied again.

"So you don't share your bed with her?"

"I don't fuck her", he lied again.

She did not react. At all.

Wow…Tenmaru started to feel confident about all his bullshitting…

"What a foolish answer! What would be the purpose of arranged marriage if it weren't to conceive heirs? ", spat Amane with spite. "You are full of lies!"

He did not find anything to answer. They smashed the hand again. He did not flinch. In fact, it started to feel less painful than before…

"I am growing tired. You seemed slightly less idiotic the last time we have met", Amane commented. "A few last questions. About bedding again." Amane took a deep breath. "What the hell is going on inside the Western Castle with humans?"

Tenmaru blinked, such in a state of shock and weakness because of the injury that he started to be a little confused.

"H-humans?", he blabbered. "What humans?"

Icy blue eyes narrowed. "You and the Lord of the Western lands have a soft spot for a mortal woman. The same mortal woman signed the treaty regarding the conquest of the Northwest. What is she exactly?"

For some reason, Tenmaru's eyes went to Kazuo, and noticed that all blood had left his face. And suddenly, Tenmaru had the impression he was not the first one to be asked that question.

He gulped. Whatever Kazuo had done, it was obvious now that he had not been as much of a foe as what he had pretended to be in front of his Heartlands buddies. Even though Tenmaru might have felt like blowing his cover (just for cheap vengeance), he knew that was not every smart move for his own safety, or Rin's…or Sesshomaru's…Maybe that this idiot could be useful if Tenmaru succeeded not blowing his cover…

"Answer convict", Amane insisted icily. "What is she?"

"She is not his wife", he blurted.

"Is she his lover? Or his mate maybe? I have heard rumours about that one…"

Tenmaru felt his blood freeze. Than some flash of genius struck him.

"You know what she is! She's just his ward!"

Lady Amane smirked. "Ward that he dances with…"

He gulped. "Sesshomaru is…very protective of her, but not the way you think. She is…like a daughter to him."

She blinked, as if not truly believing what he had just said. "But…the remarks you made at the dinner…"

"Were just to taunt him! I know he hates when men hit on his ward. He thinks she is too young to be bedded", Tenmaru improvised, gesticulating with his good hand for more credibility.

Lady Amane scoffed. "If he's so platonic in her regards why wouldn't he have told me when it was the time!?"

Tenmaru blinked.

Just what did you say Sesshomaru? Certainly you did not tell Amane during the wedding that you were about to bang a human girl…

He tried one last move, starting with a shrug. "You know what? Maybe you are better informed than I! I just know that he has saved this girl with Tenseiga long ago, and that it was the first thing he revived with his blade so he has developed some attachment to her, but to me it seems more like she is some sort of human pet, some weird project of his. Maybe he's curious about human's lifespan and shit. Sesshomaru is a bit of a bookworm, he is curious in uncanny ways sometimes, but I don't think that he used the girl for his needs."

Amane scratched her forehead in annoyance. Tenmaru gave one swift glance to Kazuo, who very (veryyyyyyyy) discreetly nodded to him in silent approval. Had he said the right thing? Tenmaru wanted to weep with joy.

Then Amane glanced back at him with frustration. "Sasori did not contradict me when I called her pet…but never used that word herself."

Tenmaru decided to add more flesh on the bones. He grinned. "That's because Rin IS a pet, but we simply don't call her that. She's sensitive and it makes her cry and all…and Sesshomaru hates when we upset her so we just call her ward. She does not sleep with the stray dogs after all, she had her own room and clothes and stuff, she is a bit more than a pet, but you know…barely…"

"You almost seem disdainful when you speak of her today, yet, you were hitting on the girl at your own wedding", added Amane while rising a sceptical eyebrow.

Tenmaru licked his lips. "Well…she is a pretty-looking pet, you have to give her that."

The empress narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "So you would say she is beddable."

Tenmaru's lips became a thin line. He was in dangerous waters.

Amane tapped her lower lip with her index finger in a pensive manner. "Now that I remember correctly, you did propose to the girl to become your lover, and you had discussed this with your wife…"

"We were just messing around!", he exclaimed indignantly.

Amane rolled her eyes. "You were eating her with your eyes all night. You find her beddable do not deny it!"

Tenmaru frowned. That was not a question. But he couldn't just…

But he did find Rin…

No!

"Nonsense!", he refuted.

"Too slow!", replied Amane boringly. She smiled at him. "I think we are done here. In fact, we were just toying with you, Tenmaru. This short chit-chat to you was not the prime reason of my visit."

Tenmaru shifted uncomfortably on the ground. "Wh-what?"

She snapped her fingers. Bother guards took him firmly, one of them holding him by the shoulders and the other one…

"AAAAAAHHH!"

…touching the wrist of the broken hand to put it right in front of his eyes.

Tenmaru hissed and squeezed his eyes shut.

