Sesshomaru kept a careful eye on his priestess. The woman was known to be most foolhardy, prone to trouble, and he could sense there was more that she hadn't told him.

Perhaps if he were another being, he might have felt guilt for his own secrets he was keeping, but he didn't. There were some things he refused to taint his priestess with and this was one of them—he would not allow Shiyuri's past to taint Kagome's present or future.

But that did not mean he wouldn't be aware of them.

Sesshomaru suspected that Shiyuri was in fact the same Shiyuri who had once been betrothed to Sesshomaru's own grandfather, though legend had it that Shiyuri had been captured and subsequently disappeared, rendering that betrothal null and void. Sesshomaru's father had instead mated a female of his own species and the family lore, if it had known of Shiyuri's fate, hadn't kept the information in the record.

Now, however, he suspected that Shiyuri had, in fact, been one of the women freed by Sesshomaru's grandfather and the others who had done battle against Itsetsuhiko, for a white tiger yokai had been mentioned amongst those who had been freed.

Likely, it had been out of respect for her own future daiyoukai status and the torment she'd been though that had kept Sesshomaru's grandfather, the first Inu no Taisho, from advising anyone else of her fate, allowing her to return to her people quietly and take over her mother's place when her mother had died.

Shiyiuri sensed his quiet fascination with her. She alone had seen their enemy—and lived. Her knowledge, her resource, was invaluable to the plan already forming in his mind.

Her green eyes met his and he caught the unspoken message. As the others made camp, he left under the pretense of locating sustenance for his companions. A hunt would be easily and quickly accomplished, leaving him with the time to speak with Shiyuri about what she had learned, long ago.

He left quickly to find a place where they could not be overheard, knowing that Shiyuri would follow.

"You wished to speak with this one," she said as they stepped into a clearing.

"Hnn." Sesshomaru nodded his head slightly, with all the respect another daiyokai was due. "You have information on Itsetsuhiko."

Shiyuri hissed. "The abomination." Her sharp canines were exposed as she spat the words. "He will die by this one's claws and this one's alone."

Sesshomaru saw no reason to argue with her, though he had no intention of allowing Shiyuri that honor. She was not the only one who desired Itsetsuhiko's blood on her claws and Sesshomaru's cause for vengeance was no less worthy than her own.

For Kagome's honor and well-being, he would do no less.

"Tell this one what you know of him." Sesshomaru met her fierce gaze without even raising a brow. Shiyuri might not wish to share information, but he wouldn't let her leave without it. She could fool the others for all he cared, but he would not allow her to fool him.

Shiyuri was his best bet of learning Itsetsuhiko's weaknesses and taking him out before he could be a risk to Sesshomaru and those Sesshomaru cared for.

Shiyuri pursed her lips. "Very well," she said after a moment, folding her arms across her chest. "But do not think this one does so because she could not best you in a fight."

It was obvious, though neither spoke to it, who would win in a fight between them. Shiyuri may be the elder of the two, with far more life experience, but their yoki had both quietly risen during their communication and it was clear who held the most power.

And it was power that mattered most to yokai.

"He thinks himself a god," Shiyuri continued, sniffing in disdain. "He believes he will establish a kingdom with which to rule over the world. His many sons, sired on his many captive women, will become his army and his daughters will either be given away to secure the allegiance of more powerful yokai or daimyo or given back to Itsetsuhiko himself. His depravity knows no bounds."

Nothing she said particularly helped Sesshomaru's current plans, but it was more insight into Itsetsuhiko's mind than he'd expected to hear. "And you know this how?"

Shiyuri snorted. "Itsetsuhiko is a braggart. He took great delight in sharing his plans with this one when he believed she was fully under his control."

"He would wish to obtain you in such a way again." Sesshomaru was as confident in that assessment as he was of Itsetsuhiko's future plans for Kagome should Itsetsuhiko get his hands on Sesshomaru's priestess.

Not that Sesshomaru had any intentions of allowing Itsetsuhiko to succeed, but he couldn't fault the other yokai for seeing the potential Kagome wielded, though he could and would prevent Itsetsuhiko from taking her.

"He would." Shiyuri gave him a short nod. "Though he would not succeed, for this one would either kill him or herself before allowing that to happen a second time."

Shiyuri turned away from him then. "This one is leaving."

Sesshomaru used his poison whip to stop her from walking away. "This one was not finished."

Shiyuri turned to snarl at him. "This one answered you out of deference to your lineage and your father, Sesshomaru, but you are but a whelp, still learning his place in the world. Do not mistake this one's kindness for subservience."

So you think you can command this one. Sesshomaru's lip twitched in vague amusement. You have much to learn.

"Perhaps," Sesshomaru agreed levelly, more to throw off Shiyuri than out of any real desire to agree, "but this one has recently come into his own with far greater power than you have ever possessed, Shiyuri. Do not mistake his own indulgence as kindness. You will tell this one what he desires to know."

Shiyuri looked annoyed as she frowned but she seemed to come to the conclusion that Sesshomaru would not allow her to leave without answers. "If Itsetsuhiko," she ground out the name, "acts as he has before, he will look to capture the women and take them with him to enjoy at his own leisure. He is likely to attempt to conquer the rest of Nippon once he has ensured none live to challenge his reign. That is all this one will say on the matter."

One plan came to mind but Sesshomaru immediately dismissed it. He would not use Kagome as bait and risk putting her in harm's way when he was uncertain that he'd be able to protect her and defeat their enemy without issue.

"Tell this one what you know of his bisento," Sesshomaru probed, recalling the weapon that had been mentioned before.

Shiyuri seemed surprised by the demand. "This one knows little of it," she said slowly. "But it is said that he obtained it from a shrine that belonged to Susano'o no Mikoto. This one assumes that, if it has been blessed by Susano'o-omikami that it is likely that it bears some of his powers. But as to which ones? This one knows not. Perhaps you should ask your priestess, Sesshomaru, for her knowledge of the gods."

"Or," Shiyuri said, suddenly turning her head to the south, "perhaps this one shall ask her herself, for it seems that your priestess has come looking for you as a pup seeks its master."

"Hey!" Kagome hissed, stepping out from behind a tree, much to Sesshomaru's astonishment. He only sensed her presence now that she'd appeared before them and while he was annoyed that she'd snuck after them, part of him was impressed that she'd been able to sneak past without his knowing.

It spoke to the growing power within her.

But his mood quickly soured at the irritation on his priestess' face. It would seem that she'd heard enough and had guessed that he'd intended to keep it from her and she had no qualms about letting him see her ire.

Sesshomaru could only sigh. His priestess was indeed most troublesome, not allowing him to protect her even from herself.