"Look at it", ordered Amane with a low voice.

Tenmaru shook his head.

"LOOK AT IT!", she yelled.

He forced his eyes open and had to try hard not to barf, or cry…

"Take a good look because you both are about to say goodbye", added the empress.

He looked up at her. "Wh-…what?"

"Guards. The axe.", she stated.

The fear and the despair were so unbearable. His blood started to boil in madness "It's because you got your own hand slit during your fight with Sesshomaru, is that it?!", he spat madly.

She smiled sourly. "You do have good eyes", she complimented. "I think they will be next…Too bad, I think that they are of a pretty color, very rare for dog demons…but let's start with the first piece don't we?"

Tenmaru hissed as they slammed his broken hand on the cold stony wall. He quickly shook his head in denial.

"No-no…nooooOOOO!"

Jaken narrowed his bulging eyes as he watched the little incompetent scribes from afar.

One of them gasped, the one with black hair and too much feminine artifice on her face. "No way! Are you kidding me?!"

The yellow haired one nodded, and whispered something else to her companion's ear.

"Of course she is!", Jaken heard. "Haven't you noticed how she started to wear loose clothes all of a sudden?"

"So the Lord knocked her up?!"

The toad's eyes widened in shock. What were these girls talking about with that foul language?

"Silence you lazy harpies!", he exclaimed, startling them both. "Get back to work!", he snapped.

The pale haired one nodded with a slightly apologetic look, while the other one just looked at him with one of these arrogant pair of eyes. Jaken stared at the girl. He knew that Lord Sesshomaru did not like her very much either.

Jaken thought back about their pointless gossips. No way that Rin could be with child! Or could she? Lord Sesshomaru did imply a few times that he wouldn't mind at all if she bore his children. However, Jaken would never have thought that it would come so quickly…

His eyes narrowed…thinking back of when Rin had asked him what place she would have in an empire led by Lord Sesshomaru…when she was still just a little girl…

Never would he have thought that she would earn a position actually more important than his own!

The toad chased these foolish thoughts. Lord Sesshomaru was much less unpredictable and violent with him, since Rin had come back into their lives. It was actually a good thing that his master had gotten emotionally attached to a woman. Rin was witty and respectable after all, even though she was a mortal. She had much more decent manners than this demoness of the wind that had hit on his master a decade ago, or any of the rare ones that Jaken was aware his lord had led into his bed very long ago…

"Master Jaken!", exclaimed a third scribe, who had been seriously searching through the books Rin had requested them to check, without any need of interventions of him.

"What is it girl?"

"I think I might have found something!", she exclaimed.

He walked towards her, she turned the book and held it for him to read.

"Right there…it does match many of the men's symptoms, don't you think master?"

Jaken went swiftly through the page. He felt sweat drops form at the base of his forehead.

"Report this immediately."

The Lord of the Western Lands strolled swiftly through the corridors, while biting the claw of his thumb again. The most recent army that had left the main domain was back…much more quickly that he had anticipated. And general Qiang, one of his most trusted and experienced warrior, had requested a discussion in private with him and his mother in the study. He got his claw out of his mouth and watched it with disdain, and he tried not to grind his teeth instead. Urgent reunion requests were rarely a good omen, but it was not a reason to give off negativity to his subjects.

"SESSHOMARU!"

He almost flinched. Amber eyes glanced over his shoulder. Rin was running towards him, one book in hand and fright all over her features. He slowed his pace to let her catch up with him.

"What is it?", he inquired with all the neutrality that he could muster.

"We need to talk", she announced gravely.

He raised an eyebrow, concerned, then looked away. "I am in the middle of something, is it urgent?"

"I am afraid so", she whispered.

He glanced back at her. She caught his wrist before he could say anything else and brought him in the next turn of the corridor, in a corner…next to a window. The light was all on her features. He noticed then that it seemed as if she was about to cry.

He took a deep breath. He could not deny her; she was obviously in need. He touched her cheek tenderly.

"What is the matter?", he asked in a soft whisper.

Her eyes got glossier and glossier as she watched him. Only half of his face was lit by the daylight, it made him look gloomy. She looked away, upset. "I-I spoke with…Lady Ko…"

He frowned. "What about it? Is something wrong with the little…"

"Nothing to do with that", she snapped harshly. "I showed her this… and she didn't look surprised."

She gave him the book. His face darkened as soon as he spotted the book's title. She pointed him the lines.

Rin inspected his features. He didn't even read it entirely and glanced back at her, unblinking and emotionless.

She felt her limbs starting to tremble…She had her answer already…

"I can't believe this!", she whispered, angry tears rolling on her cheeks. "…When did you intended to tell me exactly?", she whispered with barely concealed wrath, her dark eyes shooting him daggers.

He blinked and looked down.

"What! You were not going to tell me at all?!", she snapped.

"I never said that. I…I…", he hesitated. "Did not want to worry you pointlessly."

"Pointlessly you say?!", she retorted. "How can this be pointless? This is much worse than a weakness curse Sesshomaru! How dare you find out about this and not even tell me about it!"

He frowned. "I never meant dishonesty. It was simply not the time, you were already overwhelmed with the other news."

"No reason can justify how you treat me!"

He started to lose his patience. "I've always treated you with the greatest care."

She huffed. "Yeah! So caring that you had to assume that I'm unable to bear the truth!"

"Well obviously you do not take it well", he retorted icily.

"What I take badly is the fact that you did not tell me!", she exclaimed.

"Rin, calm down."

That did not help. Oh he could see in her eyes that she was about to erupt…

"Sesshomaru…I am carrying your child! WHEN WILL YOU STOP TREATING ME LIKE ONE!", she exploded as angry tears fell from her face.

His eyes widened. How dare she speak of the child in public?!

"My lord!"

"WHAT", snapped both Rin and Sesshomaru at the same time, making the poor guard flinch.

"General Qiang and your mother are waiting for you", he explained, apologetic. "I think it is most urgent my lord"

"What is that? Another thing I am excluded of?", Rin spat rancorously, as she wiped her tears.

Sesshomaru glared at her and decided not to dignify that with an answer. "Let's go", he retorted, already walking away.

"What? I am invited this time?", she asked sarcastically.

"Well if you want more ugly truth spit into your face, be my guest", he retorted harshly.

"…You're not fair", she argued in a low voice.

He scoffed. "Not fair?! Look at yourself!", he exclaimed in an infuriated whisper between his teeth.

"Well yes I am a mess! Because of what I have just learned and the fact that you had to hide it from me! Stop presuming I am too sensitive to bear the truth!"

Now it was his time to erupt. "I found out just before you made your announcement. What was I supposed to tell you exactly!?", he inquired behind clenched teeth. "Oh great about the kid! Besides, I hope that you don't mind that I might die?!"

She hid her tears with her hand and looked away. "Don't…say that! We'll take care of you! We'll find a way…", she whispered between two sobs.

He felt his own stomach twitch at the sight of her pain, heavy remorse calming him down. He did not want to upset her further.

"I suppose…that I should not have said that…", he whispered regretfully.

She did not answer.

Soon enough they were in front of the study. The guards opened the doors for them. As soon as that was done Sesshomaru smelled death.

"R-Rin…"

She looked back at him, oblivious to the general's and the Lady Mother's grave features.

Sesshomaru's jaw tensed. "Maybe you shouldn't. "

She frowned seriously and looked back in front of her.

The Lady Mother threw her a sinister look. "He meant that what you are about to witness is not pretty Rin. Are you sure you can bear this, considering your condition?"

"If I am to take your place someday, I have to bear the same burden as you, Sasori-sama", she replied with determination.

General Qiang stood up and bowed. "My Lord..."

"General…you bring dark news I suppose…", Sesshomaru finished.

Qiang nodded apologetically. "After receiving this, I took this initiative of deploying the troops back to the mainlands immediately.

There was a small chest on the table. Sesshomaru was not sure he actually wanted to open it. He nodded with resignation and opened it.

First thing was Rin's gasp. And then the stench came...

"Oh KAMI! WHAT IS THIS!?"

Sesshomaru recognized the markings on the severed wrist. He looked at the broken fingers, bones jutting out of the white knuckles.

"Rin go take some fresh air", Sesshomaru replied.

"WHAT IS THIS?!", she repeated.

"Tenmaru's hand", the Lady Mother answered gravely. "And a declaration of war."

"Oh Kami!", she whispered. "A-are you sure?"

She looked at Sesshomaru. He closed his eyes and nodded. "Rin, I am sorry."

"Oh gods", she whispered, running out, toward the balcony doors. The Lady Mother caught up with her and opened the door as quick as possible as Rin expelled everything that was in her stomach at that moment outside.

Sesshomaru took a deep breath and started to read the piece of paper, soon enough his irises reddening at the abomination the Empress of the Heartlands had written to justify her madness.

…End of chapter…

A/N: Sesshomaru very unwell, Tenmaru amputated, Rin and Sesshy at each other's throat, war, that one was nasty chapter! I am afraid there will be more of the those. Well at least I did not kill anyone…

…yet…

Anyway, review?

Answer to the previous ones…

Jj: Glad you are! ;)

Guest: Yeah sorry for the delay…hope you like this one anyway…

Davian: That is extremely long and time consuming to translate, I am not sure I can do that, but I do hope that you will enjoy the rest of the story! Thank you for the review(s) :D

Piggy-in-pink: Thank you so much for the compliment and the offer :D Though I noticed that you deactivated private message, which makes it a bit hard to chit chat about it. It matters not! Thanks for the feedback, I am glad to know that what I have written on pregnancy until now is somewhat right

Guest: Thanks! :D